Our Veterinary Team

Meet our Veterinarians and staff! We look forward to seeing you and your pet.

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Get to know our team

We look forward to getting to know you, and we hope you’ll take the time to scroll down and get to know us.

Doctors

Dr. Pete Lands

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

After graduating from the University of Maryland he spent three years at St. George’s University and one year at Ohio State University where he earned his degree in Veterinary Medicine. He completed an internship in general and emergency medicine at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey. His training continued at several hospitals in the Delaware Valley, eventually leading to directing an emergency hospital in south New Jersey.

Dr. Lands enjoys the challenge of diagnosing animal illnesses and implementing treatment plans that will improve the health of his patients. Staying current on the latest research and techniques allows him to use his skills to cure and extend the lives of pets that are critically ill or who have complex disease processes.

When he’s not working he enjoys traveling, jogging with his dogs (Rambo and Rosie) and rooting for his hometown sports teams! He looks forward to helping you improve the life of your pets.

Dr. Frank Brown

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Frank Brown grew up in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. From a young age he had a passion for medicine, animals, and biology. He obtained his undergraduate degree in the Biological Basis of Behavior from the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied animal behavior and human psychology. He went on to achieve his doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Brown is passionate about the deep bond formed between people and their pets. He was inspired to pursue a career in veterinary medicine to help animals live healthy lives for themselves, and to accompany the humans who love them. He is proud to be a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Heartworm Society.

Dr. Brown lives in Philadelphia and enjoys jogging, exploring the city, going to the beach, cooking, and playing with his terrier, Teddy.

Dr. Thomas

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. 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. Jennifer West

Medical Director

Dr. Jennifer West completed undergraduate school at the University of Delaware, where she was the president of Animal Science Club and teaching assistant for Anatomy. She attended the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School, where she was a student nurse, Pet Grief Support Helpline counselor, and led trips to the Ronal McDonald House with therapy dogs. Dr. West pursued a rotating internship in Small Animal Internal Medicine and Surgery at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, where she volunteered in a low cost spay and neuter clinic and performed the research for her first author publication in a peer reviewed medical journal.

Prior to joining WAAH, Dr. West practiced emergency medicine for 4 years within the Greater Philadelphia area. Dr. West is enthusiastic about teaching and enjoys speaking at conferences, mentoring veterinary students, and educating fur-baby parents on animal wellness and healthcare. Dr. West is also a yoga instructor and mom to a rescue dog, snake, and gecko. Her favorite hobbies include travel, scuba diving, hiking, and snowboarding.

Dr. Jara Gruber

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Growing up in central New Jersey, Dr. Jara Gruber aspired to be a veterinarian as a young child. She earned her undergraduate degree in pre-veterinary medicine from the University of Delaware. She then went on to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. From there, she practiced in south New Jersey at a busy urgent care and general practice. After, Dr. Gruber joined the Washington Ave team in 2021.

Dr. Gruber’s professional interests include internal medicine, cardiology, and dermatology. She is an active member of the AVMA and strives to maintain up to date knowledge to help the patients she treats to the best of her ability. Dr. Gruber feels strongly that the bond between a pet and their owner is a very important aspect veterinary medicine.

In her spare time Dr. Gruber enjoys spending time with friends, playing soccer, kickboxing, and going to the beach. She currently lives with her cat, Pebbles, who is trained to do tricks such as “sit and “paw”.

Managers

Stephanie Gordon

Practice Manager

Stephanie Gordon began her career working as a kennel manager while attending the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Originally pursing a doctorate in physical therapy, she altered her plans realizing her appreciation for the veterinary field. She continued to focus on a degree in biology and minor in communications. Her passion for managing has lead to her actively pursuing a certification in veterinary practice manager (CVPM). Stephanie has experience working as a technician in general practice, over night shifts in emergency and has spent the last 7 years in practice management. When she is not dedicated to the hospital and caring for pets, she enjoys hiking with her rescue dog, Axel, scuba diving, yoga, and a numerous amount of outdoor activities.

Cat Keegan

Nurse Manager

Client Services Representative

Bio Coming Soon

Veterinary Nurses, Technicians & Assistants

Dezirae Rubba

Lead Veterinary Technician

Dezirae has been a veterinary technician for 4 years. She has been working with animals in different professions for 6 years but found she loved helping other people’s pets best. She has two dogs of her own; a shepherd mix named Koda and a hound mix named Ruger. Outside of work she enjoys a nice summer day down the shore or staying home with her dogs watching movies all day. Her favorite part of the work day is reuniting pets with their owners and seeing them happy to be back together!

Rebecca Doan

Lead Veterinary Technician

Rebecca has spent her life to working with animals. She started her career in the horse racing industry at Parx Racetrack as a training assistant and stable manager. She made the transition to small animal veterinary practice in 2017. Starting as a kennel technician, she later began her career as a veterinary technician. She has been a member of Washington Ave Animal Hospital since May of 2021. Rebecca is currently a student at Temple University studying natural sciences with concentration in biology. Rebecca is excited to learn new things and create a positive experience for both pets and clients.

Brie Labrice

Veterinary Technician

Veterinary Technician

Veterinary Assistant

Bios Coming Soon