Meet the Team at Washington Ave Animal Hospital

Get to Know Our Philadelphia, PA Veterinary Team

Veterinarians

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 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. 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.

Leadership

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.

Technicians

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!

Bios Coming Soon

Bios Coming Soon

Bios Coming Soon

Bios Coming Soon

Bio Coming Soon

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!

Bio Coming Soon

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.

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.

Veterinary Assistants

Client Service Representatives

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Bio Coming Soon

Katherine Ledger

Client Service Representative

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Angela Silverstein

Client Service Representative

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