Our Staff

Doctors

Dr. Andrea Stickland , DVM

Andrea F.E. Stickland, DVM is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine class of 2001. Andrea was born in Inglewood, California, lived in Lake Tahoe for ten years, and then moved with the family to Arizona. Her interest in animals began early in life starting with two little dogs and growing to 10 horses, 24 cats, 26 dogs, and 2 birds at one time. She began as a veterinary assistant in Tucson, Arizona while attending University of Arizona (GO CATS!). She then met her husband Chris, a Tucson native, and moved to Michigan for graduate school. While there she participated in many new adventures, including, Student Class President, President of the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association, President of the Feline Club and Canine club and head of the fundraising committee for the Veterinary College at Michigan State. She spent her summers working for the Vetward Bound Program which helps underprivileged young adults fulfill their quest in the veterinary industry. She has also spent time at the Indian reservations along New Mexico and Arizona for the Remote Area Medicine program to help spay, neuter, and vaccinate reservation animals. In 2005, she was invited by MSU to go to Wyoming to participate in teaching veterinary students remote area medicine and surgery on the reservations by Riverton. Andrea and Chris moved back to Arizona after graduation in 2001. They now have 3 crazy kids (Cole, Aiden, and Emelia), two spoiled dogs (Higleigh, and Kyleigh), and one spoiled cat (Sundae). Today she finds herself here at Riggs Road Veterinary Clinic hoping to welcome the community and provide wonderful care and service to her patients.

View

Dr. Carolyn Duregger , DVM

Carolyn S. Duregger, DVM is a graduate of Colorado State University Veterinary School class of 1992. She was born in Palo Alto, CA but has lived in the Phoenix area since she was very young. She has practiced in the valley since graduating from CSU. She remains active in many organizations such as the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association, Feline Practitioners Association, and the Veterinary Integrative Network Association. Carolyn currently resides in Mesa with her husband Dan and her son Dylan. Unfortunately, due to her sons’ allergies she is unable to have her own dog or cat, which makes her enjoy seeing her patients even more. She does, however, have one very adorable juvenile desert tortoise named Butter. In her spare time, you may find her reading, listening to music, or spending time helping her husband out with their family business.

View

Staff

Aida Estrada

Aida Estrada is a part time Veterinary Assistant here at Riggs Road Veterinary Clinic. She began her career working as a kennel attendant while in high school in her hometown of Douglas, AZ. In 2001, she went to school to receive her certificate as a veterinary assistant at Pima Medical Institute in Tucson. Since then she moved to the valley where she has been working in the field doing what she loves. In 2003, Aida and her husband Richard embarked on a wonderful journey to the Yucatan in Mexico. There they worked with their church to help local communities. Aida was also able to extend her help to the local animals. Aida prides herself on her continued commitment to provide education to her clients. She also enjoys spending time with her husband and the rest of her family, including her 6 year old boxer, Zen. She and her husband had their first child, Lukas, in August 2007. They are very happy.

View

Jennifer Gilardoni

Jennifer Gilardoni is an Arizona native that grew up in the east valley. She graduated from Dobson High School in 1996 and began attending Arizona State University shortly after. She majored in general science classes and attended for 3 years. She began her journey into veterinary medicine in 1996. She has since worked in multiple facets of this field including kennel assistant, veterinary assistant and receptionist/front office supervisor. She also is an active member of the Veterinary Health care Team of Arizona. Her love of animals and education in the sciences has helped her to provide exceptional education and care to all our clients. She currently lives in Queen Creek with her husband, Joe, of over 5 years. In her spare time she enjoys camping, hiking, shopping, and spending time with her friends. She has a Maltese, Lilly, a Rat Terrier, Guiness, and a cinnamon conure, Carmella.

View

Kiersten Kern , CVT

Kiersten Kern, CVT is an Arizona native that grew up with lots of animals. She started her career as a veterinary technician in Northern California in 1991. After moving back to AZ in 1997, she attained her certification. She now enjoys working at Riggs Road Veterinary Clinic. Kiersten stays active in the veterinary community by attending continuing education and is a member of the Veterinary Healthcare Team of Arizona and a Veterinary Nutritional Advisor. She is also pursuing her Veterinary Dental Certification. Kiersten and her husband share 5 cats; Bean, George, Neo, Mongo, and J.C., a Chihuahua named Pico, 4 guinea pigs, 2 desert tortoises, reptiles, and lots of fish. Kiersten has her own jewelry business and makes glass beads in her spare time. She also enjoys gardening, cooking, hiking, and rock climbing.

View

Kristen Reeves

Kristen Reeves was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Mesa, AZ when she was 2. She graduated from Mountain View High School in 2002. She then attended Arizona State University where she studied pre-veterinary medicine. She graduated from ASU in 2006 and is going to take the Certified Veterinary Technician test this June. In February 2005 she began working in the veterinary field. She was married to her high school sweetheart, Collin, in March 2007. They welcomed their 1^st “human” child, Kayla, on November 12, 2008. They now live in Queen Creek with 2 dogs, Lily, an Akita, and Riley, a Golden Retriever, 4 cats, Hailey, Harley, Flower, and Winnie and a mouse, Minnie. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, scrap booking, reading, and spending time with her family.

View

Mikaela Young

Mikaela Young is an Arizona native. She is the second of five girls in her family She graduated from Basha High School May 2009. She plans on attending college for vet school and creative writing. Her family also includes four cats: Pumpkin, Tiger, Pobby, and Dingan; a parakeet, an alligator lizard, & two hamsters, but unfortunately no dogs. She is an animal and nature lover. She enjoys four-wheeling, hiking, camping, drawing, painting, writing, and listening to music.

View

Peggy Butters

Peggy Butters is a Chandler Arizona native and attended Chandler High School. She started working here at Riggs Road Veterinary Clinic in April 2008. She started her career in Veterinary Medicine about 7 years ago. Her major focus of interest includes radiology and hematology. She currently is an active member of the Veterinary Health Care Team of Arizona and loves to attend continuing education. She has a very active home which consists of her two daughters, Brittnie and Kortni, her boyfriend’s son, Aubrey, 3 horses (Honey, Braze, Drifter), a corn snake named Slick, and four dogs, Codi, Boogie, Deuce, and Cope… never a dull momentIn her spare time, Peggy enjoys snow boarding and attending ESPBRA where she watches her daughter compete with her horse.

View

Baloo, our clinic cat

Baloo came to work at Riggs Road Veterinary Clinic in 2007. He is the mascott and the clinic supervisor. He spends his days sleeping, cuddling, observing the staff members to be sure that all the patients are getting enough cuddling too.

View