Meet Our Veterinarians

KELLY ZEYTOONIAN

Owner | DVM, CERP, MBA
​Takes appointments on the Peninsula and in East Bay

Dr. Kelly Zeytoonian moved to the Bay Area in 2009 after earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Zeytoonian has a special interest in lameness and diagnostic imaging as well as preventative medicine. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), The Northern California Association of Equine Practitioners (NCAEP) and The International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology (ISELP).

Kelly has participated in a number of equine disciplines, including: trail riding, fox hunting, endurance, and currently hunter/jumpers. This variety has led to her interest in performance horses and sports medicine. Kelly is proud to serve on the Menlo Charity Horse Show Committee, Woodside Livestock & Equestrian Heritage Committee, NCAEP and serves as a board member of B.O.K. Ranch.  She is also an instructor for Foothill College's Veterinary Technology Program.  In her spare time she enjoys running, hiking, and skiing along with any other outdoor activities she can do with her husband and dogs.

KRISTY MODING

Associate | DVM
Primarily takes appointments on the Peninsula

Dr. Kristy Moding grew up in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Boulder, Colorado riding in the Hunter-Jumper show circuit. Kristy graduated from North Carolina State Veterinary School in 2011 with a focus on equine medicine. She completed further training after vet school under the guidance of a board-certified internal medicine specialist. Her focus has been on performance horse soundness including working with farriers to optimize hoof care and improve performance. She also has a special interest in ophthalmology and dentistry.

​Kristy is passionate about travel and the welfare of working equids and has participated in yearly veterinary volunteer trips to provide free care to horses in Nicaragua.  She also continues to ride in the jumper ring in her spare time.

KELLI MATHENY

Associate | DVM, MS
Primarily takes appointments on the Peninsula

Dr. Kelli Matheny is originally from Hebron, Indiana where she grew up camping, trail riding, and participating in her local 4-H club. While studying Animal Sciences at Purdue University, Kelli enjoyed showing in the intercollegiate hunter-jumper circuit for the Purdue Equestrian Team. Kelli then obtained a Masters in Animal and Dairy Science at Mississippi State University. When she wasn’t doing research in equine reproduction, Kelli participated as a teacher’s aid for several undergraduate equine courses. Kelli then moved to Southern California and completed her veterinary degree at Western University of Health Sciences. Following the completion of a post-graduate rotating equine internship, Kelli joined the Starwood Equine team. Her career interests include sports medicine as well as primary and emergency care. 

Outside of work, Kelli enjoys hiking, exploring Northern California’s beautiful wine country and beaches as well as spending time with friends and family.

BRIGID MCCARTHY

Associate | DVM
​Primarily takes appointments in East Bay

Dr. Brigid McCarthy grew up in the small central California town of Ojai. While attending Stanford University, she was very involved in riding and leadership on the Stanford Equestrian Team. Brigid then spent two years performing autism research at UCLA prior to returning to the Bay Area for a post-baccalaureate program. Brigid began working for Starwood Equine in early 2014 as a veterinary assistant, gaining invaluable experience both in the field and in the office. Brigid then began Veterinary School at UC Davis in Fall 2016, focusing on equine medicine and actively volunteering with the veterinary emergency response team deployed during fires and other large scale disasters. Brigid has a special interest in equine internal medicine and diagnostic imaging. Dr. McCarthy is excited to return to the Starwood team as she begins her veterinary career!

Outside of work, Brigid enjoys everything outdoors: running, hiking, skiing, and exploring Northern California with her Australian Shepherd, Madison. 

MICHELLE LAIOLO-DIBBLE

Associate | DVM
​Primarily takes appointments in East Bay

Dr. Michelle Laiolo was raised in Tracy, California. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and minors in Biochemistry and Philosophy. While at LMU, she actively participated in animal behavior and ecological research. Michelle graduated from the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2023 with honors focusing on equine medicine. As a veterinary student, she acted as student liaison to the Northern California Association of Equine Practitioners and was an active member of UCD’s veterinary emergency response team. Her career interests include emergency medicine, reproduction, sports medicine, and preventative care. 

Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time outdoors with family and friends and any activities involving her dog (Jax) and cat (Annie). She is excited to return to the East Bay and serve the area! 

Meet Our Field Team

SUE NOVIK

Field Manager, RVT

Sue is a Registered Veterinary Technician and a member of the California Veterinary Medical Association, National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, and American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians.
 
She grew up in upstate New York where she started riding at 7 years old. Her family moved to southern California where she continued riding and was a member of 4-H and IEL in high school. She attended UC Davis and received her BS in Animal Science with Equestrian Emphasis while also working at the Equestrian Center.

​In her free time, Sue enjoys playing with dog Winston, arts and crafts, and recreational sports. Sue is thrilled to be a part of the Starwood Equine Team and to continue learning about her favorite field.

RACHEL BONSALL

Veterinary Assistant

Rachel was born and raised in Santa Cruz, CA, where she found her passion for horses. In Bozeman, MT, she earned her BS in Animal Science, emphasizing Equine Sciences, along with a minor in Business Administration at Montana State University. While attending school, she leased a thoroughbred, Percheron, Trakehner cross named Enzo, who carried her through Rocky Mountain trails and over jumps looking over the Bridger Mountain Range in Bozeman.

Post-graduation, Rachel worked at a small animal clinic and animal nutrition store in Montana. She recently moved back to the area to pursue her interest in equine medicine and is very excited to be a part of the Starwood team.

​Outside of work, you can find Rachel riding, hiking, camping, and doing anything that gets her out with her beloved chocolate lab, Wesley. 

ELENA CHACK

Veterinary Assistant

Elena was born in Khabarovsk, Russia but grew up in San Jose, California. She recently graduated from the Veterinary Technology Program at Foothill College and is currently preparing for the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE). Elena started riding at three years old on her aunt’s ranch and immediately discovered her passion for horses. Prior to coming to Starwood, she worked at a small animal clinic and held an internship at a local equestrian center.

In her free time, Elena enjoys playing with her Maltipoo named Crystal, hiking with her family, and riding her horse named Beauty – who looks just like “Black Beauty” from the novel. ​

JULIANNE WHITESIDE

Veterinary Assistant

Julianne Whiteside was born and raised in Piedmont, CA, and grew up riding horses. She competed on the hunter circuit for a few years but now events her seven-year-old Westphalian while her sixteen-year-old draft cross enjoys retirement. Before joining Starwood, Julianne worked at Dover Saddlery, where her love for horses and involvement in the equestrian community grew. She is very excited to be a part of the Starwood team and learn as much as she can. 

In her free time (when not at the barn), you can find Julianne in the gym, watching sports, or spending it with her two rescue dogs, Topaz and Coco. Julianne plans on attending school in the spring to become a registered veterinary technician to expand her knowledge to the fullest extent. 

ANNIKA SCHNEIDER

Veterinary Assistant

Annika was born and raised in Redwood City, California, where she began riding horses by the age of 9. Throughout middle and high school, she began competing in hunter/ jumper shows, where her passion for horses grew. She owned and leased various horses from warmbloods, quarter horses, and thoroughbreds. Annika attended Colorado State University for her undergraduate degree in Equine Science. While in college, she had a young off-the-track thoroughbred which she trained through classical dressage. 

Along with her work at Starwood, Annika also works in a research lab in South San Francisco.

In her free time, Annika can be found taking her deaf border collie named Daisy out for adventures on the trails.

Meet Our Office Team

Danielle Knotts

Office Administrator, CVT

Danielle grew up in Northwest Oregon, where she participated in local 4-H groups and her High School equestrian team, competing in timed gaming events, drill, and team penning with her heart horse Stoney. She is a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) and an active member of the American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Hospital Managers Association. Danielle has worked in the veterinary industry for over 21 years. In 2010, she became a Certified Veterinary Technician. Over the past 8 years, Danielle has developed a passion for practice management and is working towards becoming a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager.  

While Danielle loves all horses, she has a soft spot for Paints and has even bred and raised three – Roo, Midori, and Ashkai. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors in the woods and taking walks with her Australian Cattle dog Bodhi. 

Trisha Chieh

Office Administrator

Born and raised in California, Trisha grew up riding Arabians and Quarter horses. When she left for college to pursue her Human Development and Early Childhood Education degree, she never thought she would get back into equestrian sport. However, in 2000 Trisha's daughter was born, and her first word was "horse." Six years later, Trisha struggled to find a lesson program for her daughter, so she helped build one. Through this process, she managed a full staff, worked as the program manager, taught lessons, and oversaw the care of the horses in a still thriving lesson and training barn in the East Bay. 

Trisha is excited to be working with Starwood and enjoys the challenges of working in a fast-paced office environment and furthering her knowledge of equine medicine.