Meet Our Veterinary Team

Joanne Canfield

Office Manager

Bio Coming Soon

Jill

Veterinary Assistant

I’m Jill, a veterinary assistant at Mid Island Animal Hospital. With 2 years of experience at this hospital and 8 years working alongside trainers at animal shelters to address behavioral issues, I have found my true calling in animal care. I am passionate about volunteering my time to help shelters and their furry residents. My own four-legged family includes Alvin, Bella, Juniper, and Ivey. While my dream of becoming a veterinarian didn’t quite materialize, I am grateful for the opportunity to retire from nursing and pursue my love for animals in this fulfilling role at Mid Island Animal Hospital. I am dedicated to providing the best care possible to all our patients and I am proud to be part of this compassionate team.

Stephanie Goncalves

Veterinary Technician

Hello, I’m Stephanie, a Licensed Veterinary Technician here at Mid Island Animal Hospital. Hailing from Mineola, NY, I bring 2 years of experience and a deep passion for working with exotics and wildlife. Outside of work, I find joy in the pages of a good book and love hiking through nature. In my own little zoo, I have a cat named Nova, a dog named Mia, a rabbit named Hunny, and a mouse named Stewart. I am committed to ensuring the health and well-being of all our patients, and I am thrilled to be a part of the Mid Island Animal Hospital team.

Sarah Cieslicki

Veterinary Technician

Hi, I’m Sarah, a veterinary assistant at Mid Island Animal Hospital. With 1 year of experience, I have developed a passion for internal medicine and providing top-notch care to our furry patients. When I’m not at the hospital, you can find me enjoying the beautiful beaches, discovering new music, or catching up on the latest movies. I have a loyal companion named Luna, my adorable dog, who constantly reminds me of the joy and love that animals bring into our lives. I am dedicated to ensuring the well-being of all our patients and look forward to helping your pets lead happy and healthy lives.

Riky Chivarria

Veterinary Assistant

I’m Riky, a veterinary assistant with 4+ years of experience. I have a special interest in veterinary surgeries, tech work, and cytology. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, fishing, learning to play guitar, and spending time with my doggy, Ju-Ju. As Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind.” I strive to embody this quote by providing exceptional care to every animal that comes to Mid Island Animal Hospital.

Nicholas Passaro

Veterinary Assistant

I am Nicholas, a dedicated veterinary assistant at Mid Island Animal Hospital, and I live in Bethpage, New York. I hold a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Cornell University and have three years of experience in the field. My passion lies in small animal and shelter medicine. When I’m not at the hospital, I enjoy playing hockey, working out, and spending quality time with my friends. I take pride in being a foster parent to kittens and share a special bond with my own cat, Mew. I am committed to providing exceptional care for your beloved pets and look forward to welcoming you to Mid Island Animal Hospital.

Nancy Stuven

Veterinary Assistant

I am Nancy, part of your care team here at Mid Island. I am a veterinary assistant that brings 7 years of experience to our team. I have previously worked as a Dental Assistant and with that have a special love for veterinary dental care. I spend time at home with my 3 cats, Lucy, Noah and Cheddar. When I am not snuggling pets at home or in the hospital, I like to cook and collect rocks and sea glass. I am all for the animals!

Michele S

Head Customer Service Representative

I’m Michele, and I am from Locust Valley, NY. You can find me at the front desk at Mid Island Animal Hospital working as a Client Service Representative Lead. I have been working in the veterinary field for 12 years and have loved every minute of it. Outside of work, I love traveling, going to the beach, or watching the NY Rangers and NY Yankees play! At home, I spend time with my dogs, Salvo and Slinky. If you are reading this, Tell your dog I said Hi!!

Michelina Messina

Veterinary Assistant

My name is Michelina, and I am one of the veterinary assistants at MIAH. I have 2 years of experience in veterinary medicine and have an additional interest in large animal medicine. In my free time, you can catch me hiking or spending time with my dog: Benny, my cat: Psota, my leopard gecko: Goosebump, or my bearded dragon: Sander.

Mackenzie K

Veterinary Assistant

Hello! I am Mackenzie, and I am on the veterinary assisting team with Mid Island Animal Hospital. I am from Plainview, NY, and have been working in veterinary medicine for just a few months, but am eager and motivated to help all the pets that I can. I am inspired by the Joaquin Phoenix quote: “It takes nothing away from a human to be kind to an animal”. I am especially interested in companion animal veterinary medicine. During my time off, I enjoy soccer, photography, and writing at home with my dog, Ziggy, and cat, Darla.

Lizette Kelly

Veterinary Assistant

I am Lizette, and I am from Mount Sinai. I am a veterinary assistant for MIAH and am new to the veterinary industry but have been working with animals much longer. I also work for a horse barn and in addition to general small animal practice, I have an interest in exotics and equine surgery. I have a Cat named Syrups, a Bunny named Warrior, and my horse Rowan who I enjoy riding in my free time!

Karina Weiss

Veterinary Assistant

I am Karina, and I am from right here in Hicksville, NY. I am a veterinary assistant for MIAH and have been in the veterinary field for 6 months now. While I am newer to veterinary, I am no stranger to the animal care industry having volunteered for a local shelter for over 7 years! I have a special interest in animal rescue and love helping animals as much as I can. Dr. Kornet inspired me to work with animals and I haven’t looked back. Outside of work, I love cooking, shopping, and watching TV with my 8 dogs: Molly, Lola, Paulie, Quill, Wrinkles, T-Bone, and Winston.

Felicia Reinhardt

Head Veterinary Technician

My name is Felicia and I am a fully Licensed Veterinary Technician and specifically the Head Veterinary Technician for Mid Island Animal Hospital. Over my career, I have gained over 20 years of experience caring for pets and the people who take care of them. In that time, I have gained interest specifically in wound care, surgery, nursing, and dental procedures. Besides caring for animals, my main hobby is billiards. I spend my time at home with my 3 cats: Isabell, Snarf, and Grogu! If you have met me, you know that I got into the industry to help the ones who can’t speak for themselves, and I can’t wait to keep doing that.

Erin

Veterinary Assistant

I am Erin, a veterinary assistant at Mid Island Animal Hospital. I am from the Long Island area with 2 years of veterinary experience. I cannot wait to help care for you and your pets!

Danielle Hindieh

Veterinary Assistant

Hi, I am Danielle, and I am one of the veterinary assistants that helps care for your pets here at Mid Island Animal Hospital. I am from Roslyn, NY, and have a year of experience in the veterinary industry but also have additional training as a Rescue Dog Trainer for shelters. I live with my dog, Vinny, and my betta fish named Phineas, and spend my free time as a pickleball instructor! I truly resonate with the quote “Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet” -SGC, which is what got me interested in the field with the long-term goal of becoming a veterinarian myself.

Christina Herrmann

Veterinary Technician

I am Christina, and I am one of the Licensed Veterinary Technicians here at Mid Island Animal Hospital. I have over 14 years of experience in addition to my credentials and have a special interest in dentistry. I am from the hometown of Franklin Square and when I am not helping treat and care for your furry loved ones, I am working out or hanging out with my family including my dog, Zeek.

Brianna Winter

Veterinary Assistant

My name is Brianna, and I am a Veterinary Assistant here at MIAH. I have been a veterinary assistant for 2 years now and have an interest in small animal practice. I am from Seaford and when I am not caring for pets at Mid Island Animal Hospital, I like to spend time at home doing artwork like drawing and painting, while hanging out with my lab/hound mix named Lucy. A fun fact about me is that I danced competitively for 12 years!

Barbara Reynolds

Practice Manager

I’m Barbara, your dedicated Practice manager at Mid Island Animal Hospital. I am a New York native from the Long Island area and an Adelphi University graduate with a BBA concentration in Human Resources. I bring 21 years of industry experience to the MIAH team. Combining my education and experience I am interested in all things client relations, employee morale, and employee overall wellness. To me, there is NO better job or privilege in the world than caring for people and their pets. One of my favorite quotes is from Heather Wolf, “Animals are a gift from above, for they truly define the world’s, unconditional love”. Outside of work, I love fitness, hiking, reading, and spending time with my dog, Buddy Jingle, who is the love of my life!

Ashley Bressingham

Customer Service Representative

I am Ashley and if you come into Mid Island Animal Hospital you will see me at the front desk working with the Client Service team. I am new to the industry, having just over 6 months of experience, but I have fallen in love with helping animals. I am working towards completing a Veterinary Technician program to work as a Tech in the future! Outside of work I love going to the gym and creating art. I have my own small zoo at home consisting of my 3 dogs, a rat, 3 bearded dragons, 8 leopard geckos, 3 crested geckos, and 2 hamsters.

Angela Schacca

Veterinary Assistant

Hi, my name is Angela, and I was a veterinary assistant here at Mid Island Animal Hospital. I am excited to not hold that title any longer, as I am now a fully Licensed Veterinary Technician! I have been in the industry for over 7 years and have gotten to gain additional experience working in veterinary ophthalmology. With my time in veterinary, I have gained a special love of working with exotic pets. At home, I have 4 pets: a shepherd mix named Fredrick and 3 cats (Sunny, Smokey, and Bandit). When I am not at work you can find me playing video games, doing puzzles, watching movies, or hiking!

Amenda

Veterinary Assistant

I am Amenda, and I am a part of your veterinary assisting team at Mid Island Animal Hospital! Having lived in the Dominican Republic and Hong Kong I am a huge fan of hiking, food, and travel in general. I have been in the industry for 3 years now and come from an EMT background. At home I have a dog named Brownkie and you will often hear me say “There is no snooze button when Brownkie wants breakfast or a walk!”.

Allison Lombardo

Customer Service Representative

My name is Allison, and I am a part of the client services team here at Mid Island Animal Hospital. I am from Mastic, NY and have been in the veterinary field since I was 16 years old. In that time, I have also had additional training as a veterinary assistant. During my time in the industry, I have taken a special interest in animal behavior and training. Outside of work you can find me skydiving, going to the beach, or watching Friends at home with my dog, Brownie.

Theresa Pellicano

Veterinary Technician

My name is Theresa, and I am from the West Babylon area. I bring over 38 years of veterinary experience to my position at Mid Island Animal Hospital as a Licensed Veterinary Technician. Originally, I had a dream of being a human nurse but I decided to combine that with my love of pets and become a veterinary technician. With my experience I have gained a special love of working with anesthesia, dental procedures, and critical care cases. When I am at home, I love to study Italian and bake my own bread with my cat, Gattino.

Jenny Rickenbaugh

Veterinary Technician

My name is Jenny, and I am a Licensed Veterinary Technician here at Mid Island Animal Hospital. I am originally from Greenlawn and have been in the veterinary field for over 8 years now. I got into the field because helping animals makes me feel amazing. Over the course of my years of experience, I have gained a special interest in imaging, specifically ultrasonography. When I am not at work, I like to nap with my cat Winifred and relax/read surrounded by my 3 ball pythons (Opie, Tuco & Lucy) and my fish.

Dr. Gayatri Dhavan

DVM

I am excited to be joining the staff at Mid-Island animal hospital. I recently moved from the metro Atlanta area where I practiced for several years at a busy multi-doctor small animal practice.

Prior to that, I practiced in Brooklyn after finishing an internship at VERG. I graduated from University of Pennsylvania School of veterinary medicine in 2013.

My special interests include internal medicine, neurology, geriatric care, and feline medicine. During my free time, I enjoy reading, traveling, watching football, scuba diving, and spending time with my kids and two extremely handsome kitties, Oreo and Furlafel.

Dr. Kathleen Wieman

DVM

As far back as I can remember, I have always loved animals and enjoyed learning about them. Early on, I considered becoming a biologist, but my subconscious must have been repeating “become a veterinarian”, because when I was 14 years old, I told my parents that I wanted to be a veterinarian.

I volunteered at a local small animal hospital for as many hours as I was allowed during the summer and holidays, and I attended a local college in the summer, taking courses that I hoped would help my chances of becoming a veterinarian. I continued working in animal hospitals throughout my college career, attending Wellesley College in Massachusetts, where I graduated in 1988 with degrees in both Biology and English.

I then attended the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University, and after four hard years of studying, I was very proud to receive my Doctorate degree in 1992.

I interviewed at several hospitals in the Northeast, eventually deciding to start my career on Long Island, where I was born and my family still lived. I was very fortunate to spend my first ten years with two mentors who gave me valuable experience in both medicine and surgery. I was even more fortunate to meet my future husband (who has nothing to do with veterinary medicine, but loves animals) during this time.

Eventually, I decided to “expand my horizons”, joining Mid Island Animal Hospital in 2002, and I have been here ever since. In the past 18 years, my husband and I had a wonderful son and multiple pets, currently being owned by one cat, Shadow, who has enough personality for 5 cats.

As I read this bio, amazed that it has been 18 years, I realize how fortunate I am to be part of Mid Island, where the caring and knowledgeable staff and veterinarians have made it such a great place to work and help animals and their owners.

Dr. Sandra Wu

DVM

Growing up allergic to anything with fur, I knew from a young age that I wanted to become a veterinarian. I guess I have always liked a challenge. Despite my parents’ urging to follow a different path, I followed that desire to Cornell University for my undergraduate studies and ultimately earned my veterinary degree in 1998. Finally learning how animals lived and how to help them when they were ill was a dream come true during veterinary school.

Although I grew up in a suburb in South Jersey, I truly enjoyed my time in upstate New York. Upon graduating from veterinary school, I took a position in a small rural animal hospital in western New York with an outstanding mentor who excelled in medicine and surgery. By sharing emergency calls with my boss, we provided 24 hour service to our clients. Although it was an exhausting few years, the experience set the foundation upon which I developed my veterinary skills. I learned to truly enjoy surgery and the artistry often required to perform it.

Leaving Western New York, I came to Long Island with my husband and practiced at a veterinary hospital in Nassau County for several years. We made a short move to Connecticut, where I worked in an extensive network of veterinary clinics and emergency hospital. I thoroughly enjoyed being part of a large collaboration of veterinarians and helped to revive the local New Haven Veterinary Medical Association while I was there.

Soon we returned to the Long Island area, as I had been converted into a New Yorker and missed the variety of food, entertainment and culture that only New York can offer. I rejoined my original hospital to practice several more years. Always eager to learn new facets of veterinary medicine, I enjoyed collaborating on cases with other veterinarians and expanded my knowledge base on stress free handling of pets.

I recently joined Mid Island Animal Hospital as I have known Dr. Kornet since the first time I moved to Long Island and have always highly respected his hospital. I am excited and proud to be joining a highly collaborative group of veterinarians and staff.

Dr. Barbara Crosio

DVM

I have always loved animals, and my heart has always gone out to animals that are sick or injured. While becoming a veterinarian had always been on my mind, my interest in the arts took over at a young age, and my dream of helping animals as a veterinarian was put aside for many years. Later in life, while earning a Bachelor of Science degree at Marymount Manhattan College, I began thinking again about becoming a veterinarian, and hoped that the opportunity had not passed me by. I majored in biology, volunteered at a local animal hospital and at the Prospect Park Zoo, and was accepted into the College of Veterinary Medicine at the Ohio State University in 2004.

Living in the Midwest, I was impressed with the variety of relationships between animals and people. Growing up on Long Island, I only really knew about companion animals. In Ohio, many of our clients were farmers who depended on the health of their animals to survive. Owners of horses, donkeys, llamas and alpacas proved to be people devoted to the health and well being of these animals. My own interests tend toward smaller species. I have a particular love of cats, and am a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners.

A native of Hicksville, I was glad to return after veterinary school, and felt very fortunate to be offered a position at Mid Island. My family have been clients for 30 years, and Dr. Kornet was an early supporter of my decision to become a veterinarian, offering me a job as an assistant before I started school and during breaks.

Helping animals is a rewarding and challenging job – our patients stretch my knowledge and teach me new things each day. I feel privileged to be working with such a great group of veterinarians and the wonderful support staff at Mid Island and to be part of the lives of our clients and patients.

Dr. Mary Raciti

DVM

They say that the purpose of life is to have a life with purpose. I knew from a very young age that my purpose was to help animals through a career as a veterinarian.

My love of animals prompted me to attend John Bowne High School as an agriculture major. During this time I devoted my summers to working on dairy farms and volunteering at animal hospitals.

I received my Associate Degree in Agriculture at Farmingdale University and a Bachelor of Science Degree at Cornell University. In 1995, I proudly received my Doctorate Degree at the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University.

To further enhance my knowledge and skills as a veterinarian, I also completed a comprehensive one year internship program in small animal medicine and surgery at The Animal Medical Center in New York City. During this time I worked on specialty services including oncology, dentistry, exotics, gastrointestinal and respiratory medicine.

In July of 1996, I started working at Mid Island Animal Hospital and have been here ever since. My attraction to this particular hospital is the wonderful and caring staff, and the common goal of striving to achieve the highest quality of medicine, surgery, and dentistry. We all take pride in our work and it shows through the eyes of the animals we care for.

Dr. Mitchell Kornet:

DVM

I became a veterinarian because of my love of animals and the challenge of making their lives better. When I was 13 years old, my pet hamster became sick, and my visit to our local veterinarian transformed my life. From that time on, I did everything in my power to become a veterinarian. I went to a high school that had special programs in agriculture and worked on dairy farms during my summer vacations. My college years were marked with intense studying. My hard work paid off as it allowed me to follow a career path that I had long dreamed of.

I earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Cornell University and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Cornell in 1979.

I came to Mid Island Animal Hospital in 1981 and became its director in 1983. I have worked throughout the years to expand the services that the hospital provides.

I enjoy all facets of veterinary medicine from internal medicine, surgery and dentistry. In recent years we have added laparoscopic surgery to the services that we offer. I strive to provide the highest quality of medicine for my patients through persistent hard work. Mid Island Animal Hospital has a comprehensive continuing education program that allows its veterinarians to stay on the cutting edge of veterinary medicine.

My years at Mid Island Animal Hospital have allowed me to grow and serve the community in many ways. In 1993 I engaged in clinical research and helped field test a new drug for Addison’s Disease, and adrenal gland disorder. The results were published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and in Current Veterinary Therapy.

In 1998 I became a member of the Long Island Veterinary Medical Association’s Disaster Preparedness Committee. Little did we know that we would be put to the test on September 11, 2001. Suddenly I found myself part of a team responsible for sending veterinarians and assistants to ground zero at the World Trade Center site on a daily basis to care for the search and rescue dogs. We arranged for 24 hour care for the service dogs. This became my “second job” until November 3, 2001. In December 2001 I received the award of Veterinarian of the Year from the Long Island Veterinary Medical Association for my service during this critical period in history.

I have served my alma mater, Cornell University, in many leadership positions.  Currently I am honored to be the chairman of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.  The council serves as an external advisory group for the dean of the College and to support the College through advice, advocacy, access and support. I also have served  Cornell University by leading the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Association. I was a board member from 2001 and President from 2007 until 2008. Cornell University has afforded me a lifetime of opportunities and I enjoy helping others attain their goals. In November of 2012 I was honored as an Outstanding Alumni Award winner  by the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Cornell CALS)

Throughout the years I have invited a variety of community groups to Mid Island Animal Hospital to learn about veterinary medicine and the care of animals. We have opened our doors to nursery school groups, Brownie troops, hearing impaired students, and high school students. We are proud to educate our youth.

At Mid Island Animal Hospital we have a rapidly growing list of students who come to shadow us and were later accepted to the finest veterinary colleges. Several of the students have come back to us to train, and some have even joined our staff. One of my passions is inspiring and mentoring students interested in veterinary medicine.  My support of students has been recognized in Veterinary Legacy, a blog written by Dean Emeritus Donald Smith of Cornell University.  The blog describes my path to becoming a veterinarian and my involvement with students Dr. Mitch Kornet and A Tradition of Mentoring.

After practicing over 45 years, I am as excited and enthusiastic about veterinary medicine as ever. In fact, I am never on time for work, I always get there early. It is my privilege to be a veterinarian.