Elisa joined Pets First as a veterinary assistant in October of 2022. She pursued her lifelong passion for learning, earning a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2020. After a year teaching undergraduates about animal behavior, she decided that working in academia was not a good fit for her. Elisa believes that all animals deserve to be treated with respect and compassion. She longed for a chance to work with animals directly and to help them live healthier, happier lives. Her cat, Maximus, was a patient at Pets First, and so she reached out to Dr. C and was delighted to learn that the clinic had room for her on its staff. Today, she lives just around the corner with Maximus and with her husband, John. When she isn't at work, Elisa enjoys reading and writing fiction (mostly sci-fi and fantasy), knitting, social dancing, and baking delicious vegan treats for her friends.