VICTORIA MARY HOLLIFIELD, DVM
Hi, I’m VICTORIA MARY HOLLIFIELD, DVM, the owner and senior veterinarian at Best Friends’ Veterinary Hospital. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a veterinarian. I graduated from UMUC with honors in 1984 and from Tuskegee University in 1988 as a member of the Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society. I did an extern program at Zoo Atlanta between my 2nd and 3rd year of vet school. I worked at NIH from 1987 to 1997, starting as a rodent and rabbit colony veterinarian at the Veterinary Resources Branch of the National Center for Research Resources and eventually becoming the Animal Program Director at the National Center for Human Genome Research.
While a commissioned officer at NIH, I worked part-time in several private practices. Since 1997 I have been a full-time practitioner at Best Friends’ Veterinary Hospital. My husband, Bill Ponton, and I have a wonderful son, Grant. I am an avid lover of all animal life and work with animal rescue operations for Montgomery County and work with wildlife at Second Chance Wildlife Sanctuary.
 

 Christin Sullivan - LEAD RECEPTIONIST                                         My name is Christin Sullivan, I am a receptionist here at Best Friends Veterinary Hospital. I grew up in the Gaithersburg/Olney area.   I’ve been working in veterinary offices since 1997. I love all animals and enjoy working here at Best Friends. I have a Miniature Dachsund named Phoebe and a Brown Tabby cat named Kitie.

DINA ROTH PHLEK - BOOKKEEPER, AHAA SUPERVISOR, EXECUTIVE  ASSISTANT
My name is Dina Roth Phlek. I have an A.A. degree in accounting. I am a bookkeeper here at Best Friends’ Veterinary Hospital and have been working here since August 2003. I am a proud mother of 2 beautiful children, and also have a guinea pig named Lucky, which I adopted from Best Friends. In addition, I also have many fresh water fish. I enjoy working here because we all share one common characteristic, we all love animals!

KATHY WAITE - SENIOR TECHNICIAN, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Hi, my name is Kathy Waite. I’m a technician here at Best Friends. I graduated from the University of Maryland College Park in May 2002 with a degree in Wildlife Conservation and Resource Management. I’ve worked with wildlife rehabilitators and at animal hospitals since 2002 and have loved every minute of it.

I became a Licensed Veterinary Technician in May of 2008 Graduating from NVCC. I have 2 cats, Bailey and Dinah, and 2 dogs Dexter and Emmi. I, like many others here at best friends, can’t help but adopt animals in need and expect to be getting another animal soon! Working here is like seeing friend’s everyday and I hope to be here for years to come.

LAURA FLETCHER - TECHNICIAN                                                  Hello, my name is Laura Fletcher and I am a technician at Best Friends'. I have been working in a veterinary hospital for the past nine years and still continue to gain an ever-growing amount of new knowledge and experiences!  I graduated from Salisbury University in May '09 with a Bachelors degree in Organismal Biology & Chemistry and hope to one day earn my next degree- Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. I have two animals of my own: Myles, the most loving, goofy dog and Alice, my curious hedgehog. I have always had an immense passion for helping animals of ALL KINDS and now I get to express that passion everyday at BFVH!

KRISTAL BEALL - TECHNICIAN                                               Hello, my name is Kristal Beall I'm a technician here at Best Friends'.  I moved here to the Gaithersburg area in 2001 and began to broaden my experience with animals shortly thereafter when i began horseback riding.  I have 2 cats of my own right now, Mittens and Tiffany.  I currently attend University of Maryland, College Park, where I major in Animal Science.  I hope that the knowledge and experience I gain here at BFVH will help me to eventually get my own Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine so that I can continue to help animals and share my passion for them.

CHRISTINA JOHNSON - ASSISTANT TECHNICIAN                     Hello, my name is Christina Johnson.  I am an assistant technician at Best Friends' and have been here since June 09.  My husband and I have 2 cats, Strider and Rogue, 2  Leopard Geckos, Raziel and Indigo, and a bearded dragon, Z.  Dr Hollifield has been my veterinarian since moving to this area in 2006.  It is very hard to find a vet that cares for exotics, and I found everyone at Best Friends' to be extremely knowledgeable and passionate about all animals.  Now I have the pleasure of being part of the team!  I have learned so much since I started here, and I look forward to learning more and more everyday.