Dr. Jay Johnson is the founder and owner of Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital, the Valley’s first animal hospital devoted exclusively to the care of exotic pets. As a boy growing up on the outskirts of Tucson, he was fascinated with exotic pets, especially reptiles. He kept a variety of these unique pets throughout his childhood including snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, tarantulas, rabbits, a cockatoo, pigmy goats, as well as more traditional pets like dogs and horses.
Medical Staff
Staff Doctors
Dr. Lamb has always desired to provide good health, happiness and care to all exotic pets. She grew up in Las Vegas, NV. After graduating from UNLV with a B.S. in Biology, she attended veterinary school at the University of Minnesota. After finishing veterinary school she performed a one year internship in avian and exotic medicine followed by a two year residency in avian medicine and surgery.
Dr. Pilny is a native New Yorker but joined Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital by way of Los Angeles, California. Dr. Pilny is a graduate of the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Klein grew up in northern New York and is here to stay in Arizona where the days are warm and sun is bright. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Zoology at SUNY Oswego before moving on to obtaining her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University. She has recently completed a rotating internship in small animal and exotic medicine and surgery at VCA Valley Animal Hospital.
Dr. Lewis hails from Indianapolis, IN but has also lived, studied, and worked in TN, NJ, and NY. After graduating from Purdue University, she attended the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. She has completed multiple internships, and a residency in exotic companion mammals, always caring for a wide variety of species including birds, mammals, and herptiles.
Dr. Brandy Kragness grew up in Minnesota and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the University of Minnesota. She went on to complete a one-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr.
Dr. Walth is originally from Colorado Springs, CO. He received his veterinary degree from Iowa State University. He completed a small animal rotating internship in Tucson, AZ followed by a residency in zoological medicine and surgery at the University of Georgia, as well as a concurrent master's degree in comparative biomedical science - zoological medicine.
Dr. Nick Saint-Erne is a dedicated veterinarian who is passionate about pets, exotic animals, and aquatic veterinary medicine.
Mike Corcoran is a 2008 graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University (Go Cougs!).
Interns
Dr. Paloma Venegas is a southern California native, growing up in the San Gabriel Valley. She completed her undergraduate degree in animal biology at the University of California, Davis. During that time, she developed a passion for zoo animals when conducting her thesis on chimpanzee behavior. Dr.
Dr. Womble is from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in biology, he attended veterinary school at Oklahoma State University. After a rotating small animal internship and a year of practice at an emergency veterinary clinic in Oklahoma City, he joined AZEAH in the summer of 2023 as an intern. His particular interest is in reptiles.
Dr. Rachel Raguin grew up in a town in Massachusetts, but her studies of animals have given her the opportunity to travel the country. After graduating from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a degree in Animal Science, she attended Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine.
Residents
Dr. Thulson is excited to meet your scaled, slimy, furry, or feathered friend! She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. During her undergraduate studies, she was involved in porpoise skeleton reconstruction, spent time as a zookeeper, and rehabilitated orphaned squirrels.