Our Veterinarians

Dr. Kurt Dawid was raised in Chicago, IL. Following college, he worked as a paramedic on overnight shifts in an ambulance on the southwest side of Chicago, where he developed a passion for emergency medicine and honed his ability to perform under pressure while multitasking. Describing himself as somewhat of a wanderlust, he decided to attend veterinary school far from home. In 2017, he earned his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Ross University on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. After graduation, he completed a year-long rotating clinical internship at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.

His career began as an overnight emergency veterinarian in Vancouver, Washington, where he further developed his emergency medical skills and discovered a newfound interest in exotic species. During this period, he volunteered at the Newport Aquarium in Oregon, gaining valuable experience with aquatic species, particularly his favorite animal, sharks. It was during this time that he met his wife, Tana. Both sharing a passion for exotic animals, they made the bold decision to relocate to Fairbanks, Alaska, to assist in establishing exotic animal care at a local hospital. After completing this project, they returned to Vancouver, Washington, where Dr. Dawid joined Vancouver Veterinary Hospital as an associate doctor. Over the years, he advanced to become Medical Director/Lead Doctor.

Outside of work, Dr. Dawid enjoys going on Harley rides and adventures with Tana, reading cozy mystery books by the fire, and cherishing downtime at home with Tana and their geriatric tuxedo cat, Boots. His ultimate goal is to establish his own veterinary hospital one day.

Amy was born in Germany but has spent most of her life in the PNW. She has had a lifelong passion for animals and has worked in vet-med since 2020. Outside of work she enjoys, hiking, skiing, playing video games, and watching movies.

Kaitlyn grew up in Chino Hills, California and recently moved to Washington with her partner. She attended Colorado State University, where she received a BS in zoology while working at a sheep and goat biomedical research laboratory. She then discovered her love for wildlife and spent two years working as a seasonal wildlife technician, where she aided in the research of threatened and endangered species in Idaho and Wyoming. She now is excited to get back into the veterinary field and spread her love of caring for all species. In her free time, Kaitlyn enjoys spending time with her three cats, caring for her school of dojo loaches, backpacking, and flying kites near the ocean.

Amanda was born in Mountain View, CA and moved to the PNW shortly after. She grew up with ferrets, great pyranees, labs, and beagles and has had a lifelong passion for animals her whole life. She graduated from the University of Oregon and moved to Vancouver with her husband. She also works as a web designer and outside of her professional pursuits, she enjoys reading, cinema, video games, and working out.

Tessa has been working in veterinary medicine for five years. She has loved and been interested in working in animal medicine since she was young. Tessa strives to learn the most that she can to help others have a better understanding of their animals!

I was born in Keflavik Iceland, both parents were in the military and met there and had my sister, brother and I. We traveled to Maine shortly after and then drove across the US to the PNW. I’ve have several animals throughout my childhood ranging from dogs (golden retrievers, dachshunds, German shepherds, frenchies etc..) birds, bunnies, chickens, horses. I’ve always been an animal lover, I’ve just had more of a connection and love for animals than I did anything else. I didn’t want to do soccer or softball, I always wanted to be on the back of a horse or running through the yard with my dogs. I’ve always wanted to be apart of vetmed and share the love I have with animals with my colleagues and clients. Outside of work I love reading, hiking and spending time with my family and animals.

Autumn is a dedicated and compassionate member of our team who brings a deep love for animals to her role every day. As a receptionist, she’s often the first friendly face clients see when they walk through our doors. With a strong passion for helping animals and a natural talent for multitasking, Autumn ensures our front desk runs smoothly and efficiently. Her ability to stay organized in a fast-paced environment helps support both our clients and veterinary team, making every visit as seamless as possible.