Our Doctors
Dr. Sara Rice » Dr. Katy Sommers » Dr. Charlotte Burns » Dr. Aidan McNeil »Dr. Jennifer Bennett »
Dr. Sara Rice
Dr. Sara Rice graduated from Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts with a degree in European History before beginning her veterinary studies. Dr. Rice attended the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and received her V.M.D. in 1978. After graduation she moved to Ukiah where she was hired by Dr. Tom Broaddus to be the second doctor in a previously solo practitioner clinic. Mendocino Animal Hospital has continued to grow and expand and this year attained AAHA accreditation, a goal that Dr. Rice had set for the hospital team after moving to their new facility in 2003. Dr. Rice’s clinical interests include oncology and senior care and when she is not working she enjoys sailing, gardening, cycling and traveling. An avid Francophile, she loves to travel to countries where she can practice her French — In 2006 she did a two week stint as a tour guide in Provence on one of her vacations. In 2007 her travels took her to school in Lyon where she studied literature and grammar. Then, in 2008, she joined Veterinary classmates on a two week sailing cruise in French Polynesia.She is a past president of the Ukiah Players Theatre and was the Mendocino County Veterinary Disaster co-ordinator from 1986 to 2005.
Dr. Katy Sommers
Dr. Katy Sommers graduated from University of California Davis in 1981 with a Bachelor's Degree in Veterinary Science and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). She joined Mendocino Animal Hospital in 1981 and became a partner with Dr. Sara Rice in 1991, practicing general medicine and surgery. In 1997, Dr. Sommers decided to pursue her interest in the specialty of Holistic Veterinary Medicine. She became a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist in 1997 and served as a Teaching Assistant for the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 1998. She continues to study veterinary acupuncture and herbal medicine and has expanded her practice to serve clients all over northern California who are interested in a holistic approach to their companion animal's care. She is also co-author of The Complete Holistic Dog Book. In her spare time, Dr. Sommers enjoys photography, learning Taiko drumming, and above all, riding and working with her Azteca horses.
Dr. Charlotte Burns
Dr. Charlotte Burns received her DVM from University of California, Davis and joined Mendocino Animal Hospital in the same year, 2006. Dr. Burns was well known to clients and staff as she had been a technician and then technical supervisor at our hospital prior to going to veterinary school. Dr. Burns' professional interests are soft tissue surgery, Integrative Medicine and Hospice Care. Dr. Burns is currently studying for certification as an Acupuncurist. When not working, she can be found practicing fire dancing, purportedly walking on coals or walking her dog.Dr. Aidan McNeil
Dr. Aidan McNeil is a 2006 graduate of U.C. Davis Veterinary School. She joins Mendocino Animal Hospital after a three year career in large animal and exotic medicine practice. Veterinary medicine is Dr. McNeil’s second career, after fifteen years teaching middle school science she took early retirement to attend Veterinary School. While in Veterinary School she worked at the National Primate Regional Research Center in Davis. Dr. McNeil has conducted field research at Mono Lake, in Mexico and in Belize. She has special interests in wildlife medicine, exotic pet medicine, and surgery. Dr. McNeil shares her home life with horses, dogs and goats. When she has a little free time she enjoys horseback riding, gardening, reading, photography and travel.
