Meet the Team
Meet the Team
Merrianne Burtch, DVM, DACVIM
Board-Certified Veterinary Internist
Dr. Merrianne Burtch is a veterinary internal medicine specialist who has practiced throughout the Central Coast of California for more than 28 years. She is passionate about providing compassionate, appropriate medical care and guidance, with a quality-of-life priority for patients and their people.
She grew up in San Jose, California, attended Stanford University as an undergraduate and then UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. Dr. Burtch designed and completed an intensive internal medicine residency in Santa Cruz, California, then became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal) in 1999, earning her status as a Diplomate. Her hobbies include sports, gardening, and enjoying the beauty of nature.
Shannon
Veterinary Nurse
Administrative Assistant
Shannon grew up locally in Carmel Valley and has always had an innate desire to care for animals. She graduated with her BS in Animal Science from Chico State University in 2013. She has worked as a veterinary nurse between VCA Valley Oak Veterinary Center in Chico, CA, and Pacific and Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists for the last ten years. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, cooking/baking, crafting, and spending time with her boyfriend Daniel and their three dogs, Abigail, Gunther, and Milton.
Rick Rasmussen
Office Manager
Rick Rasmussen started his software engineering career with Hewlett-Packard in 1988, having been recruited after two summer internships with them while attending UC Santa Cruz. He has worked for many software companies over his 17 years in the industry, including Santa Cruz Operation, Lutris Technologies, InterSan, and Finisar.
Rick decided to leave the “rat race” of the computer industry and started a handyman business known as Reliable Handyman and served Santa Cruz County for ten years running his own business. Now he is helping Dr. Burtch start her company by providing IT services, office management, and client service.
All team photography by Jana Marcus Photography
Merrianne Burtch, DVM, DACVIM
Board-Certified Veterinary Internist
Dr. Merrianne Burtch is a veterinary internal medicine specialist who has practiced throughout the Central Coast of California for more than 28 years. She is passionate about providing compassionate, appropriate medical care and guidance, with a quality-of-life priority for patients and their people.
She grew up in San Jose, California, attended Stanford University as an undergraduate and then UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. Dr. Burtch designed and completed an intensive internal medicine residency in Santa Cruz, California, then became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal) in 1999, earning her status as a Diplomate. Her hobbies include sports, gardening, and enjoying the beauty of nature.
Shannon
Veterinary Nurse
Administrative Assistant
Shannon grew up locally in Carmel Valley and has always had an innate desire to care for animals. She graduated with her BS in Animal Science from Chico State University in 2013. She has worked as a veterinary nurse between VCA Valley Oak Veterinary Center in Chico, CA, and Pacific and Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists for the last ten years. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, cooking/baking, crafting, and spending time with her boyfriend Daniel and their three dogs, Abigail, Gunther, and Milton.
Rick Rasmussen
Office Manager
Rick Rasmussen started his software engineering career with Hewlett-Packard in 1988, having been recruited after two summer internships with them while attending UC Santa Cruz. He has worked for many software companies over his 17 years in the industry, including Santa Cruz Operation, Lutris Technologies, InterSan, and Finisar.
Rick decided to leave the “rat race” of the computer industry and started a handyman business known as Reliable Handyman and served Santa Cruz County for ten years running his own business. Now he is helping Dr. Burtch start her company by providing IT services, office management, and client service.
Nick Hertz
Registered Veterinary Technician
Nick is from North Dakota and moved to Santa Cruz in 2002. He has been working in veterinary specialty medicine since 2003, first at Pacific Veterinary Specialists and then Pet Specialists of Monterey. In 2010, he graduated from Foothill College in Los Altos Hills with an Associate Degree in Veterinary Technology and passed the California State and North American National boards as a Registered Veterinary Technician. Along with a lifelong love of animals, Nick also has an affinity toward the human aspect and bond accompanying his work. In his free time, he can be found volunteering with seniors, walking dogs, or quietly reading alongside the coast
Clarity Corona
Referral Coordinator
Clarity has been a resident of Santa Cruz for the last 16 years and has always loved being around and working with animals of all kinds. She has worked as a client service representative and vet assistant at Pacific and Santa Cruz Specialists, Santa Cruz General Practice, and Ophthalmology for Animals over the last seven years. In her free time, she enjoys reading, gardening, horseback riding, and spending time with her three cats Indiana, Skywalker, and Pebble.
All team photography by Jana Marcus Photography
