Niki Luisi
RVT, Regional Manager
Hi, my name is Niki Luisi, and I am a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) and the Regional Manager overseeing all four of our hospitals. I am passionate about providing high-quality care and helping pets and their families feel supported every step of the way.
Personal Hobbies and Interests
I enjoy traveling with my husband and exploring different cultures, spending quality time with my two bonus kids, and going to live music. I'm involved with the Australian Shepherd club and compete with my Aussies in agility, Fast CAT, and conformation. I also love baking, spoiling my chickens, working in the yard, and—as a true Pisces—being in the water whenever I can. We call our household the Luisi Zoo: four Australian shepherds (Teller, Quill, Wanda, and Agatha, with maybe another on the way), our cats Emmitt, Jeter, Jacob, and Rizzo, and our beloved chickens, who live in a coop we named "Chickerton," complete with wallpaper and a little chandelier.
Favorite Part of My Job
After transitioning into management, I realized one of my favorite parts of specialty medicine was working with interns, residents, and our amazing veterinary staff. I love the collaboration of this field, the constant advancements in care, and working with our veterinarians and team on both a personal and team level. I also love educating our clients on keeping their pets healthy and safe through preventative care.
Why I Chose This Profession
My life's goal since childhood has always been to work with animals and in the veterinary field, whether in small animal medicine or in a zoology or conservation setting. Lucky for me, veterinary medicine has been part of my professional life since my teenage years, when I started in 1994 through the San Diego ROP veterinary assistance program at my high school.
Education
Before earning my RVT license, I majored in animal biology and zoology, attending Mesa College and San Diego State, and completing a semester abroad in Kenya, Africa through Ventura State with a focus on wildlife conservation. I attended college from 1995 to 2000 and have been a California Registered Veterinary Technician since 2011. I plan to continue my education toward a VTS certification in nutrition as well as a CVPM certification.
Professional Background
Internal medicine and advanced imaging will always have my heart and continue to fascinate me. My special interests include senior pet care, autoimmune disease, and GI disease, as well as any form of advanced imaging such as CT and MRI. I also have a strong interest in animal nutrition and longevity through preventative care.
I had the honor of being published for my work as a study coordinator on a pancreatic stem cell study through Veterinary Specialty Hospital and Dr. Julie Fischer, in partnership with the biotech company Symbiocell. The study uses pancreatic stem cells (neo-islets) to reverse Type 1 diabetes in dogs, with the hope of one day trialing it in humans.
Work History
I spent most of my career at Veterinary Specialty Hospital as an RVT in Internal Medicine, Surgery, Advanced Imaging, and Emergency. In 2018, I transitioned from specialty medicine into general practice management, which has led to my current role as Regional Manager for all four Neighborhood Veterinary Hospitals of San Diego.