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TwitterMeet the Outstanding People Who Make the Animal Hospital of the Rockaways Special
The veterinarians at Animal Hospital of the Rockaways are top-notch, and they make our hospital great. Everyone on our staff is dedicated to the compassionate care of animals. We are excited to have you to meet them.
Veterinarians
Jay H. Rogoff, DVM
Dr. Rogoff is one of the founders of the Animal Hospital of the Rockaways. He attended Cornell University as an undergraduate and received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1973 from Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine. He is a member in good standing of the American Animal Hospital Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, Cornell Feline Health Center, New York State Veterinary Medical Society, and New York City Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Rogoff heads our surgery department. His interests include photography, travel, and horseback riding.
Allan B. Simon, DVM
Dr. Simon is one of the founders of the Animal Hospital of the Rockaways. He attended Cornell University as an undergraduate and received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1973 from Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine. He is a member in good standing of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Cornell Feline Health Center, New York State Veterinary Medical Society, and the Long Island Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Simon heads our dermatology department, and away from the hospital, his interests include tennis, sailing, and travel.
Susan Whittred, DVM
Dr. Whittred graduated from Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. She is a member in good standing of the American Association of Feline Practitioners, American Veterinary Medical Association, Cornell Feline Health Center, New York State Veterinary Medical Society, Long Island Veterinary Medical Association, and The Association of Shelter Veterinarians. Dr. Whittred has vast experience in feline medicine. Her interests include her cats, music, crocheting, and knitting.
Michal Hess, DVM
Dr. Hess was born in Jerusalem, Israel, and receiving her BSC in Life Science, with honors, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Dr. Hess earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. Dr. Hess enjoys every aspect of small animal medicine, with emphasis on surgery, cardiology, and ultrasound. She is internationally qualified in ultrasonography and heads our ultrasound department. Dr. Hess enjoys travel, photography, and foreign languages.
Erica Morgan, DVM
Dr. Erica Morgan is originally from Connecticut. She received her BA in English from Yale University, a Post-Baccalaureate degree from Columbia University, her veterinary degree from Cornell University, and her acupuncture training at the Chi Institute. In addition to acupuncture, Dr. Morgan’s other special interests include internal medicine, ultrasonography and dentistry. Her special passion is care of senior pets. Her pets include a Cairn terrier, Ferdinand, as well as 2 cats, Kitten and Mike. In her free time she enjoys playing the piano, going for long hikes, and cooking.
Licensed Veterinary Technicians
Michael Morales “Little Mike”
Michael has been at the Animal Hospital of the Rockaways for 11 years, working as a licensed veterinary technician for the past 8. His favorite field of veterinary medicine is radiography. He is also a licensed emergency medical technician. Michael enjoys spending time with family, as well as hanging out with his “at-work family,” especially attending staff holiday parties and barbecues.
Shadeanah Riley “Shandenya” “Deanah”
Shadeanah is a licensed veterinary technician who graduated from LaGuardia Community College, an accredited veterinary technology college. She realized her love for animals at a very young age. Her first pet was a gerbil that helped inspire a desire to care for animals and advocate for a species that otherwise cannot speak for themselves. It wasn’t until the passing of her beloved canine companion, a Maltese and Pekingese mix, that she began researching the veterinary field in depth. Shadeanah’s future aspirations include advancing her career and becoming a veterinary surgeon one day. She enjoys painting and all the laughs generated by her fellow co-workers on a daily basis. “It is great when you find a workplace that you truly enjoy.”
Veterinary Assistants
Michael Brown “Big Mike”
Michael has been working at the Animal Hospital of the Rockaways for 28 years. He is an expert at handling cats, dogs, and birds. Michael is literally the epoxy that keeps the hospital together because he is also our “Mr. Fix-It.” He is an avid bicycle rider and handball player and during vacation time enjoys racing radio-controlled cars. “The Animal Hospital of the Rockaways is my home away from home.”
Jennifer Duffy “Jen”
Jen graduated from the New York School of Dog Grooming and has been a licensed groomer for 7 years. She has worked with animals since she was in middle school. Jen has two dogs, a cocker spaniel and a poodle, that often accompany her when greeting clients. She enjoys cooking, bike riding with her family, and most of all laughing. “It’s like one big happy family here at the Animal Hospital of the Rockaways, and I love it!”
Margaret Duffy “Martha”
Margaret has been working with animals for 17 years and has been at the Animal Hospital of the Rockaways for the past 6. She is a vet assistant as well as a licensed pet groomer and a graduate of the New York School of Dog Grooming. Margaret has a 6-year-old daughter who loves to come to work with her so she can help take care of all the animals. When she’s not at the hospital, she enjoys bike riding and running on the boardwalk with her Boston terrier named Beefcake.
Andrew Baker
Andrew began working at the Animal Hospital of the Rockaways as a volunteer as soon as he was able to get his working papers. He has followed his passion and now is attending Tufts University College of Veterinary Medicine. He visits us as much as he can and enjoys his time working here. We look forward to the day he receives his degree.
Mario Gonzalez “Mariooo”
Mario enjoys working with animals and respects the treatment they receive at the Animal Hospital of the Rockaways. He is married and has two wonderful children, two cats named Tango and Cash, and two turtles. He likes to spend time with his family and is a fanatic Mets fan.
Receptionists
Phillis Rogoff
Phillis has been working at the Animal Hospital of the Rockaways since it was first established in 1977. She’s been a receptionist and veterinary assistant and now serves as the hospital manager. Phillis enjoys spending her free time with her family and pets and enjoys walking on the beach.
Ellen Bennett
Ellen is a receptionist at the Animal Hospital of the Rockaways. She loves animals and has three of her own, including two cats, named Vanessa and Spiderman, and a cocker spaniel named Rudy. She likes to play “Godmother” to our visiting four-legged friends, giving them lots of love and, of course, treats.
Donna Wheeler
Donna has worked as a receptionist at the Animal Hospital of the Rockaways for the past 6 years. She has two daughters who love to come to the hospital to visit with the animals. Donna and her daughters enjoy their time here.
Barbara Burke
Barbara has been working at the Animal Hospital of the Rockaways for more than 25 years. She loves animals and enjoys spending time with her family as well as her dogs and cats. Barbara has an interest in Irish step dancing.
Karen Dockery
Karen has enjoyed being a receptionist at the Animal Hospital of the Rockaways since 2004. Currently she is a mom to adorable kitties Leo, Gemini, Maggie, Natasha, Jake, and Roscoe, and to Ferris the wonder dog.
Kathleen Cruz “Kathie”
Kathleen spends her spare time working at the Animal Hospital of the Rockaways and has been here for 3 years. She likes to spoil all the animals and make sure they are happy. She loves to read and dance. Kathleen also enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
Pamela Halpin
Pamela is one of the newest employees of the Animal Hospital of the Rockaways, joining us 3 years ago. She loves playing with all the animals that come to visit, giving them treats and getting licks and kisses. She enjoys spending time with her daughter and baking.