Meet The Team of PRAH
You want to know that your pet is being treated by the best in the business, and at PRAH, you can be sure they are! Our veterinarians are all driven by the same core values: to provide progressive, respectful, accommodating, and heartfelt care. Each one fulfills those values in every service provided. Learn more about our veterinarians below by calling us now or schedule an appointment soon to experience our special brand of veterinary medicine.
Our Skillful, Compassionate Veterinary Staff
Our veterinary staff are instrumental to the success of our hospital. Each member contributes a unique set of skills to keep the hospital running so that you and your pet receive the very best care when you’re with us. Meet our technicians, assistants, administrators and more, and set up an appointment soon to meet them in person!
Kristin Palazzo
Practice Manager
Erin, CVT
Veterinary Technician Supervisor
Nancy
Veterinary Technician
Jesse
Veterinary Technician
Andrew
Veterinary Technician
Michele
Veterinary Technician
Megan
Veterinary Technician
Kirsten
Veterinary Technician
Trish
Customer Service Specialist
Laura
Customer Service Specialist
Erin
Veterinary Techician Supervisor
Bio coming soon!
Michele
Veterinary Technician
Bio coming soon!
Stevie
Customer Service Specialist
Bio coming soon!
Kristin Palazzo
Practice Manager
Bio coming soon!
Dr. Cassandra Gioffre
Veterinarian
Cassandra Gioffre, DVM, was raised in Bergen County, NJ. She received her bachelor’s degree in biomedical science from Marist College and went on to receive her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Kansas State University. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Associate (AVMA), is Fear Free certified, and is RECOVER certified in both Basic and Advanced Life Support. Her special interests include small animal internal medicine and endocrinology. Besides veterinary medicine, her passions include ballroom dancing, snowboarding, and spending time with friends and family, including her rescue dog, Charlie.
Trish
Customer Service Specialist
Trish started working at PRAH in March 2013. Her professional background includes many years as a legal assistant, and she has a B.S. from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania.
She lives in Newark with her husband, Jimmy, and their small menagerie including three rescue dogs, Felix, Lady, and Luna; two cats, Mr. T and JJ; and a bird named Hank. Trisha is a board member of the Newark Community Healthy Pet Clinic, which provides routine veterinary care to families in need in Newark. She is also a long-time volunteer at St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center.
Shannon
Customer Service Specialist
Shannon began working at Park Ridge Animal Hospital in June 2019. Previously she worked at another veterinary hospital as both a technician and a customer service representative for 6 years. In addition to being a customer service representative, Shannon is a social media and marketing assistant at PRAH. She attended Montclair State University and has her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She has a love for the outdoors and spends her free time hiking, dirt bike riding and traveling. She is the proud mom of a beautiful baby girl and four rescue cats Marley, Sabrina, Tabby and Khalessi.
Brittany
Customer Service Specialist
Brittany has been with us for the last year and comes to us with her experience as a surgery coordinator from a Specialty Hospital in New York. She is from New York where she lives with her two yorkie loves Bella and Louie. Her girlfriend and her enjoy vacationing abroad, wineries, knitting, car shows and hope to add some more yorkies to their happy home some day .
Kirsten
Veterinary Technician
Bio coming soon!
Erica
Veterinary Technician
Erica joined us in 2011. She graduated from Mercy College majoring in veterinary technology and also has a business degree. Her previous work experience includes critical care at a local emergency animal hospital.
Erica lives in Rockland County with her family including two rescued cats and a dog named Mimi.
Andrew
Veterinary Technician
Bio coming soon!
Nancy
Veterinary Technician
Nancy has been working at Park Ridge Animal Hospital since April 2000. In addition to being a highly-qualified veterinary technician, Nancy is in charge of our inventory and ordering. She attended Lake Erie College where she double-majored in biology and equine studies. Afterward, she also attended the Morven Park International Equestrian Institute.
Nancy lives in Park Ridge and has two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels named Gibbs and Ducky. She also has birds, donkeys, and a horse. Additionally, Nancy has been breeding and showing Labradors for many years in her free time.
Laura
Customer Service Specialist
Laura started working with us in February 2016, yet her career as a veterinary technician began in 2011. Laura graduated Summa Cum Laude from Roger William University with a Bachelor of Science in marine biology and a Bachelor of Arts in environmental chemistry. After college, Laura worked for four years at Six Flags Great Adventure as a Senior Animal Trainer. There, she cared for a variety of exotic animals including reptiles, birds, monkeys, dolphins, sea lions, and more! As you might expect, Laura is also scuba-certified.
In her spare time, she enjoys being with friends and family, watching movies, and visiting zoos and aquariums.
Sam
Veterinary Technician
Sam is originally from South Jersey but is now a resident of Upper Saddle River. She is new to the practice, but it seems like she has been here for years. Her enthusiasm, empathy and love for our patients go without measure. She lives in USR with her husband Charlie and their dogs, Oakland, Penelope, Jett and cats Fiona, Birdie, and Marley. She enjoys volunteer work, food, holidays and experimenting with new restaurants in the neighborhood.
Jesse
Veterinary Technician
Jesse has been with us for the last year and has dealt well-being the minority sex here at Park Ridge. He comes to us from West Milford, New Jersey and has been a CVT for 6 years. He is our official doodle connoisseur and one day hopes to have a bunch. He enjoys heavy metal music, hiking, time with family and especially his gecko, Pretty Princess Penny.
Michele
Veterinary Technician
Michele is new to our practice and is originally from North Carolina. She is currently living in close by Dumont and has been in the veterinary field for 15 years. She has two dogs Jax Daniels and Sage and her cat Yankee. She enjoys fishing, beach life and food.
Andrew
Veterinary Technician
Andrew, a resident of North Jersey, has been in the veterinary field for four years as both a technician and receptionist. He is a graduate of Stockton University majoring in biology and is pursuing veterinary school in the near future. He is a proud cat dad of five, yes five kitties and two bunnies! In his spare time, he likes to travel, do photography, and be active.
Erin
Veterinary Technician
Erin is one of our surgery technicians and is from North Jersey. She has been an LVT for 10 years and is in school currently for cardiovascular sonography. You may not see her in rooms too much since we keep her busy in the back with surgery. She enjoys beach life, the great outdoors, hiking, and gardening. She is the proud cat mom of her three-legged kitty , Pee-wee.
Dr. Dawn Fiedorczyk
Medical Director
Dr. Dawn Fiedorczyk was born in Pennsylvania and grew up in the small town of West Wyoming. She attended Wyoming Area School District before going off to major in biology at College Misericordia ( now Misericordia University). She completed her master’s in biology at East Stroudsburg University, and then attended veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania. She started her career at a local ER while also doing small animal and exotics day practice relief work and helping a local shelter. She remains active in the veterinary community as the president of the Northeast Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (NEPVMA) and currently holds a position with the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) as President-Elect and education committee chair. She is also on the Board of Trustees for Animal Care PA, the charitable arm of the PVMA.
She has a strong interest in helping to maintain the personal well-being of those within the veterinary profession and serves as a moderator and grant committee member of Not One More Vet (NOMV), an online support resource for veterinarians and support staff. Mental health is just as important as physical health and empathy, acceptance and education are especially important to her. Promoting and fostering the human animal bond fuels her passions in her day to day through all aspects of medicine. She is knowledgeable in many areas of veterinary medicine , including but not limited to: surgery, dentistry, pain management, shelter medicine, exotic animal medicine, and feline medicine.
In her spare time she loves to cook and garden. She currently resides in Drum, PA with her husband, Christopher, and numerous feline family members. We are lucky to have her as our medical director and await for her family to finish the process of relocation to New Jersey. She has two nieces- Izabella and Annalyse- with whom she dotes on and loves to pieces.
Dr. Beth Rosenblum
Veterinarian
Dr. Rosenblum received her undergraduate degree from Boston College and her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She has a special interest in internal medicine, pain management, and acupuncture, which she performs in-hospital. Apart from her career, Dr. Rosenblum has volunteered her time on mission trips to Honduras and Costa Rica as part of a veterinary team caring for wildlife.
Dr. Rosenblum lives in Hoboken with her husband, two daughters, and rescued Lab mix, Daisy. In her spare time, she likes to downhill ski, run marathons, and read.
Dr. Erin Scaglione
Veterinarian
Dr. Scaglione received her bachelor’s degree in biology from the College of New Jersey. She then went to Iowa State University where she received her DVM. Dr. Scaglione enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine, but her special interests include internal medicine, dentistry, and nutrition. She has received her Canine Rehabilitation Certificate (CCRP) from the University of Tennessee and is passionate about her rehabilitation and physical therapy program at Park Ridge.
She resides in Bergen County with her husband, two daughters, and their dog, Charley. When asked what she enjoys in her free time, Dr. Scaglione answered, “What free time? I have children.”
Dr. Joanna Rosen
Veterinarian
Dr. Joanna Rosen grew up in Bergen County, NJ. She received her bachelor of arts degree from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA and worked in the field of fashion product development before deciding to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian. After receiving her undergraduate degree, Dr. Rosen completed a post-baccalaureate at Hunter College (CUNY) before obtaining her doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Pennsylvania. Upon graduation, she completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners in New York City. Following her internship, Dr. Rosen worked in small animal general practice in New York City for several years. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and Fear-Free Certified. In her free time, Dr. Rosen enjoys yoga, the great outdoors, traveling, hiking with her dog, and spending time with family and friends. She and her rescue dog, Page, live with their two feline companions, Sweet Pea and Eleanor.
Dr. Emma Edgar
Veterinarian
Dr. Emma Edgar received her bachelor’s degree in biobehavioral health and biology from Penn State University in 2014 and her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2019. She practiced in Westchester County, NY for two years before joining us. Her special interests include endocrinology, dermatology, and canine behavior.
Outside of work, Dr. Emma enjoys spending time with her husband Alex, and rescue dog, Ellie, exploring NYC, reading, exercising, and volunteering at a local animal shelter.