Dr. Jessica Tallaksen grew up on Long Island, New York, and after several years volunteering for a local animal shelter, she was inspired to pursue veterinary medicine. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Midwestern University in 2022, completed a small animal rotating internship at the University of Illinois in 2023, and completed her small animal internal medicine residency at Oregon State University in 2026.
Dr. Tallaksen enjoys all aspects of internal medicine, although her research interests have focused on pyuria and bacteriuria in dogs and cats, amino acid changes in feline chronic kidney disease, and proteinuria associated with coccidioidomycosis. What she enjoys most about veterinary medicine is building strong, trusting relationships with clients and colleagues, and working together as a team to provide thoughtful, high-quality care.
Outside of work, Dr. Tallaksen enjoys reading, documentaries, working out, hiking, traveling, and trying new restaurants. She has two dogs who are complete opposites but special in their own way, and her favorite animal is the Chihuahua. She also previously spent time at VCA ARECA as a veterinary student, and that experience made her especially excited about the opportunity to return and join the team.
