Meet the Team

Dr. Jewel Reese – Dr. Reese is a native Southern Californian who took an indirect route to veterinary medicine. She graduated from UC Riverside in business and started her career in accounting. After obtaining an MBA and working her way up the corporate ladder of an international manufacturing company in Orange County (including a managing stint in Hong Kong), she decided to change careers to her childhood love of veterinary medicine. She returned to school while working as both a part-time Controller and a part time veterinary technician before attending veterinary school at UC Davis. After veterinary school she initially returned to LA County before moving to La Mesa, and eventually buying Eastridge Animal Hospital and establishing the Healthy Paw Rehab Center.

As a child, Dr. Reese loved sports. From track & field, to basketball to softball, any chance she could, she was always outside playing. Her favorite sport, by far, was soccer. Of course, this was before the first U.S. Women’s World Cup in Los Angeles, so female athletes were only seen in the Olympics, and there were no professional women sport teams. Unfortunately, a knee injury ended her soccer playing days, but that is when she was first introduced to the idea of Physical Therapy and Rehab. From that experience, Dr. Reese actually considered becoming a Physical Therapist instead of a veterinarian; although her love of animals clearly won out.

In 2016, one of Dr. Reese’s personal dogs, Indy, herniated a disk in his back, became paralyzed, and needed emergency surgery. It was after the surgery that Dr. Reese met Renee, and decided to open the Health Paw Rehab Center. As Indy recovered (and yes, he is now back to normal again), Dr. Reese enrolled in the University of Tennessee Canine Rehabilitation Certificate Program and will become the first veterinarian in East County to obtain the CCRP accreditation. She enjoys all aspects of rehabilitation, however her strongest interest is in senior care and how rehab can improve the lives, and mobility, of our aging pets.

On a personal level, Dr. Reese is somewhat of a Renaissance woman who enjoys participating in everything life has to offer. She has sky dived and hangglided, studied at Cambridge University in England, and went swimming in Antarctica (yes, actual swimming, in a bathing suit, in the ocean – ask her about it). She loves to travel and has been to every continent. She loves going to the theater, reading, working on crafts, and hiking. She is still a big sports fan and is always happy to talk about the latest match, however, she can just as easily strike up a conversation about history, science, and art. Her favorite quote is from the film Auntie Mame, and she clearly lives by it:

“Life is a banquet, and most poor souls are starving to death.”

Kelsey Smith, RVT, CCRP
Registered Veterinary Technician
Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

Kelsey is a native of Southern California and has been a registered veterinary technician since 2016. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Health Science from Cal Poly Pomona in 2012. Kelsey has a wide range of experiences from working with wildlife in Florida to working with small animals here in San Diego. Once she realized that her true passion was caring for cats and dogs she decided to pursue animal rehabilitation. She received her rehab certificate from the University of Tennessee in 2017 and then decided to join our team working as a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner. During her free time, Kelsey enjoys taking her dog on hikes, reading, photography and is learning how to play the guitar. Kelsey also enjoys helping manage our facebook and Instagram pages.

Franca graduated in Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnology in 2006 from Cayetano Heredia University in Lima, Peru. In 2008 she had the opportunity to move to the Unites States to gain more experience in the Veterinary field and she took it! She worked in Maryland, Virginia and DC as a head Licensed Veterinary Technician for 9 years working alongside great professionals. Her love for nursing patients back to recovery motivated her to find a specialty related to this area and she discovered canine rehabilitation. She enrolled in the University of Tennessee’s canine rehab program and became a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner in 2017. Dedicating her days to recovering patients in need has been a lifelong dream of hers as well as living in California close to family and friends.

Kathy is a native San Diegan and has been in the Veterinary field since1999. She became a Registered Veterinary Technician in 2009. She has a wide variety of clinical experience ranging from shelter medicine to orthopedic/neurology specialty, general practice, and integrative medicine. While in surgical specialty practice, Kathy assisted with various orthopedic and neurologic surgeries and has an in-depth knowledge of these procedures. Many years later, while working in integrative medicine, she discovered the true power of canine rehabilitation. A very special dog, named Ella, changed everything for her. Kathy is finishing up her certification in canine rehabilitation at the University of Tennessee.

While not helping your canine friends, Kathy enjoys spending time with her husband, two small children and her ‘farm’. Kathy volunteers with her daughter’s Girl Scout troop as well as a local non- profit miniature horse therapy program.