Meet Our Team
At San Marin Animal Hospital, our team is the heart of everything we do. Our experienced veterinarians in Novato, CA, along with our skilled support staff, are dedicated to providing thoughtful, personalized care for every pet we see.
Compassionate Veterinarians in Novato, CA
We believe that exceptional veterinary care starts with trust, communication, and a team that treats every patient like family. Serving families in Novato, Petaluma, San Rafael, Sonoma, Corte Madera, Larkspur, and surrounding counties, we combine clinical expertise with a genuine love for animals to build lasting relationships with our clients and their pets.
Our Veterinarians
Erin Bennett, DVM
Practice Owner
Dr. Erin Bennett grew up in Terra Linda, attended Marin Catholic High School, and graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She spent many years assisting veterinarians, one of whom was Dr. Jeff Williams, before deciding to go to vet school herself in 2003. After spending the next five years at University College of Veterinary Medicine Dublin in Dublin, Ireland, she worked as a vet in Dublin for three and a half more years, married her husband, and moved back to California in 2011. After working as Chief of Public Medicine at Sonoma Humane Society for three years, she joined San Marin Animal Hospital in 2014 and has been with the practice ever since. She and her husband and their two little kids live in Sonoma County, with seven cats, three dogs, three goats, two sheep, and the list continues to grow. In her spare time…well, she cleans up after her kids and animals.
Monica Ortiz, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Monica Ortiz graduated from St. George’s University, Grenada. She did an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey. She then practiced in Massachusetts for about five years before returning to the Bay Area in 2017. She has since been practicing in Sonoma and Marin Counties. She is owned by two dogs and two cats. She enjoys spending her spare time with her family, traveling, and reading true crime.
Polly James, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Polly James grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, and graduated from Brown University in Providence, RI, with a degree in Biology. She then headed to the West Coast and spent several years in the Bay Area pursuing experience as a wildlife biologist. Ultimately, she realized that veterinary medicine was her true calling. She attended UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, followed by an internship at Ventura Medical and Surgical Group, before heading back to the Bay Area. She worked for over 20 years at a 24-hour emergency and general practice (SF SPCA Pacific Heights, formerly Pets Unlimited) before joining the great team at San Marin Animal Hospital. She lives with her husband, son, and rescue dog Archie in Fairfax and enjoys hiking, camping, kayaking, snorkeling, reading, and basically anything related to water and outdoor activities.
Leadership
Kelly Pasero, RVT
Practice Manager
Kelly was born and raised in Marin County. She worked for many years at a ski resort in Lake Tahoe. She also worked in the restaurant business before following her true passion of working with animals. She graduated from the RVT program at Santa Rosa Junior College in 2016. Kelly is married with one stepson and is owned by a wonderful chocolate lab named Reba and their cat, Fancy. In Kelly’s free time, she enjoys snow and water sports in her favorite place, Lake Tahoe. Kelly truly loves what she does and can’t imagine doing anything else.
Veterinary Technicians & Nurses
Samantha Wilson, RVT
Samantha was born and raised in Sonoma County, where she still resides. She lives with her boyfriend and their tuxedo kitty, Jimmy. Sam has been working as a veterinary technician for five years in general practice, but has been working/playing with horses for most of her life. Sam attended Santa Rosa Junior College for Equine Science and Animal Health certificates. She passed her RVT test in May 2020! In her spare time, she enjoys camping, fishing, hiking, pet sitting, wine tasting, and spending quality time with friends and family. Samantha is a dedicated technician who loves caring for animals like they are her own and couldn’t imagine a life without them!
Lisa Torres
Veterinary Nurse
Lisa was born and raised in California. She has been working in the veterinary field since 2009. She started working in a shelter spay and neuter clinic before moving on to emergency work and now general practice. She is currently studying to be an RVT at Santa Rosa Junior College. Her passions in the field are dentistry and surgery. She is owned by three Pugs (Bernard, Emily, and Baby Pug) and an English Bulldog (Hannah).
A Team You Can Trust
At San Marin Animal Hospital, our team brings together years of experience, advanced training, and a shared commitment to compassionate care. From our veterinarians to our technicians and support staff, every member of our team plays an important role in supporting your pet’s health and strengthening the bond you share.
We are proud to serve pet owners throughout Novato and the surrounding communities with reliable, personalized veterinary care you can feel confident in.