Team

"Improving the health and quality of life of every animal we touch" 

TopVets Voted by SeattleMet Magazine


Meet the Team at  Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital

Veterinarians

Rebecca Rogers, DVM

Managing Director

My name is Dr. Rebecca Rogers and I am a founding partner of Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital. Originally from the Midwest, I grew up riding and showing cutting horses. Our small animal family included two large malamutes and three rescue cats, one of which appeared on our doorstep on Christmas Eve one winter.


In 9th grade, our family moved to Burlington, Iowa and we became close family friends with the owners of a local veterinary hospital. I spent my high school years observing what it was like to be a veterinarian and in college, I decided to pursue veterinary medicine for myself. I graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a BA in Anthropology in 1996 and in 2000, I earned my veterinary degree from Iowa State's College of Veterinary Medicine. Following veterinary school, I completed a one year internship at the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine.


I moved to the Seattle area in 2001 with my husband and while practicing on the East Side, I met Dr. Craig Miller, the owner of Loyal Companion Animal Care in Redmond Ridge. After many years of friendship and discussion, he and I decided to partner together on a new practice and together with our families, we created Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital. We opened the doors on October 8th, 2014 and we are excited to share our high quality family-run practice with the Bellevue community.


My household consists of my husband, Jason, our daughter, Amanda, an adorable bernedoodle named Molly and a quarter horse gelding named Pickles. We live out in the country and enjoy spending time together as a family hiking , biking and riding the trails around our house. Opening a practice has been a life-long dream for me and I'm excited to become a part of the Bellevue community and to partner together with you on the care of your loyal pets, both now and in the years to come.

Laura Nelson, DVM

Medical Director

My name is Dr. Laura Nelson and I am very excited to be joining the amazing team at Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital! I am originally from a small town just south of San Francisco and at a very young age decided I was going to grow to be a veterinarian. In 5th grade, I raised a guide dog puppy for the blind and was able to witness the amazing bond humans and animals can share with each other. In middle school I started volunteering at a local vet clinic which progressed to working as an internal medicine nurse at a specialty vet hospital in high school and where I fell in love with medicine and all its complexities. In my free time, I volunteered at numerous animal shelters and have raised countless litters of stray kittens - only a couple of which became foster failures. All these experiences solidified my childhood dream of one day making a career out of helping animals.


I graduated from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA with BS in Animal Science. Throughout my time at Cal Poly I was able to continue working with companion animals as well get exposure to a variety of other animals as well - including working with the laboratory animals at the on-campus vivarium. I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Costa Rica and Nicaragua with an organization called VIDA and was able to perform free spay/neuter surgeries for pets of low-income families.


I graduated from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation, I moved back to the west coast and completed a one-year internship at the Veterinary Specialty Center of Seattle where I worked alongside numerous specialists, further enhancing my knowledge and skills. After completing my internship, I worked at a general practice in West Seattle before joining Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital. My specific areas of interest include preventative care, internal medicine and surgery. For fun, I enjoy yoga, hiking, traveling with my husband and obsessing over my lab/pit bull mix named Harper. I look forward to meeting you and helping you provide the best care for your furry loved ones!

Chelsea Newby, DVM

My name is Dr. Chelsea Newby and I am a founding associate veterinarian for Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital. I grew up in the beautiful town of Bend, Oregon with an assortment of pets and decided that I wanted to be a veterinarian in the third grade. After high school I moved to Colorado to study biology at Colorado College. I also ran cross country and minored in Latin American Studies. Between college and vet school I was a wilderness therapy instructor for at-risk youth in Oregon and traveled to South Africa to work on veterinary projects involving lions, elephants, and cape buffalo in Kruger National Park.


In 2005, I graduated from the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and then moved to Washington to do a one-year internship at the Veterinary Specialty Center of Seattle. After completing my internship, I worked in Redmond with Dr. Rogers for eight years. We have always worked as a great team to provide the highest quality care, so when she asked me to join her at Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital, I was overjoyed to share in this new adventure.


My husband Jordan and I have two sons, Freddie and Waylon, and a goldendoodle named Mortimer. Outside of work we really enjoy hiking, camping, backcountry skiing, and cycling. At Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital, I strive to help all of my clients and patients in every way possible and I look forward to developing relationships that will last for years to come.


Erika Larsonberg, DVM

My name is Dr. Erika Larsonberg and I could not be happier to be part of the Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital team of care providers! I grew up in a military family where I moved frequently to many different states, countries, and U.S. territories. I had the fantastic experience of being immersed in a variety of cultures at an early age. I also spent this formative time befriending every type of animal I met (my parents have some pretty excellent stories about finding my “pet” geckos in my bed while living in Guam). I’m certain my unique upbringing cultivated my appreciation for different cultures and all animals and allowed me to observe the universality of the precious human-animal bond. Being a veterinarian is a true pleasure and witnessing and protecting the bond between pets and their humans is an absolute gift. 
 
I completed my undergraduate studies at Pacific Lutheran University and completed my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at WSU (GO COUGS!!!). I’ve practiced in a variety of settings from Idaho to central Washington, to the Seattle area where I landed several years ago and am pleased to call my “forever home”. My passions are soft tissue surgery, advanced dentistry, preventative wellness, and supporting our geriatric pet population. 
 
I have two beautiful daughters, a goofy Great Pyrenees, and the most perfect Exotic Shorthair cat. When I’m not at work you will most certainly find me hiking, backpacking, climbing, paddle boarding, or petting every dog I meet. I look forward to the gift of getting to know you and your furry family!

Sarah Pistone, DVM

My name is Dr. Sarah Pistone and I am glad to be part of the Loyal Family team as an associate veterinarian! I grew up on a horse farm in Upstate New York with dogs, cats, chickens, and goats. I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian after doing my 7th grade science fair project on the impact of respiratory disease on horses’ fitness (which coincidentally involved riding a lot of horses). 

During college, I also found a passion for economics and business, graduating from Duke University with a BS in Economics. I continued to ride, supporting my habit by buying and selling project horses. Following college, I had a 10 year career in corporate communications, as well as management and strategy consulting, and obtained my MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. 

After realizing something was missing, I decided to go back to veterinary school. During veterinary school, I learned from veterinarians across the US and Europe with a focus on equine sports medicine and surgery. I graduated from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and worked at an equine specialty center in North Carolina before moving to the Pacific Northwest and transitioning to small animal medicine. It has been an exciting journey and I am so grateful to be a veterinarian and help animals everyday! My specific areas of interest include soft tissue surgery, ophthalmology, and dentistry.

My husband Matt and I have three dogs, Lucy, Mara, and Bear Bear, and two cats, Penguin and Poe. Outside of work, we enjoy hiking, spending time on our mountain and road bikes, and making sure our animals stay out of trouble. I look forward to meeting you and helping you provide excellent medical care for your four-legged family members!

Kate Slyngstad, DVM

My name is Dr. Kate Slyngstad, and I am grateful to be part of the team at Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital! I grew up just east of Bellevue, frequently exploring the local trails with our family pups. After spending most of the last decade on the east coast, I am thrilled to be back in the Pacific Northwest.


I completed my undergraduate studies in Biomedical Engineering at Boston University, followed by a MS in Conservation Medicine at Tufts University. While my summer jobs and extracurriculars often included working with animals, it wasn't until the end of my undergraduate degree when I began pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. I was able to confirm my passion while working as a veterinary assistant at Loyal Family's partner hospital in Redmond, and volunteering at a local wildlife rehabilitation center. I also had the opportunity to travel to Namibia and work with Anatolian Shepherds as part of a livestock guarding dog program.


I then attended veterinary school at Cornell University, followed by an internship working with Washington's native wildlife. As a veterinary student, I enjoyed participating in Cornell's Animal Health Hackathon to develop creative new solutions for veterinary challenges. When working with companion animals in the clinic, I am particularly interested in dentistry, internal medicine, and preventative care.


Outside of work, I enjoy bouldering with my husband, trying out new coffee shops and restaurants, and playing fetch with our two sociable cats, Binx and Birdy. I look forward to meeting you and your four-legged loved ones!

Jesse Hirota, DVM

My name is Dr. Jesse Hirota and I’m so happy to be joining the Loyal Family team! I grew up in Steilacoom, WA and I knew I wanted to come back home after vet school to practice. During my undergraduate degree I studied socio-cultural anthropology at University of California, Berkeley, and at the time I had been considering human medicine throughout college. However, my lifelong love for animals and my experience working at an amazing local wildlife park after school naturally led me down the road of veterinary medicine.


I then decided to take the opportunity to move abroad where I completed my training at the Royal School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh, Scotland. During my veterinary training, I had the wonderful opportunity to assist in marine mammal research and performed field work on minke whales and bottlenose dolphins off the coast of Scotland, and I also assisted with research on the Unusual Mortality Event of gray whales in Washington State. While living in the UK my husband and I also loved taking our dog Bowie on loads of adventures in the highlands and islands and enjoyed exploring the beautiful Scottish countryside.


In clinical practice I enjoy surgery, ophthalmology, internal medicine, and helping teach clients preventive medicine practices for their beloved furry companions. When I’m not working, my husband and I love to take our two dogs (Kona and Bowie) to the coast for adventures on the beach. I look forward to meeting you all and helping care for you and your furry family!

Relief Veterinarians

Michelle Wu, DVM

My name is Dr. Michelle Wu, and I am excited to become a regular relief veterinarian at the Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital.


Originally born and raised in Taiwan, I came to the United States when I was in middle school. I have always been an animal lover since a young age. In high school, I volunteered at an animal shelter and was inspired by the incredible work of shelter veterinarians to enhance the lives of animals in their care. This motivated me to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.


I graduated from UCLA with a BS in Biochemistry and stayed in sunny southern California to complete my Doctor of Veterinary College degree at the Western University of Health Sciences. After earning my DVM degree, I spent two and a half years working as a small animal general practice veterinarian in Southern California. Five years ago, I moved to Washington state with my husband and have continued to work as a full-time veterinarian here. While working, I have developed special interests in small animal internal medicine, dermatology, and preventative medicine.


In my spare time, I love swimming, playing erhu (a 2-stringed Chinese musical instrument similar to violin), and trying out new restaurants in town with my husband. Being fluent in both English and Mandarin, I also enjoy reading and writing in both languages.

Hospital Management

Jen, LVTg

Hospital Manager / Licensed Veterinary Technician

My name is Jen and I am the Hospital Manager at Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital. I grew up in Southern California and I graduated from California Polytechnic State University Pomona with my Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Health Science to become a Licensed Veterinary Technologist.


From a very early age I knew that I wanted to work with and help animals. In high school, I started working as a veterinary assistant at a cat exclusive hospital. I continued working and perusing my passion to help animals through college. Over the years, I have worked with a variety of species including cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, reptiles, and other pocket pets. The best part about my job is the ability to care for animals and for the people who love them.


In my free time I enjoy hiking, traveling and spending time with family, friends, and my two corgis Ella and Sophie.

Licensed Technician Team

Audrey, LVT

Technician Lead

Audrey's passion for animals began during her childhood in Issaquah, where she actively participated in cat 4-H and cared for her family's goat and chickens. This early experience fostered a lifelong commitment to animal well-being, leading her to pursue a career in veterinary medicine in 2001.


Audrey brings extensive experience in general practice to her role as a licensed veterinary technician.  She is particularly dedicated to client education, empowering pet owners to make informed decisions about their furry companions' health. Additionally, Audrey has a strong interest in veterinary dentistry, ensuring pets receive comprehensive dental care. Committed to continuous learning, Audrey actively participates in veterinary conferences, staying current with the latest advancements in the field.


Outside of work, Audrey enjoys spending quality time with her husband, son, and their cat, Turbo. As a family, they often embark on outdoor adventures, including kayaking, mountain biking, and skiing.

Karena, LVT

Surgery Technician Lead

My name is Karena. I am very excited to be working at Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital as a licensed veterinary technician. Animals have always been my passion, so being able to work with them every day is amazing. I have 6 fur babies (4 cats and 2 dogs). During my free time I enjoy hiking, reading, and spending time with my friends and family.

McKenzie, LVT

My name is McKenzie and I am super excited to be working at Loyal Veterinary Hospital as a licensed veterinary technician. I've always had a heart for veterinary medicine so my passion definitely lies in this profession. In my free time, I am a frequent visitor of the zoo and love spending time with family, friends and fur babies.

Reagan, LVT

My name is Reagan. I am thrilled to join Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital as a licensed veterinary technician. The joy and enrichment pets bring to our lives motivated me to work towards healthier lives for our pets. I enjoy spending time at home with my husband and two cats or venturing out for the fine cuisine and beautiful natural spaces that this area has to offer.

Allie, LVT

My name is Allie and I am so happy to be a part of the Loyal Family team! I became a Veterinary Assistant in 1997 and worked at a small animal clinic in San Diego until I decided to go back to school to become a Veterinary Technician. I graduated from Mesa College with a degree in Animal Science in 2004. I moved to the PNW in 2005 to be closer to my family and to enjoy all that Washington has to offer. My passion is working with the team to provide compassionate care to our clients and their pets. I love the outdoors, my 2 crazy cats, crafting, music, and spending time with friends and family. 

Zamantha, LVT

My name is Zamantha and I am excited to be apart of the Loyal Family team. I grew up on a farm in Mexico and moved to California when I was 11. Throughout my life I  developed a deep love and respect for animals. I volunteered at a variety of animal shelters which lead me to pursue an associate's degree in Applied Science and obtain my Vet Tech License (LVT) through Pima Medical Institute.


Outside of work, you can often find me hiking the beautiful trails of Washington state, practicing yoga for relaxation and mindfulness, or simply enjoying quality time with my pets; Bonnie, Tino and Kimchi. 

Veterinary Assistant Team

Samantha

My name is Samantha I work as both a veterinary assistant and as a receptionist at Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital. I am thrilled to be a part of the team and do what I love. I recently graduated from Pima Medical Institute with my certificate in veterinary assisting and I am looking to further grow in the veterinary field. In my free time, I like to hike, spend time with friends, cook, and cuddle with my dog, Mischa.

Lacy

If Lacy were a dog, she would be a Chow Chow; loyal, independent, quiet. Instead, she is a Veterinary Assistant. After moving to the PNW from Colorado, Lacy spends a lot of time organizing her dog Valkyrie’s social calendar. Her background before joining the team was in dog training and behavior, earning certificates from Duke University, and University of Edinburgh, as well as foundational coursework from Karen Pryor Academy. She continues to pursue education in animal behavior, with a focus on interspecies communication, and the complementary partnership between us and our pets. Lacy’s hobbies include unplanned road trips, archery, and befriending

local crows.

Lorraine

My name is Lorraine and I'm so excited to join the team at Loyal Family as a veterinary assistant! After graduating from Colorado State University I moved back to my true home in the Pacific Northwest. Animals have always been a huge part of my life, and I look forward to growing in the veterinary field. I spend my free time playing games with family, cuddling my two cats Martin and Jimmy, and riding my horse Fritz.

Alison

My name is Alison and I am very excited to be joining the team at Loyal Family Vet as an assistant. I have always had a passion for working with animals. After I graduated from Washington State University I started working in the field as an assistant in Seattle. I quickly fell in love with the job. I also have recently worked at an animal eye specialist and enjoyed learning all about eyes. Outside of work I enjoy hiking, camping, cooking, going on adventures with my roommates and their many dogs.

Elizabeth

My name is Elizabeth and I am delighted to join Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital’s team as a Veterinary Assistant. I have always had a passion for helping and working with animals of all kinds. Throughout high school and college, I volunteered at local shelters and clinics - including the amazing opportunity I had volunteering with the Honolulu Zoo's Veterinary Clinic. After graduating from Western Washington University in 2014, I moved to Seattle and began working as a Veterinary Assistant and am currently studying to become a Licensed Technician. I love spending my free time climbing, skiing and doing all things outdoors with my husband.


Kiki

My name is Kiki and I am originally a Koreatown Los Angeles native who has recently relocated to the state of Washington with my wife and four-legged kids. I am a pet parent of two and I have had more than 25 years of pet ownership. From Pitbulls, Rottweilers, Daschunds, Doodles to mixed-breed dogs, I love them all. Animals have always been a major part of my life so I look forward to assisting you and spoiling your fur babies. I have been in veterinary reception almost two years and I have over ten years of customer service experience. I am more than willing to provide you the best possible customer care. I am excited to be a part of the Loyal Family Veterinary team and I love what I do. Outside of work, I am an artist through and through. I am a dancer, a choreographer and performer, a photographer, a graphic designer, a writer, and a major basketball fan.

Mercedes

Hi, my name is Mercedes and I am delighted to be a part of the Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital team as one of the Veterinary Assistants. I am excited to be helping and keeping our furry friends healthy. I grew up overseas, mainly in Kathmandu, Nepal and I had lots of pets growing up. I've always had a love for animals. I recently graduated with a certificate in Veterinary Assisting from PIMA Medical Institute and I am planning on getting my license as a Veterinary Technician. I recently brought home two kittens and they are such a joy in my life.

Andrea

Bio coming soon!

Mackenzie (Max)

My name is Mackenzie, but you can call me Max. I'm so happy to be joining the Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital team as a veterinary assistant. I grew up on a farm in Kansas and have always surrounded myself with animals. I was recently accepted into the Masters of Biology program at Miami University and I'm looking forward to learning more about all kinds of furry creatures. In my free time, I love walking my dogs, working out, playing video games, and going to the zoo!

Customer Service Team

Jennifer

Reception Lead

Jennifer is the Lead Receptionist at Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital. She loves working with people and their furry family members and truly appreciates seeing how much animals complete a home. Though a native Texan, she moved to Seattle in 2008. She enjoys trying to recreate the favorite Tex-Mex dishes she grew up with and exploring all of the great restaurants and delicious seafood the Pacific Northwest has to offer. During her downtime, Jennifer spends time with her rescue cats and fostering under-socialized kittens. During football season, her Sundays are spent getting together with friends, cheering loudly for the Seahawks!

Annette

My name is Annette and I am excited to be part of the Loyal Family team. Originally a Utah native, I relocated to Washington from Southern California with my husband. While in Southern California, I volunteered with the Boxer Rescues and the Human Society. Over the years, I have had a variety of furry babies; dogs, cats, pet rats, guinea pigs and even horses. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband, two daughters and friends. I also like reading, watching football, photography, scrapbooking, skiing, camping, hiking and all things outdoors.

Danielle

Danielle is originally a native of Chandler, AZ. She moved to Los Angeles, CA in 2012, and then moved to the Seattle area with her spouse in January 2020 with their two fur babies, Mocha and Roxas. Danielle’s first venture into veterinary services was in 2018 when she worked as a receptionist for a family-owned practice in West Hollywood, CA. With over 10 years of customer service, she is thrilled to be a part of the Loyal Family team and looks forward to helping take care of your furry companions! When she isn’t working in the office, Danielle enjoys spending her time around animals of all sorts, watching anime, playing video games and being near the ocean. Her other passions include dancing, choreographing, and writing!


Katie

My name is Katie, and I am thrilled to join the Loyal Family Vet team as a receptionist. I have 10 years of customer service experience. I am excited to put that experience towards providing the best customer service to everyone and their fur babies.


Animals have always been a huge part of my life. I grew up with Cats and Dogs. My Grandma was a Veterinarian Assistant, and I remember being drawn to her stories from work at the dinner table. From an early age she taught me to be observant of animals and their behaviors and the importance of taking care of animals the best that you can and that has stayed with me ever since.


I am very passionate about Wildlife and decided to go back to school to get my BA in Environmental Science and Wildlife Conservation. Working at a place surrounded by animals and wonderful animal care is a dream come true.


When I am not at work, I spend my spare time doing homework, playing video games, creating videos, hiking and volunteering at Woodland Park Zoo. I am also a huge fan of theatre and enjoy helping out at a local youth theatre. 

Share by: