Nikki Avila
Practice Manager & Lead Registered Veterinary Technician
Niki began her career in Veterinary Medicine in 1995, after taking ROP classes in veterinary assistance. Since childhood, her life long dream has always been to work with animals, or to become a zoo ambassador like Joan Embry. Before obtaining her RVT license, Niki majored in animal biology and zoology, completing a semester in Kenya, Africa, focusing on wildlife conservation. Niki has spent most of her career in specialty hospitals focused in Internal Medicine and Advanced Imaging (MRI’s and CT Scans). She enjoys building long term relationships and friendships with clients, teaching technical staff, and mentoring veterinary interns and residents.
Niki has been published for her continued work partnering with a biotech company in a Type I diabetes reversal study. The study uses pancreatic stem cells (neo-islets) to reverse diabetes in dogs, and the hope is to trial this in humans to reverse type 1 Diabetes. http://symbiocelltech.com/news.
In 2018 Niki left her beloved specialty medicine to concentrate on practice management for general practices. Niki wanted to use her skills as a RVT to restructure veterinary practices, and to help train and elevate the medicine and standards of care performed in practice day to day. She is currently in the process of obtaining her VTS (Veterinary Technical Specialty) in clinical practice, and to become a certified veterinary practice manager.
Niki resides in Temecula with her boyfriend and beloved bonus kids, her most perfect Australian Shepherds Teller and Quill, and her two bratty cats Emmitt and Jeter. In her downtime, Niki keeps busy with kids' sports, gardening, traveling, and staying active with her family and Aussies. Niki is excited to be partnering with her long time friend and former employer, Dr. Hoolihan, in opening Neighborhood Veterinary Hospital.