Meet the Urgent Care Team – Waltham

Natasha Pakravan, DVM

Dr. Pakravan attended Dartmouth College before working in a biotech lab and veterinary general practice. She went on to obtain her veterinary degree from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and then completed a small animal rotating internship at University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Dr. Pakravan returned to Massachusetts in 2018 as an emergency doctor on Cape Cod and in the Boston metrowest area.

EDUCATION
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, DVM, 2017

SPECIALTY TRAINING
University of Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Rotating Internship, 2017-2018

Julie Shields, DVM

Dr. Shields grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Canada then moved to New Hampshire in 2000. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology with a minor in Chemistry from Plymouth State University. Dr. Shields graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2006 and completed her clinical year of training at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007.

After graduation she worked at a practice in Medfield, MA for 15 years. Dr. Shields is excited to join Angell-West to help expand your pet’s care through the Primary Care/Wellness service. She enjoys all aspects of general medicine including preventative care, dentistry, and building long-term relationships with her clients and their pets.

In her free time, she enjoys camping, traveling, and spending time with her husband, her two kids, and her goldendoodle Wiley.

EDUCATION
Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Clinical training, DVM 2007
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, 2006

Jac, Urgent Care Assistant

Amber, Internal Medicine Assistant

Amber comes to Angell with eight years of experience in general medicine. Born and raised in Florida, she grew up wanting to be a veterinarian but decided on film production. Her love for animals never left, and thus, she began her career in veterinary medicine. She is an avid cat lover and has three of her own — Pepper, Bubbs, and Benny. She also fosters cats for local rescues as needed and is a “crazy cat lady.” She has a certificate in low-stress handling and is Fear Free Certified.

Carley, Urgent Care Assistant

Carley graduated in 2019 from a four-year technical high school as a Veterinary Assistant at the MSPCA-Angell at Nashoba. Following graduation, she transferred from Mount Wachusett Community College to Penn Foster for her Veterinary Technology degree and is working towards her certification. She recently started working for the MSPCA-Angell West Urgent Care in 2023.

Carley has been with Angell since 2015, working in general medicine and assisting with sick visits for low-income families. She has a background in dentistry, surgery prepping, and anesthesia monitoring.

Her hobby since she was young is competitive/professional horseback riding. Carley’s favorite thing in the world is her dog Larcon, a four-year-old Doberman Pinscher mix from Aruba who she trained in German.

Kristen, CVT, VTS (Cardiology), Specialty Services Supervisor

Kristen grew up attending summer camps and volunteering at the shelter at the MSPCA-Nevins Farm. Her passion for animals led her to attend Essex Agricultural and Technical High School (now known as Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technician High School).

She began working as a kennel attendant/veterinary technician in 2001 and obtained her veterinary technician certification in 2005. In 2005, Kristen started working for the MSPCA-Angell – Western NE in Springfield, MA. The closure of the hospital in 2007 led her to her next journey at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, starting in the intensive care unit. From there, she joined the cardiology department, became a Veterinary Technician Specialist in cardiology, and then moved into a leadership role as Supervisor for various Specialty Services at Angell West in 2022.

Her professional interests include providing the best patient care to our patients and clients, teaching and providing technicians and assistants the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed, and of course, anything cardiology.

Outside of work, she loves spending time with friends, exploring different food and drinks, and finding entertainment in the playful antics of her cats, Link and Leo.