Dr. Nikki joined VCA Lloyd in September of 2021 after receiving her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from University of California, Davis. She was born and raised in San Francisco, but decided to move back to New England (having previously lived in the Boston area as well as New Hampshire) because she appreciates an environment where the seasons change, even the occasional Nor'easter. She attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. After college and before veterinary school, she worked as an actor, most notably with the San Francisco Shakespeare Company School Tour, bringing Shakespeare to schools, libraries and senior centers throughout California. During this time, she also worked as a receptionist at the local vet. She couldn't get enough of helping animals, so put aside acting and began working as a veterinary assistant, volunteering at a local wildlife hospital, and taking prerequisites for veterinary school in the evenings.

Dr. Nikki enjoys using the skills she has learned throughout her various careers- such as critical thinking and problem solving from mechanical engineering, communication and education from acting- and applying it to veterinary medicine. She especially enjoys working with owners to figure out the best course of action for both them and the pet. She chose to work at Lloyd's because of the supportive and friendly environment that was apparent from the first moment she stepped in the hospital for an interview.

When not working, Dr. Nikki enjoys spending time with her cat, Joey. His unique medical needs helped spark her interest in the veterinary field, and she has been successfully managing his chronic disease for the past 8 years. When he is not demanding food, he spends most of his time trying to snuggle inside Dr. Nikki's sweatshirt—she has learned to order a size up! In her spare time, Dr. Nikki enjoys seeing theater productions and hopes to continue to perform in community theater, as she has done most of her life. Her favorite past role was Snoopy in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," which she performed (appropriately) just prior to entering vet school.