Meet the Team at Washington Ave Animal Hospital
Meet the friendly faces of Washington Ave Animal Hospital in Philadelphia, PA! Every member of our veterinary team embraces each of our beloved patients with open arms. Whether it’s a routine check-up or an urgent matter, we value your trust in us to provide the love, attention, and exceptional medical care your furry friends deserve.
Get to Know Our Philadelphia, PA Veterinary Team
Veterinarians

Dr. Ellen Manneschmidt
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Ellen Manneschmidt was born and raised in eastern Tennessee in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. She graduated with an AAS and then BS in Veterinary Technology from Lincoln Memorial University in the Cumberland Gap, Tennessee before pursuing her doctorate at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.
After graduating, Dr. Manneschmidt moved to Philadelphia where she has worked as both an emergency and general practice veterinarian for the last few years. She is excited to jump on board with both the PASE and the WAAH teams. She is splitting her time working general practice and emergency care, so you may see her at PASE or at WAAH for your pet’s general care needs. Some of her veterinary interests include internal medicine and critical care. She also enjoys connecting with her clients over their special human-animal bond.
In her free time, Dr. Manneschmidt enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and gardening or spending time with her dog, Remington and her husband. She also loves spending time exploring creative outlets such as painting and drawing.

Dr. Grace SnYder
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Grace Snyder grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from UC Davis. She went to St. Matthew’s University for her DVM and spent her clinical year at the University of Minnesota. She was very excited to move back to the Philadelphia area following graduation! She has interests in preventative care, client education, and interpersonal relationships built with clients. Dr. Snyder practices fear free medicine and strives to provide her patients and their owners with a positive veterinary experience.Dr. Snyder is a Philadelphia sports fan and can often be seen on the weekends supporting the Eagles! She also enjoys walking her dog around the city, traveling, and trying new restaurants.

Dr. Thomas
Relief Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Thomas grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She always had a natural love for animals from a young age, and later discovered her passion for biological sciences. Dr. Thomas completed her bachelor’s degree in Animal and Veterinary Sciences at Clemson University, and later earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania. She fell in love with Philadelphia while in vet school, and decided to stay local to continue her career as a general practitioner.
Of all the reasons to love veterinary medicine, what Dr. Thomas loves most is seeing the incredible bond that clients have with their pets every day and being able to provide support to them in their time of need. She enjoys the challenge and the variety of cases that come with being a general practitioner, and continually strives to provide the best treatment options available to each of her patients.
In her free time, Dr. Thomas enjoys live music, biking, long walks around the city, and spending time with her partner and their two very spoiled kitties.

Dr. Jessica Crimmin
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Jessica Crimmin earned her DVM from Ross University and completed her clinical year at the Royal Veterinary College in London. With experience in emergency, urgent care, and small animal medicine—including exotics—she has a special interest in surgery, exotic medicine, and internal medicine.
Driven by her love for wildlife and family pets, Dr. Crimmin pursued veterinary medicine to make a difference in animal care. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, running, skiing, yoga, and reading. She shares her home with her golden retriever, Evelyn, two rescue cats, Penelope and Sloan, and a rescued chameleon.

Dr. Jared Cantor
Bio Coming Soon
Leadership

Stephanie Gordon
Practice Manager
Stephanie Gordon began her career as a kennel manager while attending the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Initially pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy, she discovered her passion for the veterinary field and shifted her focus to biology with a minor in communications. Her dedication to management led her to pursue certification as a veterinary practice manager (CVPM), and she is also a Certified Veterinary Business Leader. With previous experience as a technician in general practice, overnight shifts in emergency care, she began her role as a practice management in 2015, Stephanie is committed to advancing the veterinary profession. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking with her rescue dog, Axel, scuba diving, yoga, and other outdoor activities.
Technicians

Dezirae Rubba
Lead Veterinary Technician
Dezirae has been a veterinary technician since 2016 and has worked with animals in various roles before discovering her passion as a veterinary technician and making a difference in pets’ lives and educating their owners. She has two beloved dogs—a shepherd mix named Koda and a hound mix named Ruger. In her free time, Dezirae enjoys spending sunny summer days at the shore or relaxing at home with her dogs, watching movies, and reading. Her favorite part of the job is reuniting pets with their owners and witnessing the joy of their happy reunions!

Brenna Downey
Lead Veterinary Technician
Bios Coming Soon

David Chan
Lead Surgical Technician
My name is David Chan, and I am the Lead Surgical Technician at Washington Ave Animal Hospital. With nearly eight years of experience in the veterinary field, I am continually discovering new aspects of this dynamic profession. While working on my undergraduate studies at Western Kentucky University I had the privilege to work with “large” animals. Since then, I have gained extensive experience working with small animals and exotics at various veterinary hospitals.
My primary interests lie in veterinary surgery, anesthesia, and analgesia. I am on the verge of obtaining my Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) certification and plan to further advance my career by attending the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia to become a Certified Veterinary Anesthesia Technician.
In my free time, I enjoy taking my dog for walks in the park, exploring new recipes and restaurants, working out at the gym, and occasionally swimming.

Cynthia Primero
Veterinary Technician
Bios Coming Soon

Sincerai Stanback
Veterinary Technician
Bios Coming Soon

Victoria Levine
Veterinary Technician
Bio Coming Soon

Julie Schneider
Veterinary Technician
Bio Coming Soon

Sarah Dilks
Veterinary Technician
Sarah recently started her career in veterinary medicine as a veterinary assistant. She graduated with her Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health in 2019 and is currently working to attain her Associate’s degree in Veterinary Technology, with interest in obtaining her VTS in the future. Sarah really enjoys working with the rescues at the hospital, specifically the bully breeds. In her free time, she likes to bake, travel, and go on hikes with her Pitbull Reese. Sarah is very excited to be a part of the team!

Sandra Alvarez
Veterinary Technician
Bio Coming Soon

William Carnevale
Veterinary Technician
Will is a veterinary student at the University of Pennsylvania and an experienced veterinary technician. He grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, where his passion for animals was nurtured from a young age. His early experience involves working at an animal shelter and being ingrained in farm animal husbandry. Seven years ago, he began his journey in the veterinary field by cleaning a veterinary hospital. After this first experience, he took a more involved role as a veterinary assistant which evolved into a technician role. This journey has continued to deepen his love and passion for the care of animals and their loving owners. Outside his studies and work, Will is an avid Philadelphia sports fan and enjoys long drives through the countryside. He stays active as a swimmer and a runner and finds joy in cooking
simple recipes. He prefers exploring the great outdoors and finding peace and inspiration in nature but when he isn’t outside he has an affinity for any genre of movie. Will also loves spending time with his family and their wonderful rescue pets.

Kirsty Vickers
Veterinary Technician
Born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia, Kirsty has always had a passion for the veterinary field. As a biology major at the Community College of Philadelphia, Kirsty hopes to one day become a veterinarian. With three beloved fur babies—two cats and a Siberian Husky— Kirsty is dedicated to the well-being of animals.
Outside of work, Kirsty enjoys singing and reading, often found at Barnes and Noble on days off. Kirsty looks forward to learning more about the other staff members and building strong relationships with the technicians, doctors, clients, and patients at Washington’s team. The goal is to help not only the pets seen every day but also the owners who care so much about them.

Alyssa Anges
Veterinary Technician
Bio Coming Soon
Veterinary Assistants
Client Service Representatives

Dominique Ransome
Client Service Representative Lead
Bio Coming Soon

Kevin Hopkins
Client Service Representative
Bio Coming Soon

Katherine Ledger
Client Service Representative/Veterinary Assistant
Bio Coming Soon

Angela Silverstein
Client Service Representative
Bio Coming Soon

Heather Jacobs
Client Service Representative
Bio Coming Soon

Allison
Client Service Representative
Allison joined our team with a background in psychology, earning her degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2022. After working in special needs education, she discovered her passion for veterinary medicine and began her journey as a Client Service Representative, occasionally assisting as a technician.
Currently pursuing a degree in human sonography, Allison brings a compassionate and detail-oriented approach to client communication and patient care. She is dedicated to ensuring every pet and pet parent feels supported and valued.
At home, Allison shares her love for adventure with her three leash-trained cats, who enjoy going on walks. She is always happy to swap stories about feline exploration and pet care!