Marina joined us as a veterinary receptionist in April 2026. She has a passion for feline medicine and a long-term goal of becoming a Licensed Veterinary Technician. She joined the hospital to immerse herself in the veterinary environment, gaining valuable clinical knowledge while learning the important role every team member plays in providing exceptional patient care.
Her love of animals began early. Throughout high school, Marina participated in animal science classes and gained hands-on experience working on a goat farm, as well as horse and dog sitting. Fun fact: she can milk a goat! She also spent two years at Lees-McRae College in North Carolina studying Wildlife Rehabilitation before returning to veterinary medicine. Over the past year and a half, she has worked in several roles, including kennel assistant, veterinary assistant, and now veterinary receptionist.
At home, Marina shares her life with two beloved cats, Hazel Grace and Chiro, both around three years old. Hazel Grace was abandoned outside Marina’s childhood home and quickly became part of the family. Chiro was lovingly rescued from Facebook Marketplace. If they were students, Hazel Grace would probably get in trouble for sleeping through class, while Chiro would almost certainly be the one stuck on the school roof—or starting a food fight in the cafeteria!
While cats are Marina’s greatest passion, she also loves wildlife rehabilitation, especially educating others about local songbirds and raptors. One of her biggest dreams is to volunteer or work at a zoo, where she hopes to participate in raptor education and flight demonstrations.