Get to know our team of experienced veterinary professionals. Animal Medical Center has assembled a team of compassionate leaders and is dedicated to supporting the continued growth and education of each and every member of our growing family.

Dr. David Lahijaniha

Dr. David Lahijaniha’s love for animals started at a young age and inspired him to be the loving and dedicated veterinarian he is today. He enjoys all areas of veterinary medicine, but looks forward to helping the intricate and complex challenges of internal medicine and surgery. His special interests are in emergency and critical care. 

In 2017 he completed his Veterinary Degree at Virginia Tech University. Shortly after he went on to pursue his dream career: working as the main doctor and managing hospitals across the Antelope Valley and Los Angeles County, including High Desert Animal Care Hospital, North Valley Animal Hospital, Affordable Animal Hospital, Banfield Pet Hospital, and Beverly Oaks Animal Hospital. ​

​In his free time Dr. David loves spending time outdoors: backpacking, playing basketball, mountain biking and spending time with his Rhodesian Ridgeback, Nala.  With his extensive knowledge, expertise and love for animals he is excited to provide your pets with the ultimate care and compassion at Animal Medical Center of the Antelope Valley.

Paola, Lead Nurse

Paola started her career in the veterinary field in 2009, received her Certificate as a Veterinary Assistant in 2010, and is now in the process of continuing education working on her Veterinary Technicians License. Paola has been a technician in the field for many years with many rave reviews. 

Prior to working at an Animal Medical Center of The Antelope Valley, Paola worked at High Desert Animal Care Hospital, Animal ER, and had started her own business called My Pawz N Clawz as a Professional Pet Sitter in the SF Valley, acquiring an extensive clientele throughout the years, which she currently continues in the Antelope Valley.

​The love Paola has for the animals motivated her to start a career in the health care of animals.  Paola has gained experience from the best of both worlds, Emergency/Critical Care and Day Practice. Emergency medicine is the side that she is most passionate about because it is not only extremely fast-paced but very exciting, keeping her on her toes.

​Paola is Dr. David’s primary surgery technician and loves performing complicated orthopedic surgeries with him. Paola is a single proud mother of 2 boys. At home she has three wonderful dogs, an 8 year-old pitbull rescue named Ringo, a 5 year-old pitbull named Oreo, a 2 year-old pitbull named Onyx, and  two cats named Tonka and Clover.

Jason Matney, Manager

Jason obtained his first position in a veterinary hospital in 1996. Long before that time, he found his love for animals as a pet owner and hobbyist, keeping and studying the needs of his many pets, from hamsters to horses. ​

This love for animals led him to his true passion: educating pet owners and helping them manage their furry family member’s health. His continued interest in how the veterinary community can help enrich the human-animal bond. With his strong leadership abilities, and willingness to continue learning, Animal Medical Center is proud to have him a part of the team.
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When not hard at work, Jason is often hard at play with his amazing wife and wonderful children. They enjoy rock climbing and hiking, exploring the outdoors and caring for their menagerie of pets.

Selena Sanchez, Assistant

Selena is one of the Veterinary Assistant here at Animal Medical Center. She is originally from Sylmar California, but raised in Palmdale. She continued her dream at High Desert Medical College and graduated this year in November 2020. The love Selena has for animals motivated her to start a career in health care of animals. Her continuing interest in the veterinary community can help enrich the human animal bond. She plans to move forward in becoming a Registered Veterinary Technician. What keeps her motivated in this career is making sure customers are happy and making sure our fur babies are healthy with much love. She has 4 wonderful pets , a 5 year old chihuahua name Sunshine , a 1 year old pug name Bosley , and two 12 year old poodles name Melli & Tweety. On her spare time she enjoys being with her family and boyfriend ,spending time with her fur babies.

Alyssa Matney, RVT

Alyssa obtained her license as a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) in 2018, after starting her first role in the veterinary industry in 2006. Her curiosity and love for all animals has kept her energetic about continuing to learn new ways to strengthen the human animal bond. 
Alyssa has continued the tradition of raising her young children around animals from an early age, in the same fashion she was. Her kinship and pure enthusiasm for animals was inherited by her children, as they follow in her footsteps, helping rescue animals and assisting at the animal hospital to care for orphaned kittens.
She has earned the reputation of being an extremely caring and motivating team member. Alyssa has always made the veterinary experience better, not only for animals, but for pet owners and her co-workers alike. The entire team at Animal Medical Center is grateful for her leadership.

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Jenny Garcia, Receptionist

Jenny is one of our receptionists here at Animal Medical Center of the Antelope Valley. Jenny was born and raised in the Antelope Valley. Jenny’s love for animals has led her into the veterinary field which has now been 5 years. She has 3 rescue dogs Nero, Chocolate and Tintin. She has also recently adopted a new kitten Michie. She loves and treats every animal that comes into the hospital as if it was one of her own.

Meilani Abernathy, Receptionist

Meilani has grown up in Palmdale and has had a love for animals since she was very young. She has been in the veterinary field for almost 5 years and has a fur baby that was adopted from the shelter named Jag. She recently became a mother to her first child named Noah (aka Noie Monster). Meilani is a single mother and spends as much time as she can with her baby boy whenever she is not at work.

Brandon Patterson, Technician

Brandon graduated Platt College and completed RVT schooling in 2019,  and is awaiting to take his exam. He has been working in this field for 6 years. He is a team player and is  always going up and beyond to provide the best service and care to his patients. A huge fan of boxers. Brandon is a sports fanatic. His favorite teams are the LA Dodgers, LA Lakers, LA Kings, New England Patriots.

Izabel Garcia, Assistant 

Izabel was born and raised in East Los Angeles, California. She joined the AMC team in the summer of 2020 as a kennel assistant and is currently training to become a veterinary technician. Izabel’s love for animals makes her job fun and interesting on a daily basis. During her free time she loves to spend time with her own fur baby, Franki.

Hailey Monsour, Assistant

Hailey recently joined the Animal Medical Center Team. She has lived in Palmdale her whole life and has always had a love for animals. She has had experience with many different animals from dogs and cats to horses, cows, and other farm animals. Hailey has 9 horses, 1 great dane, 6 English bulldogs, 3 cats, and a goat. With so many animals at home, Hailey knows everyone wants the best care possible for their fur babies and strives to achieve that for everyone she comes in contact with. ​

Yvette Clark, Receptionist

Yvette started her position here over the course of this summer.
She has learned so much in such little time.
Her love for animals and respect for people has allowed her to thrive as a receptionist here at A.M.C.
Yvette is always ready to help and listen to your needs.  If she doesn’t know the answer to your question she will ask her fellow colleagues.
Who just like her are so willingly to help one another so that this team can provide the best  possible care for your loved one.
Her years in costumer service have really shaped her to be a proactive, attentive and most importantly patient individual.
Yvette has been rescued by her 2 pit-bulls, Blue and Charlotte. She is happily married and resides in Palmdale.

Jasmine Lahijaniha, Assistant 

Cathy Hernandez, Receptionist

Rosa Barrera, Receptionist

Rosa is a mother of two beautiful girls. She has been in the field for 4 years and has always been a dog and cat lover. Quote from her "I really love pets. They’re like children. They know if you really love them or not. You can’t fool them.” I’ve had multiple pets through the years. Currently she has two dogs and a cat that she loves very much.