Veterinarians and Staff

Prior to beginning her veterinary career, Dr. Karen S. Hoffmann received her MS from the University of Connecticut in biochemistry. She obtained her veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota in 1991. In veterinary school, Dr. Hoffmann focused on equine medicine, which she practiced for the first several years after graduation. Over the next few years, Dr. Hoffmann worked in several small practices throughout Maryland, transitioning to mixed practice and later exclusively small animal medicine.

Dr. Hoffmann joined Olney-Sandy Spring in the spring of 2000 and is OSSVH’s medical director. She has special interests in dentistry and behavior and takes a holistic approach to the wellness of all her patients. Certified to perform PennHIP studies, Dr. Hoffmann received formal training in the PennHIP Method of canine orthopedic evaluation from the University of Pennsylvania. She regularly attends local and national continuing education meetings.

In addition to her responsibilities at OSSVH, Dr. Hoffmann is an active member of the American Veterinary Dental Society, the American Association of Feline Practitioners, the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, as well as the Maryland and American Veterinary Associations. As medical director and majority owner of the OSSVH practice, Dr. Hoffmann is also a member of a national veterinary study group that addresses business and management development.

Dr. Hoffmann is married to a professor of physics at the University of Maryland and the couple has three children. She spends her spare time running her farm, gardening, and breeding and obedience training her champion miniature schnauzers. She enjoys hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities.

Dr. Joellen Gregory is a 2005 graduate from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. During school, she was a two-time AKC veterinary scholarship recipient, thanks to her involvement with the dog fancy. She has shown otterhounds in conformation, obedience, agility, and tracking since the late 1990s. Dr. Gregory has a special interest in reproduction, genetics, and canine sports medicine. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Society for Theriogenology. In her free time, Dr. Gregory enjoys training and showing her dogs. When the dogs need a break, she enjoys traveling and music.

Dr. Jenny Krueger, an Olney native, obtained her Bachelors in Animal Science from the University of Maryland, College Park prior to beginning her veterinary career. She graduated from the Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. She practiced general medicine in the Gaithersburg and Westminster areas for six years before joining the Olney-Sandy Spring team in 2014. She looks forward to sharing her passion and offering her expertise in surgical dentistry, soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, ultrasound imaging, and internal medicine.

Her background includes extensive experience repairing cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and luxating patellas as well as many specialty soft tissue surgical procedures. She has worked extensively with many rescue organizations including MCHS, FMCA, MAGDR and the D.C. Metro Transit Police dogs to provide affordable specialty surgeries as well as preventive care over the last several years. She received the Veterinarian of the Year Award from the Montgomery County Humane Society in 2010 for her efforts.

She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association  (AVMA), the Greater Baltimore Veterinary Medical Association, and the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association.  In the last year, she took over as the new Alternate Delegate  for the state of Maryland to the AVMA. She attends twice yearly AVMA Legislative meetings around the country to discuss and create policy and programs on past and present issues affecting the veterinary industry at large. She looks forward to eventually pursuing a residency program through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners to become a specialist in canine and feline medicine and surgery.

Dr. Krueger resides in Olney, sharing her home with a vast menagerie that includes her husband, Josh - a history teacher at Sherwood High School, her spritely five year old daughter Arabella, her  one and half year old energetic son Bodhi, and her dog Apollo - a one-eyed chihuahua- as well as her two cats -Iza and Durc. In her off time, she enjoys spending time with her human and animal family, reading, gardening, skiing, mountain and road biking, and any activity that gets her outdoors.

Dr. Christy Shoup attended Moravian College in her native state of Pennsylvania, where she obtained her undergraduate degree in biology and experimental psychology in 1996.  She began her veterinary career at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and graduated in 2001. After graduation, she moved to Springfield, Virginia, where she completed a one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at SouthPaws Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Center.  She then spent a year in emergency medicine, helping to open the Emergency Animal Hospital in Catonsville, Maryland, before moving to private practice.

Dr. Shoup spent 5 & ½ years in private practice, during which time she treated exotic animals from macaws to pythons as well as dogs and cats.  In 2008 Dr. Shoup opened her own business as a traveling “relief” veterinarian, working in clinics all over the greater Baltimore-Annapolis metro area.  In November of 2018, she brought her relief veterinary skills to OSSVH and was happy to officially join the practice in June 2019. Dr. Shoup especially enjoys animal behavior and dentistry.

Dr. Shoup is a member of the American, Maryland, and Greater Baltimore Veterinary Medical Societies.  She is also a member of the APDT (Association of Professional Dog Trainers). She has been working as a volunteer with Fidos For Freedom, a local non-profit organization that provides therapy dogs and raises and trains service dogs.  Her Dalmatian, Saoirse, is a therapy dog with Fidos and Dr. Shoup co-directed the Therapy Dog Department for 4 ½ years. She has raised two Fidos service puppies, Wrigley and Maya. In addition to Saoirse, Dr. Shoup lives with 3 parrots (Mango, Beaker & Adam West).  In her spare time, Dr. Shoup enjoys trick training with Saoirse, who has earned her AKC Advanced Trick Dog title. She also enjoys artistic pursuits such as photography, pet portrait painting, and making ceramic pottery.

Dr. Steven Rapp graduated from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in 2018. He has been working in the veterinary field in one way or another since 2005. He joined OSSVH after practicing general medicine in Gaithersburg for two years. He is especially passionate about dermatology, dentistry, and preventive medicine. He is a member of the American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Greater Baltimore Veterinary Medical Association, and the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association. He became a member of the Phi Zeta Veterinary Medical Honor Society in 2017.

Dr. Rapp grew up in Germantown and now lives in Montgomery Village with his wife Gwen and their 3 cats Ivy, Claire, and Floyd. Outside of the clinic, he enjoys spending free time cooking, hiking, biking, writing computer programs, playing Pokémon (sometimes competitively), and watching various anime such as Chihayafuru, Your Lie In April, and One Piece.

Dr. Laura D’Aurora is a 2014 graduate of the Atlantic Veterinary College, located in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Her four years of veterinary school included diverse interests and events, from serving as the President of the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association to volunteering at a sanctuary for injured and/or abandoned sloths, to traveling to Africa, where she summited Mt. Kilimanjaro.

After earning her degree as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. D’Aurora has worked in both general practice and emergency/critical care medicine, and is a member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society. She has a special interest in endocrine diseases, soft tissue surgery, and wound management.

In her free time, she enjoys chasing after her two young children, spending time with her dogs, hiking, reading, playing piano, and training for her next (half) marathon.

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. In addition to her responsibilities at OSSVH, Denise serves as a training officer for NVRT (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 enjoys competing in flyball as a member of Blue Ridge Blast Flyball Team with her Keeshonden, Casanova and Lego, currently the number 1 and 3 Keeshonds, respectively in the North American Flyball Association. She also shares her home with a Katrina rescue, Grady, believed to be a Chihuahua/Jack Russell Terrier.

Desirée joined the OSSVH team in the fall of 2010. She is a native of Northeast Ohio and came to Maryland to pursue her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Maryland, College Park.  She completed her undergraduate degree in Environmental Science & Policy, specializing in wildlife ecology and management in 2010. Prior to joining OSSVH, Desirée worked for the U.S. Army at their Veterinary Treatment Facility in Whidbey Island, Washington and a private practice in Virginia. 

Starting as a Client are Specialist, then supervising the front desk, Desirée is now assisting the owners in managing the practice as the Assistant Practice Manager.  She especially enjoys the technical aspects of the hospital and implementing new procedures and equipment.  You will still find her helping our all the departments when needed and assisting with c-sections as much as she can.

Desirée lives in Germantown with her husband, Mike, an animal keeper at the National Zoo, their Otterhound, Sprocket, Border Collie, Ticket as well as a variety of reptiles including snakes, lizards and frogs. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with Mike & Ticket, photography, traveling, baking, and reading.

Sha joined the OSSVH Team in July of 2020.  She started her veterinary career in 2012 when her sister was working at another veterinary clinic and needed help and hasn’t looked back.  In her free time, Sha enjoys spending time with her son and her friends, doing kid friendly activities like bowling and tennis, watching reality TV, and cooking.  Sha and her son live in Beltsville.

Liz grew up in Ashton, MD and her parents have been patients of Dr. Roskin since 1980. She attended Howard community college and joined the OSSVH team in 2001.  She started her career here in the kennel and then moved to the Client Care department in 2016. Liz has two dogs, Nori and Marlon, and when not at work or playing with her dogs She enjoys working out and spending time with family and friends at her vacation home in Deep Creek Lake.

Alyse has always had a love for helping animals throughout her childhood, bringing home strays or trying to help little critters. She grew up in Cecil County and moved to Montgomery County in 2010. She joined the OSSVH family in September 2012.  In her free time she likes to spend time outdoors with her family, draw, paint and read a good book curled up on the couch with her Bengal cat Mancha. Alyse plans to continue her college education in the medical field.
 

Kathy joined the OSSVH team in October 2017. She is a Montgomery County native and has had a love for animals since she was a child. Kathy has a strong background in customer service and started working for pet store chain in 2008.  She then moved into the veterinary field in 2011 as a receptionist. She loves working with clients and their pets.  You’ll recognize Kathy by her compassion for pets and their people and her bright sense of humor.  Kathy resides in Germantown with her two cats and three rats.  In her spare time, she likes to cook, hike, cross stich, crochet, and watch TV.

Lily joined the OSSVH team in March 2021. She was born in Austin, Texas and although she has lived in Maryland for most of her life, she still considers herself a Texan at heart! Lily has had a passion for animals for as long as she can remember. Her first "real" job was as a Pet Care Associate at a pet store chain when she turned 18, and after 2 years she began working as a Veterinary Assistant. Lily also has a strong background in customer service and worked as a Certified Pharmacy Technician prior to joining our team. She has a Maltese named Mollie and a Norwegian Forest Cat named Harley at home and she loves them both endlessly. She is currently working on finishing her Associates of Science in Biology at Montgomery College. When she's not at work, she loves listening to true-crime podcasts, cooking new recipes, going to breweries, playing MMORPGs, and cross-stitching.

Yazmina (Yaz) joined the OSSVH team August 2022. She has been working in the veterinary industry the last couple years. She has also worked as a nursing assistant at Baptist East Hospital and has a background in customer service.  Yaz is originally from Florida, however she's lived in a few different states including Wisconsin, Kentucky, New Jersey, and Virginia, and most recently, Maryland.

Yaz’s love for animals began when she was young; her mother, who was always volunteering at rescue centers especially for pit bulls.  They were always helping turtles move across the street or treat them until they were well enough to go back out in the wild. She's had many pets growing up including rats, turtles, birds, fishes, Guinea pigs, chinchillas, iguanas, a hamster, dogs, ferrets, a rabbit, and even a pig. She currently shares her home with three fur babies: Muraco, a Dogo Argentino, Boss, a pit bull, and Mushu, a chinchilla. In her free time, she likes to play video games with her boyfriend, take the doggos out to the park, and enjoy a good book.

Rae joined the OSSVH team in April 2019. She is a Baltimore native and knew she wanted to be in veterinary medicine since she was four years old. She has a special interest in exotic pets and wildlife. Rae shares her home with her fiancé, Troy, her dogs Juliet & Pazuzu, cat Aubrey and rabbits Edgar and Lilac.  She enjoys listening to music, dancing, camping & hiking, and photography. 

When she's not working, you can find her spending time with family around a fire, watching football or enjoying a good family dinner.

Jamie joined the OSSVH team in May 2019. She is a Maryland native who has lived around the DMV her entire life. She graduated from the Veterinary Technician program at Northern Virginia Community College in 2013 and has held her veterinary technician license ever since. Although she is newer to general practice, her specialty revolves around anesthesia, dentistry, and surgical nursing. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland, College Park.  When she is not working, Jaime enjoys spending time with her family and her dog, Cassie.

Anna joined the OSSVH team in the spring of 2022. They are originally from Ukraine, moving to Baltimore in 1994, and still speak Russian fluently. They've always had a passion for animals and loved working with them. They graduated from Community College of Baltimore County in 2015 with an Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology and became licensed as a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) in 2020. They have a background in emergency medicine, dentistry, and general practice. In their free time, Anna enjoys painting, drawing, playing video games, and spending time with their spouse and cat.

Nicole moved from the Northern Virginia area recently and has been in the veterinary field for almost two years. She's always had a passion for animals and has been taking care of them her whole life. She grew up with dogs, a snake, and various rodents. She now has a boxer mix and two wonderful cats! In her spare time she likes to spend time with her family and friends and plans on continuing her education in the medical field.

Devon joined the OSSVH team in 2018 as a Kennel Attendant and was promoted to Veterinary Assistant.  She has been around animals her entire life and grew up showing dogs in conformation, dabbling in pack dog titling, and doing sled dog racing with her Siberian Huskies.  She has also been pet sitting since she was old enough to care for animals.  She currently has one lead sled dog at home, her Siberian Damien, and her two cats, Mystique and Zoe. In her free time, In her free time, Devon enjoys going to music festivals and concerts, exploring nature, and spending time with her dogs.

Sarah joined the OSSVH team in 2019.  She was raised in Parkton, Maryland and grew up around lots of animals. From dogs and cats to bunnies and chinchillas, Sarah has loved all different kinds of animals from a young age. Currently, she owns Drummer, an Appendix Paint horse and Dovahkiin,  a husky mix. After working in the service industry for many years she needed a change in life and came to OSSVH as a Kennel Attendant. She likes to hike, play video games, and paint in her spare time.

Holly joined the OSSVH team in July 2022. She has lived in Montgomery County her whole life and has worked in the animal care industry the past few years. Holly has a strong passion for caring for animals and pet sits regularly. She is currently a dog mom of three; one blue pit bull named Ace and two golden doodles, Teddy and Hazel. Holly has a range of interests in animals, but specifically in animal behavior. She plans to continue her education in this field, growing her knowledge. In her free time, Holly enjoys going to the gym, spending time with friends and family, walking her fur babies, as well as watching reality shows. Holly is committed to the well-being of all patients and treats each like her own. 

Patrick joined the OSSVH team in May 2022.  He grew up with Jack Russell terriers and currently resides with two dogs, a cat, two rabbits and an uncertain number of fish.  This is his first formal job in the veterinary industry, but Patrick has devoted several years working for animal welfare and rights.  He enjoys spending time with his son and is an avid fan of fantasy literature and gaming.  He is committed to ensuring that our client’s pets are comfortable and happy.

Liam joined OSSVH in June 2022. He has lived all around Maryland for most of his life, ever since moving from West Virginia as a kid. He enjoys spending time with animals and is exploring different avenues in medical and biological sciences. Liam also has a deep love for the ocean and aquatic life and is interested in pursuing education in marine ecology. He also acquired his SCUBA license when he was still in high school and has even gone on dives in the Baltimore Aquarium! He has lived with cats for as long as he can remember and believes that patience and space is key to working with and providing a safe space for animals. In his off-time, Liam enjoys playing Magic: The Gathering with his friends, as well as playing a large variety of video games, helping build computers, working with electrical hardware, and of course swimming!

Emily joined the OSSVH team in October 2022. She has had a love for animals all her life.  She grew up with a variety of animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, a guinea pig, hamsters, snakes, and some fish. Emily's first animal care job was working at a pet hotel, then to other kennels before coming to OSSVH as a Kennel Attendant. In her free time, she loves to hang out with her dog and cat, crochets, making jewelry, and doing other crafts.

Victoria (Vicky) is joining the OSSVH team in May 2023. She grew up in New Jersey and started grooming there 12 years ago. Before that, she worked with pets her whole life, caring for them and working in retail. Victoria spent the last 6 years in Orange County, California as the Head Groomer at the #1 grooming salon in the Laguna beach area where she really honed her craft. She took specialized courses and went to pet expos to keep up with the latest trends and tricks of the trade. Victoria continues her education and perfecting her skills to make sure she can give her clients and their pets the best care and products possible.

Being a professional pet stylist and canine esthetician, she’s taken different courses on skin conditions, allergies, and practices fear free grooming techniques. Victoria has always been super patient with difficult dogs knowing that some dogs just don’t like certain things and she’s always up for a challenge, She’s had clients call her the “Nail Ninja” for some of the more difficult dogs. Safety always comes first with Victoria. Most importantly, she prides herself on the bonds she gets to share with not only her people clients but their pets who make her job a passion. Gaining all dogs’, especially a difficult dog’s trust is ultimately her goal in the grooming process.

Victoria enjoys doing breed standard cuts, but my absolute most favorite part of the grooming process is doing a good de-shed on a double coated breed. She loves creative grooming -if you bring a picture of what you want your dog to look like, she will do her best to make your wishes come true, like a grooming fairy godmother.

Victoria has two dogs; Morty, a hound mix who was a foster failure, Luna, a Peek-a-poo, and a cat, Poop, an extremely vocal tabby. She recently moved to the DMV area to be closer to family. When she’s not grooming, she enjoys cooking recipes she finds online, painting and creating art, as well as binge watching the Office and Bob’s Burgers.