Family Vet Care Center Puts Pets First
It’s vital to put your pet’s care into hands you can trust. At Family Vet Care Center, our founder and lead veterinarian, Dr. Amanda Della Penna, personally cultivated an office policy of prioritizing our patient’s care above all else. We value every one of our pet-parents, and work closely with them to ensure we’re treating their furbaby with the best medical attention possible. Behind our quality treatment is a team of experienced and dedicated veterinary professionals. Valuing field experience, continuing education, and exceptional customer service, the staff at Family Vet Care Center supports our doctors for seamless and efficient patient treatment. Taking every step possible, it’s our mission to stay Pittsburgh’s most trusted and reliable veterinary care center.
Our Doctors
Amanda Della Penna, DVM, Owner
Starting her education with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bethany College, Dr. Amanda Della Penna then attended veterinary school at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Since graduation, she has worked in the Pittsburgh area for most of her career. Starting Family Vet Care Center was her long-term dream, and she couldn’t be happier it is now a reality.
Having spent the majority of her career in emergency medicine, it is Dr. Della Penna’s goal to bring the high level of skill and care she gained in the ER to her private practice, benefitting your pets on a daily basis.
Dr. Della Penna’s special interests include surgery, emergency medicine, point-of-care ultrasound, and preventative medicine. In her free time, Dr. Della Penna enjoys snowboarding, spending time in nature, and watching Pittsburgh Penguins hockey and The Ohio State Buckeyes football team. She has two cats and three rats at home.
Nicole Hladio, DVM
Dr. Hladio studied biology at the University of Notre Dame and veterinary medicine at North Carolina State University. She has spent her career working in both emergency medicine and general practice. With years of exploring a variety of medical specialties, she is especially interested in ophthalmology, soft tissue surgery, and emergency medicine. Dr. Hladio’s favorite place to be is the beach with sand beneath her toes and waves crashing on the shore. She has one dog and three cats at home.
Madeline Leidy, DVM
Dr. Leidy attended the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. From there, she completed an internship out west in Arizona. Her career has been a combination of both emergency medicine and general practice. After years of practicing, Dr. Leidy is especially interested in emergency medicine, preventative care, and client education. In her free time, she enjoys boating, staying active, and antique shopping. She has three dogs and five cats at home.
Jessica Trail, VMD
Dr. Trail received a degree in Animal Science from Penn State University in 2010. After working at the University of Pittsburgh for a year, Dr. Trail moved to Philadelphia to attend veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania. She graduated vet school in 2015, and then went on to complete a year-long rotating small animal internship at Tufts Veterinary Emergency Services in Walpole, MA. Since returning to Pittsburgh in 2016, she has worked in a variety of small animal general and emergency practices. She lives with her two Golden Retrievers, Pacer & Pigeon, and her cat, Sgt. Tibbs. Her hobbies include hiking, knitting, and reading. She also competes with her Golden Retriever in Rally and Obedience.
Our Staff
Maureen
Maureen, who also goes by Mo, is our VP of Administration. Mo has been in the veterinary field for the past 24 years. She is a dog mom to her two Dogue de Bordeaux’s, Harkin & Emeline.
Milena
Milena is our VP of Operations. She graduated from the Vet Tech Institute in 2018 and started off her career in emergency and specialty medicine. Milena is the mom of her two dogs, Quake and Cleo, and she has a cat named Chip.
Alex
Alex graduated from Columbus State in 2022 and loves The Ohio State Buckeyes. She has been in the veterinary field for the past 5 years and is a registered vet tech. Alex has two cats, Meow Meow and Erma. Alex enjoys long walks and hiking in her free time!
Ally
Ally is one of our veterinary technicians. She is a certified vet tech and has been in the veterinary field since 2010. She loves dogs, but cats and all of their quirks are her passion! She lives with her boyfriend, Mike, and their 10 very spoiled cats (Zoe, Boog, Oscar, Mya, Addy, Mama, Penelope, Hendrix, Cass, and Jeb). When she is not working, Ally enjoys gardening, caring for her plant collection, and off-roading.
Cait
Cait is one of our kennel assistants. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, road trips, and shopping! She recently moved to Whitehall with her Golden Retriever pup, Nacho. Cait plans on finishing her vet tech program and pursuing her career as a veterinary technician!
Christa
Christa is our inventory manager, as well as one of our veterinary assistants. She helps our doctors manage their case loads, and you may even hear from her with your pet’s lab work results! She has been working in the field since 2004, gaining experience in both emergency medicine and general practice. Outside of work, Christa enjoys reading and spending time with her friends and family. She and her husband have a family of two children and two dogs.
Christian
Christian is one of our kennel assistants. He just graduated from college and is pursuing a career to become a veterinarian. He has a dog named Kora and two guinea pigs, Pumpkin and Little. In his free time, Christian enjoys drawing, playing video games, and listening to music/singing.
Emily
Emily is one of our veterinary assistants! She graduated from the Vet Tech Institute this past year and completed her externship here at FVCC. Emily was born and raised in Pittsburgh. Her fur-family consists of a dog and two cats. Her hobbies include coloring, long walks, swimming, and relaxing with her pets.
Holly
Holly is one of our veterinary assistants. She has been working in the veterinary field for almost 17 years. She enjoys client education and ensuring patients get the best care possible! She has worked in clinics all over the US including Philadelphia, Florida, and Arizona. Holly lives with her husband, twins, 2 dogs, and 2 cats. She loves Star Wars, 80’s movies, scary books, cats, and anything cheese. Outside of work she likes to watch movies, ride ATV’s/four wheelers, and spend time with her family.
Jake
Jake is one of our patient care coordinators. When he’s not building trusting relationships with our clients, he enjoys spending his free time outdoors. Serving as a liaison between our doctors and pet-parents, he’s happy to help keep all of our guests comfortable. Jake is also a loving dog dad to his labradoodle.
Janika
Janika is one of our veterinary assistants. She graduated from Carlow University with a degree in biology in 2021. She enjoys reading, running, and watching horror movies. With goals to continue her education, she was recently accepted to La Roche University. She is the mom of a ferret, turtle, and cat.
Jordan
Jordan is one of our veterinary assistants. She recently graduated from the Vet Tech Institute at the end of 2023, and completed her externship here at Family Vet Care Center. In her free time, Jordan likes to read, hang out with friends, and travel. She has a cat named Kubota, and two dogs named Lola and Penny.
Krista
Krista is one of our veterinary assistants! She has been in the veterinary field for almost 7 years. Krista enjoys collecting oddities, crafting, and video games. She has two dogs named Xavier and Beezi, and 3 cats named Ramen, Noodle, and Lo Mein.
Kristi
Kristi is one of our patient care coordinators. Providing support for pet-parents, she advocates on our patients’ behalf to the doctors. She enjoys going to sports games, craft shows, and spending time with her family. Along with her husband and kids, she has both a cat and a dog.
Lexy
Lexy is one of our veterinary assistants. She graduated from the Vet Tech Institute of Pittsburgh in 2019 and has been in the veterinary field for 5 years. She aspires to work in wildlife rehabilitation someday. In her free time, Lexy likes to go hiking and enjoy new adventures. She is the mom of 2 dogs, 4 cats, aquatic frogs, and many fish!
Lindsey
Lindsey is one of our veterinary assistants. She has been working in the veterinary field for 8 years. In her spare time, she enjoys riding bikes and hiking. Lindsey is an animal lover, and has a family that consists of 5 dogs, 3 cats, and a horse! Although she loves her furry family, Lindsey’s favorite animal is an alligator!
Rachael
Rachael is one of our veterinary technicians. She graduated from the Vet Tech Institute in 2019 and has worked in emergency medicine, general practice, and large animal medicine. Her favorite activity outside of work is spending time with her friends and family. She and her husband have a dog, two cats, and a family of ducks.
Sam
Sam is one of our veterinary assistants. She graduated from the Vet Tech Institute in 2018. Sam loves animals, music, and baking. She was also a baker for 2-3 years. She has two dogs, Malakia and Alaura, and three cats named Kit, Rhyn, and Roman.
Shiane
Shiane is one of our veterinary assistants. She enjoys fishing, coloring, spending time with her family, and being a dog mom to her Rottweiler mix, Pepper! Outside of work, Shiane enjoys watching spooky movies and shows on Netflix.
Suzanna
Suzanna is one of our veterinary assistants. She has been in the veterinary medicine world for about 3 years. Suz has two cats named Timmy and Dill. She loves all dogs, but Pitbulls and Great Danes hold a special place in her heart!
Taylor
Taylor is one of our veterinary assistants. She has worked in the veterinary field for 8 years, with the goal of becoming a veterinarian. She has two dogs, Stark and Maya, and a cat named Stevie. Outside of vet med, she also has her own photography business! Taylor enjoys spending her free time with family and friends, being outside, or traveling.