Meet Our Veterinary Team
Our Veterinary Staff
Denise Sharp, Practice Manger
Denise has worked in the veterinary field since she was old enough to get her first work permit. Throughout her career, she has worked in almost every capacity of veterinary hospital practice. She joined Olney-Sandy Spring Veterinary Hospital as veterinary technician and later took over the management aspects of the facility, freeing the veterinarians to focus on patient care. Denise earned her bachelor’s in biological sciences from UMBC in 1992 and is currently studying to become a certified as a veterinary technician. In addition to her responsibilities at OSSVH, Denise serves as a training officer for NVRT-2 (National Veterinary Response Team), a federal disaster relief team for animals. She was deployed to assist the veterinary community in Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina. She is a member of the Maryland State Animal Response Team (MD SART) and the Anne Arundel County Animal Response team. She competes with her keeshond, Casanova, in flyball as a member of the Two-Lane Highway Flyball Team and is training her Mississippi rescue Chihuahua, Grady, to compete as well.
Tara Watkins, Reception Supervisor
Tara grew up with dogs and cats and a horse named BlackJack. After dreaming of becoming a veterinarian for as long as she can remember, Tara began her career in the veterinary field in 1990 as a receptionist. She crossed-trained to become a technician and has since served as medical supervisor for a staff of more than 25 at a state-of-the-art facility in Rockville. Tara began working at OSSVH in the fall of 2004 as a receptionist and was promoted to reception supervisor in the fall of 2006. She completed her degree in animal science from the University of Maryland in 2006 and continues to take classes at Montgomery College. She has a special interest in canine massage and rehabilitation and is pursuing professional certification in these areas while studying to become a certified veterinary technician. Tara and her husband live in Olney with their two beautiful children and two dogs, Sweet Pea, a standard poodle, and Demi, a 3-lb. Yorkshire terrier.
Britani Robinson, Receptionist
Britani has worked at OSSVH since August of 2009 as a receptionist. She enjoys spending time with friends and family as well as traveling to and from Texas and Florida to see longtime friends and her many nieces and nephews. She is the very proud mommy of a Labrador retriever named Hollie who loves to spend time in the great outdoors and absolutely loves anything that involves the water. They spend many hours together watching animal planet, going to dog parks and even swimming together in the warmer weather. Britani also enjoys going out with the friends she has made through the practice for a few drinks, to see live music, or a night out on the town dining and dancing.
Kristy Montgomery, Receptionist
Before deciding to pursue a career working with animals, Kristy earned her degree in therapeutic recreation from York College. She has worked in a veterinary setting for the past 12 years, spending the past 8 years at OSSVH as a part-time receptionist. Throughout her life, Kristy has owned 13 cats and cared for many rescues and strays. Currently, she, her husband Joey, and their son Andrew share their home with two cats, Shelby and Schooley. In their free time, Kristy and her family listen to music, go hiking, and attend Andrew’s baseball games.
Desirée Simmons, Receptionist
Desirée has been working in the veterinary field for the last five years and has loved animals all her life. When she was in high school she began working at a local pet store and there she developed her love of reptiles. She joined the OSSVH staff in the fall of 2010. Desiree is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Maryland, College Park in Environmental Science & Policy, specializing in wildlife ecology and Management. Her furry family includes her Akita, Killian, and two cats, Scully and Marleigh. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with Killian, looking for reptiles, traveling, and reading.
April Chappelle, Registered Veterinary Technician
April joined the OSSVH family in the fall of 2000. Soon after, she started studying to become a certified veterinary technician and completed the program in August 2008 with an associate’s degree in veterinary technology. April took a brief hiatus from OSSVH to pursue a career in the world of referral medicine, but returned to the hospital in June 2009, the same month she passed the National Veterinary Technicians Exam. April’s time away from work is devoted to her young daughter, Mary, and her black Labrador retriever, Rae.
Angela Gruenfelder, Registered Veterinary Technician
Angela graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a bachelor’s degree in biology and has been working in the veterinary field for 5 years. She began her career as a dog runner and trained to become a technician. Angela joined the OSSVH staff in 2007, and her knowledge and work ethic have made her an essential member of the team. Although Angela grew up with pets, she currently does not own any animals, so she greatly enjoys the animal interaction she has at work. In her spare time, Angela volunteers at the Baltimore Aquarium as an aquarist assistant.
Michelle Little, Registered Veterinary Technician
Ever since Michelle can remember, she has always had a passion for caring for animals and always knew this would be her life-long career. She began in the veterinary field in 2003 as a kennel technician and then in 2006, after some college experience, she changed positions to a veterinary technician. Michelle graduated from Wilson College in PA in 2009 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Veterinary Medical Technology and became a Registered Veterinary Technician that same year after passing her boards. Michelle joined the OSSVH staff in the fall of 2010. When not working or playing with her own animals, Michelle enjoys scrap booking, taking pictures, camping, hiking, kayaking, traveling, walking, and other outdoor activities. Michelle and her husband share their lives with 3 ferrets, Scooter, Symba, and Abbey, and are looking forward to adopting a dog and a cat in the near future.
Noel Shaw, Veterinary Assistant
Noel began working at OSSVH in the winter of 2002 as a receptionist; however, her true expertise and passion lie in working directly with the animals. Her past experience as a horse trainer, groomer, certified pet sitter, and landscaper, combined with on-the-job training allowed her to find her niche at a veterinary assistant. Noel tends to the needs of our pet patients and assists the doctor while serving as a voice for the pets. She is devoted to the pets and treats all animals with tenderness, caring, and understanding. When not at work, Noel enjoys reading, sunbathing, power walking, weight training, and landscaping and she actively furthers her education with online course. She is raising a beautiful teenage daughter and shares her home with two cats and a parrot named Captain Morgan.
Alaila Cabrera, Veterinary Assistant
Alaila got her start in the veterinary industry as a volunteer at a local animal shelter in D.C. She has a strong passion for animal care and very much enjoys her work as a veterinary assistant at OSSVH. In addition to her responsibilities at the hospital, Alaila is pursing an associate’s degree in veterinary technology from Northern Virginia Community College. She has plans to take the state boards and obtain certification and licensing after graduation. Alaila shares her home with the new “odd couple”: Chulo, a 5-year-old pit bull mix, and Bella, a 2-year old pomeranian. All of the Cabreras are happy to be a part of the OSSVH family.
Season Lee, Veterinary Assistant
Season has always had a passion for animals and their care. After earning a BA degree in equine business management, Season entered the field of small animal veterinary medicine and trained as a veterinary assistant. She joined the OSSVH team in June 2008 and is currently pursuing an associate’s degree in veterinary technology at St. Petersburg College. Season is deeply committed to animal rescue and efforts to fight animal cruelty and overpopulation. She has a special interest in animal behavior and the human–animal bond. Season and her husband share their lives and their love with two horses, two dogs, and four cats.
Stacie Purnell, Veterinary Assistant/Kennel Supervisor
Stacie serves as both a veterinary technician assistant and the kennel supervisor at OSSVH. As an assistant, she enjoys assisting Dr. Roskin with his reproduction services work. However, her true passion is caring for and loving the pets that board at the OSSVH kennel. Stacie considers it an honor to work with the doctors, staff, pets, and pet parents at OSSVH. She and her husband Keith and their two wonderful sons, Jamal and Keith Jr., share their home with their three cats, Luke, Mister, and Porshe.
Liz Alexander, Kennel Assistant
Liz grew up in Ashton and her family pets have been patients of Dr. Roskin’s for more than 20 years. She attended Howard Community College and has worked in the kennel at OSSVH for 7 years. Liz has two golden retrievers, 5-year-old Wiley and 4-year-old Duncan. When not at work or playing with her “boys,” Liz enjoys working out, kickboxing, and spending time with family and friends at her vacation home on Deep Creek Lake.
Christine Clem, Groomer
Christine has groomed dogs for almost two decades and continues to have a passion for her work. She joined OSSVH in March 2003 and enjoys the challenge of working with a variety of breeds and getting to know each animal’s unique temperament. Christine’s goal it to maintain breed standards while providing practical care that meets the needs of pets and owners. She takes care to make the grooming process a pleasurable experience for the pets and she educates clients on how to maintain their pets between groomings. In her free time, Christine shows her toy Manchester terriers in the conformation ring. She and her family love camping, jet skiing, riding motorcycles, and spending as much time in the outdoors as possible.