Our Doctors
Kirstin Hossalla, DVM
Kirstin Hossalla is a 2010 Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine graduate who has always had a passion for animals as well as medicine. She has worked in emergency medicine as well as general practice and has a particular interest in surgery, shelter medicine, and felines (but dogs are near and dear to her heart too). She treats her patients as she would her own and does all she can to help you make educated and thoughtful decisions in your pet’s health. She loves dancing, music festivals, succulents, and she is learning aerial silks in her free time! She shares life with a plethora of animals, including a San Antonio street dog Mama Bear, 3 legged foster fail Pinot, bottle baby adult cat Dumplings, Landa Park cat Wasabi, and parvo survivor Toffee-Butt.
Dr. Maria De Los Angeles Lara Guitierrez
Dr. Lara grew up in Mexico City where she studied at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and obtained her degree as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. She practiced in Mexico for 3 years before finding her love of emergency medicine. After earning her credentials in the U.S., she resumed her practice of medicine. Dr. Lara currently lives in New Braunfels with her Golden Retriever, Mila, and her rescue cat, Ciri. In her spare time, she likes to play tennis, and spend time with her friends, and her adoptive Texas family. A little-known fact about Dr. Lara is that she can not only fix animals but also is skilled in repairing computers. She is even building one from scratch!!
Dr. Lara is a TRUE generalist. She loves every type of emergency case and is taking Continuing Education as fast as they’re being offered to further her knowledge.
Dr. Mariah Skiles
Dr. Skiles grew up in Northwestern Ohio before completing her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences at The Ohio State University. She then went to the Vet Tech Institute in Fort Wayne, IN and became a Registered Veterinary Technician. After falling in love with the career, she went back to The Ohio State University to complete her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and has been working in the ER sector ever since.
She has a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Oakley, three cats, Scarlett, Luci, and Ivy, and a rabbit, Penelope. She spends her time with her pets, friends, and family. A fun fact about Dr. Skiles is that she has 13 nieces and nephews.
Her favorite part of emergency medicine is the variety of cases that are seen. She loves being kept on her toes by the variety ER provides. There is never a dull moment.
MICHELLE BAMMEL, DVM, CVA, CCRP
Dr. Bammel is a native Texan and has lived and practiced in the San Antonio area since graduation from veterinary school. Dr. Bammel completed her undergraduate studies at Baylor University and graduated cum laude from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in 2001.
Dr. Bammel is a firm believer in the power of knowledge and continuing education and has a special interest in blending Western medicine and integrative therapies to achieve maximum pet health. She is an IVAS certified veterinary acupuncturist (CVA, 2009) and a University of Tennessee trained Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP, 2011). She has completed all of her training courses at Chi University to qualify for their master’s degree and is currently working to complete her thesis for a final master’s degree designation. Dr. Bammel loves sharing what she learns in her studies with her clients to educate them on the value of prevention as the best means of avoiding illness and disease.
When not at work, Dr. Bammel enjoys spending time with her two-legged family and gardening. She has been married to her husband, Clint, for 13 years and they have two sons that keep her bustling with all of their school and after-school activities. Her family is completed with the four-legged children that include four dogs that range from 7 pounds to 87 pounds, one cat, and one bearded dragon.
Dr. Jessica Castaneda
Jessica Castaneda, DVM (formerly Dr. Sovereign) joined the team at Westridge in August 2015. She fulfilled her life-long dream of becoming a veterinarian after completing her Bachelor of Animal Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 2013.
Originally from Ada, Oklahoma, Dr. Castaneda moved to the San Antonio area after graduating veterinary school and has been working as a general practitioner since that time. Her interests include preventive care and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
As a strong believer in life-long learning, she continues to further her knowledge of preventative medicine and general practice. She strives to create comprehensive, holistic management plans for her patients with the life qualities and preferences of the individual pets and their people in mind. In addition to the incorporation of conventional methods, she completed certification in Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture in order to offer more modalities to her patients. With her professional attitude, dedication, positive presence, compassion, and excellent communication skills, she works hand-in-hand with the entire Westridge team in the pursuit of providing those in her care with overall health and well-being.
Dr. Castaneda and her husband Tim have two sons, Mitchell and Trevor, as well as a terrier mix named Bindi and two cats, Yoko and A Boy Named Sue. The Castanedas love to spoil their kids and pets as much as possible. Dr. Castaneda enjoys spending time with friends and family, camping, hiking, and horseback riding and toys with the idea of becoming a Master Naturalist one day.
Dr. Lauren Guerra
Bio coming soon!
Physical Therapist and Rehabilitation Director
NANCY D. DOYLE, MPT
Nancy Doyle attended Texas A&M University for three years, then completed her studies at UTMB Galveston to receive her Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) degree. She became licensed in Physical Therapy in 1996 and practiced for over six years in numerous facilities providing care to humans. She joined the Veterinary world in 2002 to create and develop the Rehabilitation program at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston, Texas, one of the first specialty animal rehabilitation practices in the nation. After developing the practice at GCVS for 16 years, Nancy relocated to the Texas hill country to establish the Rehabilitation practice at Allure Integrated Pet Specialists, finding new professional challenges and the joys of seamlessly combining her skills with equally talented individuals specializing in Eastern and Western treatments.
In her time away from work, Nancy is still focused on dogs! Nancy actively trains and competes with her personal dogs in multiple sports including agility, rally obedience, nosework, and conformation. This has given her unique insight into the demands our canine athletes experience and how to help them maintain top physical conditioning or return to sport post injury or surgery. She also has learned how to implement training techniques and apply theories of learning to help beloved family pets learn new tasks to maximize their happy participation in Rehabilitation.
Chiropractic Care
Angela Stephens D.C.
Angela Stephens grew up on a small farm in Iowa and eventually settled in Central Texas. While studying equine science/pre-vet at Iowa State University, she found her calling as a chiropractor. Angela graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic with a Bachelor’s of Science and Doctorate of Chiropractic. Being an avid animal lover and barrel racer, Angela saw how animals could benefit from chiropractic care and completed the animal chiropractic program at Options for Animals. She then passed her boards to become certified through the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA).