Staff
David
David Slaski has been the Practice Manager for Aviara Animal Health Center since August of 2010. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Rutgers University and is working toward certification in Practice Management. He also has previous management experience for both financial firms and hotels.
"Working here gives me the opportunity to take my management experience to a whole new level," he says. "I am able to be a significant part of the establishment and continued success of a small animal practice. Additionally, learning about veterinary medicine has exceeded all of my expectations."
At home, David has a Dalmatian mix named Luke and an orange tabby named Chico. His interests include bowling, baseball and visiting family on the East Coast.
Sinclair
Sinclair Clum is a Veterinary Technician who has been with Aviara Animal Health Center since August of 1993. She began working in companion animal care in 1990.
She is personable and very friendly with all of our clients. she adds, "I really like the small town feel of this animal hospital. You really get to know the clients more personally and see many of them outside of work."
At home, she has a Labrador retriever named Lilly, two Pembroke Welsh corgis named Fish and Hook, and a cat named Cheeto. Sinclair's interests include watching the San Diego Chargers, fishing, running, and helping run the family business. She also has two children, Andrew and Nicholas, and enjoys spending time with them and her husband Gabriel.
Alma
Alma is our Technician Supervisor and has been with the hospital since June 2015. As a native San Diegan, Alma has worked at several hospitals over the past 12 years, and we are very happy she now calls Aviara Animal Health Center home. She started her career at PIMA Institute attending their Veterinary Technician program, and enjoyed the field so much, decided to aim toward a supervisory role. Alma is our primary trainer and is always looking to improve the skills of our staff.
Outside of the hospital environment, Alma keeps herself busy with her three children. Not to be left out, she has a Maltese Mix named Tater Tot and a lovable black cat named Kiki.
Rochelle
Born and raised in San Diego, Rochelle joined the Aviara Animal Health Center family in May 2015. Her great customer service skills were noticed immediately, and Rochelle is now our Front Desk Supervisor. She started in the veterinary field as a kennel assistant in 1999, and has since worked in customer service and as a technician at several local hospitals including specialty. In addition to working in customer service, Rochelle is the owner and primary trainer at her own company called Loving Guidance. She is certified as a training and behavior specialist after attending the Triple Crown Academy in 2003.
Outside of work, Rochelle enjoys spending a lot of time with her dog Caleb, a German shepherd.
Gordon
Gordon has been working in the veterinary field for 15 years. His specific interest has always been customer service, and Gordon has been part of our front desk staff for about nine months. Gordon's previous education is a bachelor's degree in psychology, with a minor in gerontology. His love for animals, as well as his great customer service, has kept him in the field for many years.
Gordon has lived in both Los Angeles and San Francisco, however, now lives by the beach in Oceanside. Away from work, Gordon loves gardening and photography, as well as sharing time with his big red Tabby, Otto.
Taylor T.
Taylor is our Carlsbad native, born and raised. She has always had a love for animals and admits to having a strong bond with them her entire life. She received her bachelor's degree in animal science from UC Davis with the future goal of possibly applying to veterinary medical school. During college, Taylor worked at a cat sanctuary and the Center for Equine Health on campus. She started at Aviara Animal Health Center as a veterinary assistant, and today, is one of our primary room and surgery technicians. Taylor takes true pride in the relationships she has formed with our patients.
She can be found singing around the hospital, but in addition to that, Taylor loves to swim, play the piano, watch old movies and anything Disney. She can also be found spending a great amount of time with her true love, her fox red Labrador named Murphy.
Taylor B.
Taylor grew up in San Clemente, but after several moves from coast to coast, is very happy to have settled back in San Diego. She has been in veterinary medicine for more than 20 years. She attended San Diego State and Cal State Long Beach studying biology and fashion merchandising. But it was Taylor’s love for animals that encouraged her to become part of this ever-changing field, and she has excelled ever since. Taylor has worked in hospital management on the east coast and is now one of our primary surgery technicians.
Taylor has been part of the Aviara team for 3 years, and when she is not at work, she can be found working out, cooking, doing yoga and trying new restaurants with her husband. They both have a love for terriers and have three of their own…Cartwright, Joey and Maeby.
Tiffany
As one of our customer service representatives, Tiffany joined our team in February 2021. She was born and raised in Flagstaff, Arizona, but moved to Carlsbad 6 years ago. Schooling is business administration, however, Tiffany has over 2 years of experience in veterinary hospitals working in customer service and financial coordinating. She has worked as a volunteer for the Humane Society and has a goal to work for the San Diego Zoo in conservation efforts.
Tiffany loves hiking with Odin, her Welsh Corgi mix, and snuggling with her cat Ellie. She also loves Disney and reading books. “I have always had a passion for animals and everything about them. I want to help them in any way I can, and make sure they are still in our world for years to come.”
Kelsey
Kelsey is a Texas native, who recently moved to San Diego in July 2021 from College Station. We were excited to have Kelsey become part of our technician team. She has 9 years of experience, working in various hospital roles such as customer service, head technician and operations management. Her technician and surgery experience led her to Aviara Animal Health Center, and she is currently one of our primary room and surgery technicians. Kelsey studied animal science at Texas A&M but wanted first-hand experience before considering veterinary medical school. She fell in love working with animals in these roles.
Kelsey is fear-free certified. She spends a lot of time with her two dogs…Gavin, a 9-year-old mixed breed and Troy, a 6-year-old Shepherd mix. She loves hiking, riding horses and watching TV.
Aubrey
Aubrey came to us brand new to the field. She completed her veterinary assistance certification and is currently in school studying marine biology. Aubrey hopes to specialize in the conservation of marine mammals and hopes to join the coast guard to aide in the environment protection of marine life. She is a SoCal native and is one of our technician assistants for a year now. Aubrey decided to work with animal medicine hoping to gain experience to take with her to a marine bio career.
“I would love to study sharks and otters, learn to scuba dive and travel.” Aubrey enjoys photography on the whale watching boat she also works on, working out and spending time with her boyfriend. In addition to everything else, Aubrey has a big place in her heart for her three dogs: Nellie her Corgi, Harley her Pitbull mix and Biggie, her Rottweiler.
Christina
Recently moving to Carlsbad from Florida with her husband who is stationed at Camp Pendleton, Christina started as a veterinary technician assistant with us in July 2021. Her goal is to attend school to become a veterinary technician and is excelling (and enjoying) in the firsthand experience. Christina has had experience in health care before, working as a nurse’s aid in a long-term care facility. She attended the University of Florida and majored in English. But something called her to the veterinary field.
Christina loves to read, spend time at the beach, and hiking. She also loves to spend time with the other “guy” in her life, her dog Graham.