Although he grew up under the Florida sun, Dr. Otero was born in the Bronx, NY, and still claims his New Yorker heritage. He is a proud "triple Gator," having graduated from the University of Florida in 2018 with a B.S. in Zoology and a Disability Studies minor, and again in 2022 as one of only two concurrent Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Public Health degree candidates. He worked as an associate veterinarian at VCA Cypress Creek Animal Hospital in Tampa, until accepting the exciting opportunity to trade coasts and join the VCA West Los Angeles team in 2025.
Dr. Otero recognizes that human and animal health are tightly linked, and his understanding of medicine is reinforced by a diverse background and specialized training. His professional interests include high-quality primary and preventive medicine, general surgery and anesthesia, community health practice, intersectional health inequities, justice-centered advocacy, and veterinary health literacy. Dr. Otero is Fear Free Certified and a member of PrideVMC, American Veterinary Medical Association, American Public Health Association, American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology, and Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health. His research collaborations have been published in the Journal of Veterinary Medical Education and the Journal of Veterinary Behavior.
Dr. Otero is passionate about improving access to care for marginalized populations, but also about pineapple-on-pizza and corn tortillas. While not in the hospital, Dr. Otero may be found longboarding to a nearby tennis court, volunteering at the local library, or lounging in front of Netflix with his partner and their beloved foster-fail, Oliver.
