Alicia Navarro, Practice Manager

Alicia joined the Acorn team in 2015, starting as an intern receptionist. Always having a love for animals and passion connecting with people, she worked her way up to practice manager. She hopes to continue growing with Acorn and expanding her skills. In her down time Alicia enjoys spending time with her husband, kids and fur babies. She loves the outdoors, exploring nature, walks, painting and reading.

Abby Reina-Guerra, Practice Assistant Manager

Abby grew up local here in Davis, attended Da Vinci Junior-High/Highschool and graduated from Cal Poly Humboldt in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in international studies and a minor in Zoology. Since then she has worked in the Animal Medicine & Behavioral field in both the United States and Spain. Here at Acorn, Abby is sort of a jack of all trades so you might see her running around reception, surgery technician, vet assistant, or management. In her free time she enjoys listening to music, reading, and anything that involves being outdoors with her Husky, Balto. If you are lucky, you might even see Balto up in reception helping mom from time to time.

Kristi Klinger, RVT

Kristi has been at Acorn since 2004.  She became a Registered Veterinary Technician in 2012. 

She has 1 cat and 2 dogs.  In her spare time, she enjoys doing agility with her 2 Shelties.

Barbara Barajas, RVT

Barbara has been a licensed Veterinary Technician since 1982. She worked at Woodland Veterinary Hospital for 18 years after which she spent 19 years working in shelter medicine. Through the combination of both “worlds” She has gained a lot of experience handling dogs and cats of all temperaments. She is excited to be part of the team at Acorn Veterinary Clinic and feels privileged to assist in the rehab center to improve the lives of our “senior” fur kids.

Rachel Nakano, RVT 

Rachel grew up in Davis and joined the Acorn team in 2020. She has been working with animals in a variety of settings since 2014. She graduated from Cosumnes River College with a degree in veterinary technology in the spring of 2022. She passed the boards to become a registered veterinary technician in the summer of 2022.  In her spare time she enjoys playing the piano, ukulele, baking, and spending time with her two dogs.

Everardo Sanchez (Eevee), Assistant

Everardo recently graduated with a Bachelors in Animal Science and is aiming to attend Veterinary School in the future. His personal interests include playing tennis, cycling, watching anime, hanging out with friends, and playing video games. Everardo is also a huge Pokémon fan which is where he got his nickname from.

Veronica Padilla

Veronica joined the Acorn Team in 2023 and strives to provide great care to your beloved pets with dedication and compassion. She previously graduated with a bachelor's in animal science from UC Davis with the goal of becoming a veterinarian in the future. When not at Acorn, Veronica enjoys keeping herself busy; therefore, you may find her reading, cooking, volunteering, or binge watching a new show!

Courtney Landon

Courtney recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences and is set to begin her first year as a veterinary student at UCD. Her veterinary career has afforded her the opportunity to work with a diverse range of species, including raptors and Tasmanian devils.

Courtney has special interests in mixed animal practice, rehabilitation and integrative medicine, and client education. She believes in a holistic approach to veterinary care, aiming to provide comprehensive treatment plans and empower pet owners through education.

In her free time, Courtney enjoys reading, horseback riding, and playing video games, activities that offer her relaxation and a balanced lifestyle.

Sebastian

Sebastian grew up in a small town along the Santa Clara River. Raised in a veterinary family and exposed to the various wildlife around town, they were enamored with the field from a young age and have found themself working in veterinary hospitals ever since high school. They graduated with a B.S. in ecology and evolutionary biology from CSUN with honors in 2023 and now attend UC Davis as a veterinary student. Sebastian is passionate about animal welfare and exotic/ wild animal medicine. In their spare time they love to play guitar, hike (while looking for cool critters of course), and hang out with friends!

Thanusha

Thanusha is a pre-vet student at UC Davis. She has been a part of the veterinary field since 2019 and has been continuing her journey through it as a part of the Acorn team since 2023. In her free time, you can find Thanusha playing board games, thrifting, going on hikes, binge-watching TV shows, and spending time with her friends and family.

Margaret McCarron

I became a licensed vet tech in 1994. I started my career in specialty medicine at The Sacramento Animal Medical Group in Carmichael, CA. Then for 17years I worked as a small animal anesthetist at UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. I started at Acorn vet clinic in 2022. Me and my boyfriend have 2 dogs, 4 cats, chickens, ducks, geese and a turkey.

Henry

Henry is a pre-veterinary student studying Animal Science at UC Davis. He was born in Guangzhou, China, and raised in Los Angeles. Henry is passionate about animal nutrition and aspires to become a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. When he's not studying, he enjoys photography, anime, and badminton.

Sophie

Sophie graduated UC Davis in 2025 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences, and is working towards becoming a veterinarian in the future. She is interested in preventative medicine and owner education, and is committed to providing quality care to each pet. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, spending time with friends, and hanging out with her cat, Roni.

Aireus

Aireus is originally from southern California and ventured up here to explore his love for working with animals. He is in the process of becoming a veterinarian and in his free time he spends a lot of his time with his foster dog. If he is not watching Bob’s burgers, you can often find him at your local open mic night showcasing his voice.

Melinda

Melinda has aspired to become a veterinarian ever since her love for animals and science began in elementary school. She grew up in the Bay Area and graduated from UC Davis in 2023 with a major in Animal Science and a minor in Music. Melinda has a red eared slider named Honeydew with her in Davis, and a cat named Leo in the Bay with her parents. In her free time, you can find Melinda rock climbing, watching anime, taking care of her plants, cooking, making matcha, or jamming with her dreampop band Jellyfish Blue.

Alexa

Alexa graduated from Unity Environmental University in 2025 with a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Health and Behavior. She enjoys learning about animal psychology and working with exotics. She is passionate about animal care, rehabilitation, and improving the wellbeing of animals in need. Her long-term goal is to establish an animal sanctuary that provides rehabilitation and a safe place for sick and injured animals. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, arts and crafts, and caring for her at home zoo.

Allie

Alejandra is a dedicated animal care professional with over 10 years of experience in the veterinary field. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Disease Biology from UC Davis and has been part of our team since 2022. Her background includes working at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, where she gained valuable experience in animal physical therapy and emergency medicine, as well as several years with VIP Petcare, where she trained staff in animal handling, behavior, and preventive care. She also has a strong research foundation, having contributed to multiple projects in disease biology and animal health. Passionate about helping pets heal, regain mobility, and thrive, Alejandra combines scientific knowledge, technical skills, and compassion to make a positive difference in the lives of her patients and their families.