Once she received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology, she began doing research at the Elephant house at the National Zoo in Washington D.C. on food, movement, and enrichment. After being accepted into Veterinary School at Virginia-Maryland, she returned for an preceptorship at the Zoo’s Veterinary hospital, where she worked with a wide variety of species – including, clouded leopards, lions, seals and sea lions, a very sweet binturong named Hank, her beloved elephants, and assisted in surgeries including fish, shore birds, an electric eel, and Komodo dragon.
Dr. McDonald married her husband in 2021, and they moved to Pasadena, Maryland (his home state). She had hopes of finding a practice that she would eventually feel comfortable with as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Little did she know that her dream hospital would be so close. After four years, Dr. McDonald has found her home with Everhart. She embraces their values of teamwork, diligence, perseverance, empathy, and above all dedication to their patients and clients. She is incredibly excited to continue learning from Dr. Goodman, Dr. Menefee, and all of the other amazing doctors and technicians on the team. Her professional interests include shelter medicine, surgery, dentistry, and establishing deep relationships with her clients and patients throughout all stages of life. She completed all three levels of Fear-Free certification, and also a Feline-specific program through FelineVMA.
Dr. McDonald and her husband, Ryan, live with their BARCS rescue cat, Phoebe, and their Everhart rescue dog, Brie Cheese. They enjoy spending time with family, Virginia Tech football, local restaurants, wineries/breweries, and snuggling up for a good movie or book.
