Our Veterinarians

Ravinder Atwal, DVM

Ravinder Atwal, DVM, CCRP

Medical Director, Owner

Dr. Atwal is the medical director of South Bay Animal Hospital & Pet Resort. He immigrated to the US from Punjab, India in 1990 and started his clinical rotations and internship at Purdue University in Lafayette, IN shortly after his older son was born in September 1991. Once he finished his internship, he proceeded to pass all required national and state tests for certification and opened his own veterinary clinic in 1993. Since then, he has continued to practice the highest form of veterinary medicine here at South Bay Animal Hospital. He is multi-lingual in English, Hindi, and Punjabi. He is a current and active member of the AVMA, CVMA, SCCVMA, World Vets, SNIP, and much more!

Lauren Spencer, DVM

Veterinarian

I joined the South Bay team as an overnight emergency veterinarian, eager to help your pets while the rest of the city is asleep! Originally from Kansas City, MO, I attended the University of Missouri for my undergraduate studies in Animal Science and continued my education at the University of Missouri-College of Veterinary Medicine. I am new to California, and currently loving everything about the weather, landscape, food, and people! My veterinary passions include emergency and critical care, pain management, surgery, and oncology. I also love hiking, kayaking, bass fishing, hot yoga, baking decorative desserts, and rollerblading with my Australian cattle dog mix, Lola (pictured), and my Australian shepherd, Bennett.

Rupashree Rao, DVM

Veterinarian

I joined South Bay Animal Hospital in July 2020. I graduated from Mysore Veterinary College, Bengaluru, India in 1995. After finishing a post-graduate degree in Veterinary Pharmacology, I immigrated to the US. I completed a year of clinical rotation at Tuskegee University in Alabama as part of the requirement for the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates from the American Veterinary Medical Association. After completing all the steps to get my National and State board licensing, I started practicing Small Animal Medicine in the Bay Area, California in 2006.

I particularly enjoy Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, and thorough Client Education. Emergency Medicine and Critical Care has always been my dream,. When I am not working, I spend time between Organic Gardening, cooking, yoga, and chilling with my family.


Jonathan Schaefer, DVM, DACVECC ​​​​​​​

Veterinarian

Jon Schaefer grew up in Davis, CA and earned his DVM at the University of Melbourne, Australia in 2014. After graduation, he entered a rotating internship at Colorado State University, followed by an emergency and critical care residency at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon completion, he became boarded by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care and accepted a faculty position as a clinical assistant teaching professor of small animal emergency and critical care medicine at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine where he trained residents, interns, and students. His publications include papers on peripheral perfusion monitoring as well as various book chapters related to critical care medicine. He now works as a critical care specialist in the South Bay and Santa Cruz areas. His clinical interests include ultrasound, sepsis, shock resuscitation, emergency procedures, critical care anesthesia, mechanical ventilation, and clinical teaching. Outside of work his hobbies include mountain biking, hiking/backpacking, reminiscing about playing rugby, and attempting to find his ball on the golf course. He has one small chihue mix from the streets of Philly that is both a great dog and a terrible dog.

Kristine Chan, DVM, DACVIM-Cardiology, FAHA

Veterinarian

Bio Coming soon...

Dean Filipowicz, DVM, MS, MBA

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons


After working for several years at a specialty hospital in the East Bay, Dean was asked to create the surgical branch of Veterinary Specialty Services in Fresno. Building on these experiences, Dr. Filipowicz formed West Coast Veterinary Surgical, a mobile surgical practice. Before long, West Coast was providing surgical service for all emergency clinics and most large practices on the peninsula. Dr. Filipowicz merged his company with two long-standing emergency clinics in the South Bay in 2014 after being hired to create a new specialty hospital. As medical director, Dean pushed for continuous improvement at all levels and prioritized patient care above all else. Different motivations and priorities allowed Dr. Filipowicz the opportunity to form Bay West Veterinary Surgery in 2017 and to continue to improve veterinary service in the Bay Area.


  • Diplomate - American College of Veterinary Surgeons
  • Residency - Small Animal Surgery Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
  • Internship - Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
  • M.S. - Veterinary Science Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
  • D.V.M - University of California Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine
  • B.S. - Mechanical Engineering University of Pennsylvania
  • B.A. - Economics University of Pennsylvania


Dean is published in several veterinary journals, has co-authored book chapters, and has spoken at a number of conventions and symposiums. His master's research investigated an emerging type of orthopedic fixation which has since become the gold standard in human and veterinary orthopedics. Dean’s special interests include fracture management, sports medicine, oncologic and reconstructive surgery, minimally invasive surgery, and advanced, multi-modal pain control.
When not at work, Dean can be found enjoying all outdoor physical activities that the area has to offer, especially if they involve water or mountains.

Richard D. Kienle, DVM

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons - Cardiology

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Dr. Kienle, founder of MVVC, has practiced cardiology in Northern California for almost 25 years. Dr. Kienle, who prefers to go by "Rick," believes in an integrated approach to veterinary care which includes efforts and collaborations between himself, the primary veterinarian, other specialists, and the family of the pet. This collaboration allows for the
best possible individualized and ongoing care for animals with heart disease.

Dr. Kienle received his Bachelor of Science Degree, in veterinary science, from Texas A&M University in 1987. He received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine, also from Texas A&M University, in 1990. Dr. Kienle completed a small animal internship at the Sacramento Animal Medical Group in 1991 and completed his residency in cardiology at the University of California, Davis in 1993. His intense training during that time focused on advanced cardiovascular diagnostics, acute and chronic management of cardiovascular diseases, and minimally-invasive interventional procedures. Dr. Kienle was board-certified, in cardiology, by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1994.

When not practicing veterinary cardiology Rick enjoys playing bass guitar with both secular (Los High Tops) and church bands (NHCC). Rick enjoys building basses/guitars, effects, and amplifiers. Rick also enjoys dabbling in restoration of vintage vehicles. His current projects include building a replica amplifier of a late 60's Ampeg B-15 and he is currently restoring a 1968 Ford F100 pickup. During the more temperate times, Rick can often be found cruising the back roads of northern California on his Harley Davidson Road King.

Rick has been married to his beautiful wife Betsy for 24 years. They have two adult children - Reed and Abby.

Amy Allen, DVM

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine



Dr. Amy Allen received her B.S. in Biological Sciences from Stanford University and her Doctor of Veterinary medicine from UC Davis. She completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine. Dr. Allen performs in-house endoscopic procedures, which include foreign body retrieval and biopsies or sampling from upper and lower GI, rhinoscopy, nasopharyngoscopy, laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy, vaginoscopy, and cystoscopy. As a board-certified internist, she is also available to consult on a number of different types of cases. Dr. Allen can be found spending time with her family in the North Bay and loves to play soccer and travel.

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