Our Team

Dr. Amanda Brock is a small animal veterinarian dedicated to strengthening the bond between
people and their pets through compassionate, high-quality veterinary care. From a very young
age, she felt a deep love for animals, though veterinary medicine wasn’t her original career path.
That changed during her first year of college when she began working for Dr. Hirschman at
Desert Hills Animal Hospital. Seeing the meaningful impact he had on both animals and their
families inspired her to pursue a life devoted to veterinary medicine. Over the years, Amanda has
come to value not only the medical care she provides, but also the relationships she builds with
families—connections she believes are just as important as caring for their pets.

Amanda completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Nevada, Reno before attending
veterinary school for four additional years. After earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
degree, she returned to Reno and rejoined Desert Hills Animal Hospital—this time as a
veterinarian. She had the privilege of working alongside her long-time mentor, Dr. Hirschman,
until his retirement. In 2021, she became co-owner of the practice, continuing its legacy of
personalized, community-focused care.

Outside of veterinary medicine, Amanda enjoys a full and active home life. She and her husband,
Ryan, a local elementary school teacher, are proud parents of two teenagers, Dylan and Rilee.
Amanda’s love for animals has clearly passed down to Rilee, who is active in the local horse
riding community and shares her mom’s passion for animal care. Amanda also stays busy with
her golden retriever, Leo, and her cat, Hotdog, both of whom keep life entertaining.
Today, Dr. Brock remains committed to providing exceptional medical care, fostering strong
client relationships, and supporting the health and well-being of pets throughout the Reno
community.

Dr. Michelle Caldwell’s passion for veterinary medicine began early, long before she ever donned a white coat. After receiving her first encyclopedia of dog breeds as a child, she became endlessly fascinated by animals and their care. She was always the one at family gatherings playing with the dogs and cats, forming the kind of connection that would shape her future.

Determined to pursue her calling, Dr. Caldwell approached her own family veterinarian as a teenager, eager to learn. Though he wasn’t hiring, she insisted on working without pay if he would simply allow her to shadow him. That perseverance paid off, giving her invaluable early experience and cementing her dedication to the field.

Today, as a veterinarian and proud co-owner of Desert Hills Animal Hospital, Dr. Caldwell brings both skill and heart to her work. She loves practicing medicine, solving complex cases, and staying at the forefront of veterinary care, but what she cherishes most are the relationships she builds with her clients. Many families feel like an extension of her own, having trusted her to care for their pets throughout her entire career.

When she’s not in the clinic, Dr. Caldwell enjoys spending time with her husband, Tim, and their two young daughters. Together, they are an active, adventure loving family who embraces the outdoors and traveling. They love to camp, hike, ski, and immerse themselves in different cultures, often joined by their two beloved dogs: River, a spirited black Labrador retriever, and Penelope, a sweet and gentle Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Warm, attentive, and deeply committed to her patients, Dr. Caldwell strives to make every visit a positive experience, for both pets and the people who love them.

Hillary Brown has been part of the Desert Hills family since 2007 and proudly serves as the practice manager and part owner. She has a passion for both animals and the people who love them, and she works every day to make Desert Hills a welcoming, well-run place for pets and their families.

Outside of work, Hillary stays busy with her two boys — along with their golden retriever and cat, who keep life entertaining. When she’s not at the clinic, you can usually find her hiking, cheering at a baseball game, or spending quality time with her family.

With 13 years of service at Desert Hills, Associate Veterinarian Amanda Coats is a valued member of our team. She has a particular interest in alleviating pain in her patients and is dedicated to supporting clients through challenging choices with empathy and expertise. Dr. Coats began her veterinary career with a focus on equine medicine but found her calling in small animal practice, which allows her to enjoy a fulfilling work-life balance. She earned her BS and MS in Animal Science from the University of Nevada, Reno, followed by her DVM from Washington State University (Go Cougs!). Her commitment to advanced care is further demonstrated by her acupuncture training from CuraCore. When she’s not at the clinic, Amanda loves exploring the Sierra Valley through hiking, indulging in baking, and cherishing her life surrounded by nature.

Dr. Jen Vittori is a fifth-generation native Nevadan dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality care to the pets and families of her home state. A graduate of Bishop Manogue Catholic High School (go Miners!), she went on to earn her undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada, Reno (go Pack!). She then completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University (go Cougs!) in 2010.

Since beginning her career as a small-animal veterinarian, Dr. Jen has developed a strong clinical interest in soft tissue surgery and dentistry. She is especially passionate about building meaningful connections with her patients and the families who love them. She also loves going back to her old stomping grounds at WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine to help teach their students as part of their Diagnostic Challenge program. Dr. Jen has also served on the Nevada Veterinary Medical Association’s Board of Directors since 2016. She will finish her term as President in February of 2026 but will stay on to continue working to provide support to the profession throughout the state including fundraising, scholarship programs, and legislative action.

Outside of the professional setting, Dr. Jen enjoys spending time with her husband Josh, their son Andrew, and their Labrador Retriever, Maverick. She can be found cheering on her son at his baseball games or enjoying the outdoors through hiking, camping, and fishing when time allows. She also loves weightlifting, baking, and crafting.

Dr. Robyn Murray has known she wanted to be a veterinarian since the age of five. Born in Southern California and raised in Reno, Nevada, she developed a lifelong love for animals and medicine early on. She enjoys small animal general practice and values the diversity of cases and strong client–patient relationships it offers.

Dr. Murray has an extensive and well-rounded veterinary background, having worked in both corporate and private practice settings. Her roles have included Associate Veterinarian, Lead Veterinarian, Chief of Staff, and Medical Director. She also spent several years practicing emergency medicine, which strengthened her clinical skills and ability to manage complex and critical cases. She is now happily back in private practice, where she appreciates the variety, continuity of care, and collaborative environment.

Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Murray was a competitive equestrian through high school and part of college. She enjoys snowboarding, attending concerts, traveling, camping, and spending time with her family. Her household includes two children, three dogs, two cats, a hamster, and eight chickens.

Dr. Becca Taylor has loved animals for as long as she can remember, with a special soft spot for dogs of all shapes and sizes. Originally from Washington state, she attended veterinary school there before making Reno her home in 2019. She quickly fell in love with the area’s outdoor lifestyle and strong sense of community, which made Desert Hills Animal Hospital the perfect place for her to practice.

Dr. Taylor has a particular passion for brachycephalic breeds and is deeply committed to helping these special dogs live comfortable, happy, high-quality lives. She also brings orthopedic surgery services to Desert Hills Animal Hospital, allowing her to help injured pets regain mobility, reduce pain, and get back to doing what they love most.

One of Dr. Taylor’s favorite parts of veterinary medicine is building lasting relationships with both pets and their families. She truly enjoys getting to know “both ends of the leash” and feels honored to care for pets throughout their entire lifetime, from puppyhood to their golden years.

When she’s not at the hospital, you’ll likely find Dr. Taylor outside enjoying everything Northern Nevada has to offer. She loves skiing, backpacking, hiking, and paddleboarding—and does her best to include her senior pugs and German Shepherd mix in as many adventures as possible.

Dr. Taylor is proud to be part of the Desert Hills Animal Hospital team and looks forward to caring for the pets and people of our community for many years to come.

Dr. Brandstetter has been practicing veterinary medicine for over 12 years and enjoys building long-term relationships with both pets and their people. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada and went on to complete her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Washington State University.

She has a strong interest in acute and chronic pain management, internal medicine and soft tissue surgery. She enjoys working through complex medical cases and finding solutions that help patients feel more comfortable and improve their quality of life.

She is passionate about keeping pets healthy through all stages of life, with a strong focus on preventive care. She believes that proactive medicine, combined with clear communication and teamwork with pet owners, leads to happier, healthier pets. Her approach to care is thoughtful, compassionate, and tailored to each individual patient.

Outside of work, Dr. Brandstetter enjoys spending time with her family and baking the most delicious macrons. She feels grateful to work in a profession that allows her to support the special bond between pets and their families every day.