About Susitna Animal Urgent Care

Dr Emily Clinton

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

I grew up on a small farm in Bend, Oregon where my love of animals started. From a young age I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian. I graduated from Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. While in school I met Dr. Vollaro and with our common interest in emergency medicine, we started the local chapter of the Student Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society.

After graduation I moved to Phoenix, Arizona where I took a job at a general practice with an emphasis in canine reproduction. I gained extensive experience in reproductive procedures such as semen collection, artificial insemination (vaginal, transcervical, and surgical), breeding timing, c-sections, vasectomy, ovary sparing spay, and diagnostics for breeding problems. Eventually I started to miss the excitement of emergency medicine and began relief work at local ER hospitals. After many years in the desert southwest, I decided it was time to return to the mountains and forests and was lured to Alaska by Dr. Vollaro.

Since moving to Alaska in 2019 I have been dedicated to emergency medicine and urgent care, while continuing reproductive work on the side. I also help regularly at the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Animal Shelter to spay and neuter dogs and cats before they find their forever home. When I’m not working I love to travel, read, get outdoors with everything from hiking to snow machining, and spend time with my husband, 3 cats, and 3 dogs.

Dr Ciara Vollaro

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

I was born and raised in Southern California. At an early age, I realized I had a passion for caring for animals. I fulfilled my dream of becoming a veterinarian by graduating from Western University of Health Sciences in 2007, alongside Dr. Clinton. I began my career in Southern California at a practice that provided both emergency and general care. It was at this point of my career that I found that I flourished in emergency medicine as it brought a variety of challenging cases.

My husband grew up in Southeast Alaska and always dreamt of moving back to the Last Frontier. In October 2012 we arrived in Alaska, where I continued to practice emergency medicine in Anchorage and Wasilla. For the past two years, I have been providing veterinary services to local general and emergency practices in the state.

In my spare time, I seize the opportunity to travel and enjoy the great outdoors with my husband, two dogs, Fisher and Huntly, and two cats, Trout and Grayling.

Dr Paige Wallace

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

I grew up in Wasilla, Alaska and spent summers working on my uncle’s horse ranch where I fell in love with Veterinary Medicine. I attended vet school at the University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, I served 8 years in the Army and Army Reserves. I began my journey in emergency medicine at a large emergency and referral hospital in Tacoma. In 2018 I lept at an opportunity to come home. For the last 2 years I have been working as a relief emergency clinician, in Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley, continuing to offer care in my community.

Training our hunting dogs brought me together with Jake. We have two Large Munsterlanders- Filson and Ila and our old Border Collie Kip has been with me since my vet school days. We also have one chubby marshmallow of a cat Huckleberry who came to me by chance and fit right into our little family.