Meet Our Veterinary Team

Dr. Jennifer Cola was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She attended Concordia University, in Montreal, where she completed her Bachelor of Commerce degree and veterinary prerequisites. She then went to Ross University to commence her veterinary studies and then on to the University of Montreal to complete her degree.

Upon graduation, she spent two years practicing in Montreal at a local animal clinic. Wanting to offer her patients greater care and medical services, Dr. Cola decided to advance her passion for ministering to her ill patients by enhancing her skills by becoming a surgeon. She did her surgical internship in Long Island, New York and moved to Los Angeles where she completed her surgical residency.

Dr. Cola’s desire for more challenging adventures brought her to South Africa where she volunteered her services working with native wildlife. Challenging herself more, she moved to Pretoria to teach and practice veterinary surgery at the University of Pretoria, Ondestepoort.

Dr. Cola’s passion is patient care and animal wellbeing. Through her surgical abilities, she is able to help animals in their time of need and distress. She has demonstrated her compassion by spending the last three years working for a not-for-profit clinic and several rescue organizations.

In her free time, one may find Dr. Cola hiking or running with her German Shepard mix, Argo. For relaxation, she enjoys yoga, biking, and gardening.

Doctor Yvette Archie has known since she was seven years old, she wanted to be a veterinarian. She got her love of animals from her father and her thirst for medicine from her mother. After graduating from 12th grade, she had volunteered at UCLA cancer research for animals and knew then she could achieve her dream of becoming a veterinarian. While attending U.C. Irvine, she worked the emergency shift at a 24-hour animal hospital where she pioneered their ambulance services and became a nurse at Lion Country Safari. After graduation, she worked with Woodland Park Zoo as a keeper, nurse, and then a veterinarian. She has been chased by a buffalo, beat up by a monkey and pooped on by an elephant. She is a great believer of incorporating both traditional & holistic medicine and was fortunate to work in small animal clinics utilizing both techniques. Having been raised to always give back, she volunteered with oil-spill birds at The Donner Clinic and was part of a small group that created science to save wildlife a program that targeted minority and at-risk kids through zoo animals to encourage them with math & science. She received a B.S. in Biology from U.C. Irvine and went on to graduate from WSU with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Emma Whitmore was born in Libertyville, Illinois then moved to upstate New York where she attended elementary through high school. She earned her B.S. in Biological Sciences with a minor in environmental studies from DePaul University and her DVM from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Whitmore was an active volunteer, team leader and social media coordinator for the Wildlife Medical Clinic and served as the Avian Chair of the Non-Traditional Species Club during her time in veterinary school. Her fourth-year externships included the Brookfield Zoo, an emergency clinic in Chicago and multiple exotic animal practices. After graduating veterinary school, Dr. Whitmore completed an internship in Avian and Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery at the Center for Bird and Exotic Animal Medicine in Bothell, Washington, a busy 24-hour exclusively exotic pet emergency and general wellness hospital. In her off time, Dr. Whitmore enjoys hiking, kayaking and photography and is excited to experience more of what the west coast has to offer!

Dr. Jason Balara is a Massachusetts native who received his veterinary schooling and training right in his home state: he attended veterinary school at Tufts University, completed an internship at Angell Animal Medical Center, and finished his residency at both institutions between 2005-2008. Upon the completion of his residency, Dr. Balara went “in search of better weather,” where he spent several years working in the Carolinas and found his fiance. They then moved to Houston, TX where Dr. Balara spent three years working for Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists; at the end of his tenure, they both heard sunny Southern California calling and promptly made their way west. Dr. Balara believes in constantly improving the state of veterinary medicine, and therefore passes on his wisdom by teaching students, interns, and residents alike. Dr. Balara is also passionate about minimally invasive surgery and joint replacement.

Dr. Sarah Young was born in Sweden to British parents and was fortunate to experience life in several countries before settling in California as a teen. She received a BS in Biology in 1991 at UC Davis, and went on to complete the rigorous UC Davis veterinary school curriculum, receiving her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1995.

Dr. Young completed a veterinary internship in Ventura County before entering private practice and practiced mixed and small animal medicine for 10 years. General practice showed her the tremendous value and benefit of ultrasound in medical diagnosis and treatment, and she began intensive training in ultrasound techniques and interpretation.

Dr. Young subsequently purchased Echo Service for Pets, a mobile ultrasound service for companion and exotic animals, and has been providing veterinary ultrasound services for over a decade.She greatly enjoys helping animals and their owners with accurate and timely ultrasound care to assist in medical diagnosis and treatment. In her free time, Dr. Young delights in hiking with her dog, camping, scuba diving, horseback riding and travel.

Victoria was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 1995 she attended the Universidad de Buenos Aires for veterinary medicine. After 4 years of schooling, she visited California and fell in love. It was time for a big change, so she made the change happen. Victoria has been in the veterinary industry for over 20 years. Starting as a veterinary technician to supervisor and management. Her biggest interest and passions are in critical care and management, that’s why she spent the last 10 years working as an ICU technician at a specialty practice. She has currently started her new position as practice manager at Veterinary Angels Medical Center and is excited to utilize her skills and be part of the growth at VAMC. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her kids, taking them to new places, going for hikes, to the beach or the farm to meet the animals!