Meet the Team at Palm Desert Pet Hospital
Get to know the friendly faces of Palm Desert Pet Hospital in Palm Desert, CA! Here, our passion for animals goes beyond a profession — it’s a way of life. Your trust means everything to us and we promise to treat your beloved companions as if they were our own.
Get to Know Our Palm Desert, CA Veterinary Team
Veterinarians
Dr. Buck Drummond
Veterinarian
Bio coming soon!
Dr. Pamela Ko
Dr. Pamela Ko is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) since 2019. While her career path has certainly been far from linear, her endless curiosity and vision led her to merge an engineering background with a passion for the care and treatment of eye diseases in animals. Dr. Ko received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Boston University. She then relocated to Southern California and embarked on a successful, decade long career in the aerospace industry designing digital signal processors and database systems. Dr. Ko went on to obtain a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Michigan State College of Veterinary Medicine, after which she spent time at multiple small animal practices in Southern California. She then decided to pursue a joint clinical and preclinical ophthalmic commercial research ophthalmology internship in Irvine, California. As part of the four-year comparative veterinary ophthalmology residency curriculum in San Diego, California, Dr. Ko continued to focus on translational research and biomedical science. After completing her residency in 2017, Dr. Ko practiced veterinary medicine in Arizona and Southern California for many years. She is honored that several of her research efforts have been recognized by professional organizations. In 2016, she was awarded a travel fellowship from the International Society for Eye Research (ISER) to present her study of pre-clinical transscleral diffusion for sustaining drug delivery in Tokyo, Japan. In 2015, her residency research presentation was selected as a “hot topic” of the year by the Association for Research and Vision Ophthalmology (ARVO). She also received a travel grant from the International Society of Clinical and Electrophysiology and Vision to present her optic nerve neuropathy research in Perth, Australia in 2011. In her spare time, Dr. Ko volunteers her services at a local zoo performing wildlife zoo animal eye surgeries as well as providing staff and veterinary student training.
Leadership
Andrea
Practice Manager
Andrea was born in San Diego but was raised in the Coachella Valley. She graduated from La Quinta High School in 2013. She joined Palm Desert Pet Hospital at the end of the summer of 2018, with this being her first job in the vet world. She has come a long way by learning something new every day at work. When she’s not at the front desk, Andrea likes to spend time at home with her dog, Khloe, a seven-year-old Chihuahua, and her cat, Pancho, a one-year-old Siamese mix.
Technicians
Brittany
Technician
Brittany grew up on a Horse Ranch in Oakland, OR, where her love for animals grew into a passion. She decided at the age of 5 that her career would be working with animals big and small. After she graduated high school, Brittany moved to California, and her path veered away from animals when she joined the Army.
Brittany found her way back to the animal medical field when she switched to the Army Reserves and trained to be an animal care specialist (Veterinary Technician) caring for and treating military working dogs.
Brittany moved back to California and has been working in this field since. She lives by the phrase, “Do what you love, and call it a job.”
When her workday ends, she comes home to her three girls (cats) Dharma, a 13-year-old Siamese Manx mix; Jinx, a 5-year-old domestic short hair; and Pearl, a 2-year-old domestic short hair.
Veterinary Assistants
Daniella
Veterinary Assistant
I was born here in the Coachella Valley and have lived here all my life. For as long as I can remember, I have always loved animals, and I was blessed to be able to grow up with a family dog and experience that incredible bond we have with our pets. My love for animals is what inspired me to care for the health of animals as a career. I have been pet-sitting since 2015 and love being able to spend time with such amazing pets. This past year I finally made the decision to start studying to become a veterinary assistant. In March of 2021, I began my externship here at Palm Desert Pet Hospital and have learned so much from everyone on this amazing team. I am now a certified Veterinary Assistant, and I am working here as a Vet Tech/Assistant. I plan to further my studies to become a Registered Vet Tech so I can care for the health of these amazing animals in even more ways. I have one dog at home (Mia) with who I love to do everything, from going on adventures to cuddling at home. I am continuing to grow with my work in this field and am dedicated to giving the best care I can to all the amazing animals who come into our hospital.
Lisa
Veterinary Assistant
Lisa was born and raised in Illinois and moved out to California in 2016. Lisa is a Certified Veterinary Assistant, and she has over ten years of experience in the veterinary field.
In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, going to the beach, reading, and photography. Lisa lives with her three cats; Aurora, Atticus, and Scout.
Client Service Representatives
Lauren
Reception
Lauren was born & raised here in the Coachella Valley. She has been in the veterinary field since 2011. She used to work as a veterinary assistant but has really enjoyed being a receptionist. In her spare time, she loves film photography, as well as pet sitting. She has been a pet sitter since 2008. At home, Lauren loves to spend her time with her little zoo of boston terriers, sugar gliders, & a sphynx.
