Meet the Diagnostic Imaging Team

Dr. Naomi Ford, DVM , DACVR

Dr. Naomi Ford first came to Boston from Colorado to attend Harvard University for her Bachelor’s degree. She then went across the country to earn her DVM  from the University of California, Davis in 2013. She spent one year in the Midwest to complete her small animal rotating internship at Ohio State University before returning to the East Coast for her radiology residency at the University of Pennsylvania. She became board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Radiology in 2017.

Dr. Ford enjoys the great food, sporting events (particularly baseball and hockey), and cultural life of Boston. She also loves staying active and exploring the beautiful outdoors with friends and her beloved scruffy little brown dog Jill.

EDUCATION
University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, DVM, 2013
Harvard University, AB, 2008

SPECIALTY TRAINING
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Radiology Residency, 2013-2017.
The Ohio State University, Small Animal Rotating Internship, 2013-2014

CERTIFICATION
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiology, 2017

Steven Tsai, DVM, DACVR

Dr. Tsai joined the Diagnostic Imaging department at Angell in 2012. Dr. Tsai received his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University in 1998. After several years in New York and Seattle, he worked as a vet tech at the San Francisco SPCA before moving to New England for veterinary school. Dr. Tsai received his DVM from Tufts University in 2007, completed a small animal rotating internship at the University of Pennsylvania, and then returned to Tufts for a three year residency in diagnostic imaging, which he completed in 2011.

Born and raised outside of Philadelphia, Dr. Tsai is a life-long Philly sports fan, and an aficionado of cheesesteaks, scrapple, and soft pretzels.

EDUCATION
Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, DVM, 2007
Princeton University, 1998

SPECIALTY TRAINING
Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, Residency in Diagnostic Imaging, 2008-2011
University of Pennsylvania, Small Animal Rotating Internship, 2007-2008

CERTIFICATION
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiology, 2012

Ruth Van Hatten, DVM, DACVR

Dr. Ruth Van Hatten attended Boston University, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Anthropology. She earned her DVM degree at Tufts University in 2010. Upon graduation, she completed a small animal rotating internship at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston and a residency in diagnostic imaging at Cornell University. After finishing her residency, she stayed on as faculty in the diagnostic imaging service at Cornell University Hospital for Animals. Dr. Van Hatten has a special interest in abdominal imaging, specifically ultrasound and CT.

Dr. Ruth Van Hatten grew up in upstate NY, but considers Boston her home. In her free time, she enjoys watching Boston sports, traveling, and hiking, with some shopping mixed in!

EDUCATION
Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, DVM, 2010
Boston University, BA, 2001

SPECIALTY TRAINING
Cornell University, Residency in Diagnostic Imaging, 2011-2014
Angell Animal Medical Center, Small Animal Rotating Internship, 2010-2011

CERTIFICATION
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiology, 2014

Allison Cooper, CVT, Manager of Diagnostic Imaging

Allison is a graduate of New England School of Photography. After spending time in Portland, Oregon she returned to Boston and started working at Angell in 2002. Her photography background made radiology a great fit. She became a CVT in 2006.  When not working she enjoys reading, hiking, camping, and swimming.

Ellen Burke

Ellen first started at Angell in 2013 as a co-op student from Northeastern University. She has worked in the shelter and with the Pain Medicine service since and has now been in the role of Nuclear Medicine Assistant for the past 2+ years treating and caring for hyperthyroid cats undergoing I-131 therapy. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and getting drooled on by her grossly affectionate cat, Sally.

Aisling Duffy

Aisling worked at Angell throughout summers in high school in varying departments and eventually received a bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Technology from Mount Ida College in 2018. She started working in the Diagnostic Imaging department as a temporary employee, passed the VTNE, became a CVT in 2019, and has stayed on as a full-time employee since. She enjoys seeing animals come from all different departments because so many things pass through radiology! In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and outdoor activities with her dogs, Skye and Finn, along with her 3rd roommate ‒ a 110 pound St. Bernard mix!

Jessica Lucas

Jessica joined Angell after graduating from Becker College with her degrees in Pre-Veterinary Science and Veterinary Technology. After volunteering at the MSPCA-Angell Adoption Center in 2009 and completing her externship in the Diagnostic Imaging department during college, she decided to join the team. In her free time she enjoys reading comic books, playing video games, and relaxing with her two cats, Destiny and Sodapop and her pigeon Fancy Pants.

Polly Pluck

Polly has worked at Angell for 25 years in varying positions, finally settling in Diagnostic Imaging for the past 15+ years where she has helped care for countless animals.

Melissa Rocha

Melissa graduated from Massasoit’s Veterinary Technology Program and began working at Angell in 2019 in the Diagnostic Imaging Department. She recently expanded what she does here at Angell by becoming part of the Nuclear Medicine team that treats cats with hyperthyroid disease. Melissa has been a volunteer at the New England Aquarium for over 20 years and currently spends her time with their Rescue and Rehabilitation department, where she helps with the rehabilitation of cold-stunned sea turtles.  Melissa has a dog named Luna, two cats called Tigger and Jack, and two Monkey-tailed Skinks named Hermes and Joe’s Girl.

Megan Smith

Megan started working in the animal health field when she was 18 at a small emergency clinic on the south shore. She moved to Boston in 2006. After working as a temp for a human hospital for a couple of years, she wanted to get back into the animal care field and started at Angell in the Clinic in 2008. In 2010 she transferred to Diagnostic Imaging. Computer minded, she’s the IT of radiology. She’s happy to help with the inevitable computer problems that happen in this day and age.
She’s a self-proclaimed cat person. (She loves dogs too!!) She’s the personal servant of two such felines, Kira and Dante. They are spoiled kids. Outside of work she enjoys playing video games, watching TV/movies/YouTube. Anything geeky and nerdy. She’s also a fan of the game Dungeons and Dragons.