Dr. Elaine Y. Kuo, DVM, MS, CVA
Veterinarian
Dr. Kuo received her DVM degree from National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan. After she immigrated to the United States, she completed the veterinary clinical rotation year in Louisiana State University to fulfill the requirement of PAVE (Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence). She also studied the Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine under TCVM pioneer Dr. Huisheng Xie at the Chi Institute in Reddick, Florida, where she achieved certification in veterinary acupuncture. She currently holds veterinary license in both New Jersey and New York.
Dr. Kuo has practiced in many veterinary clinics in NJ/NY area before establishing Riverdale Integrative Veterinary Care. Now she brings her unique style of combining conventional and holistic, complementary veterinary medicine to northern New Jersey.
Dr. Kuo loves classical music, cooking, gardening and hiking. She spends most of her free time with her husband Jie, two energetic boys, two German Shepherd boys Martin and Murphy, the Bearded Dragon Spiky and the Goldfish Goldie.
Certifications
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist
Fear Free Certified Professional
Experience
The Seeing Eye, Morristown, NJ – Nonprofit Organization, veterinarian
Branchburg Animal Hospital, Branchburg, NJ – Private Practice, veterinarian
Armory Dog and Cat Hospital, Bronx, NY – Private Practice, veterinarian
Oakland Animal Hospital, Oakland, NJ – Private Practice, veterinarian
Animal Clinics of Bayonne, Bayonne, NJ – Private Practice, veterinarian
Veterinarian
Newark Community Healthy
Pet Clinic, Newark, NJ –Private Practice, Volunteer
Benfield Pet Hospital, East Hanover, NJ – Corporate, extern
Animal Medical Center, New York, NY – Referral Center, extern
Oradell Animal Hospital, Paramus, NJ – Referral Center, extern
Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, Tinton Falls, NJ – Referral Center, extern
Louisiana State University Veterinary
Teaching Hospital, Baton Rouge
Dr. Beth Hirsch, DVM, CVA, AVCA
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Beth Hirsch is a veterinarian certified in animal chiropractic (AVCA) and acupuncture (CVA) who is very passionate about offering holistic treatment options for her patients. She specializes in ensuring every client feels heard and have all their questions answered; as well as focusing on fear-free animal handling.
Dr Hirsch graduated from Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and she pursued equine veterinary medicine for the first 11 years of her veterinary career, working mainly with horses and alpacas. Her passion for holistic medicine led to a change towards focus solely on holistic veterinary medicine for dogs and cats, with an emphasis on hands-on chiropractic care.
Dr. Hirsch has a Bachelor of Medicine degree in Equine Science/Pre-veterinary Medicine from Otterbein College, Ohio. Graduated veterinary school at Ohio State University in 2008. Completed a 1 year internship at a lameness/sports horse practice and finished her certification in acupuncture at the Chi Institute in 2009. She became certified in AVCA chiropractic adjustment in 2015. She has pursued some Fear Free training as she aims to try to minimize stress for her patients. She embraces learning professionally and recently became Reiki Level 1 certified.
Dr. Hirsch resides in New Jersey with her husband Ray and three fluffy therapists - their Ragdoll cats, Reuben, Wallace and Wilbur. Saltwater reef-keeping is a hobby that she admits her husband does the bulk of the work for, but she really loves as well. She enjoys knitting, needle felting, and numerous other creative outlets when she finds time outside of work, and especially enjoys exploring learning about metaphysical aspects of crystals.
Dr. Christopher J. Dillon, DVM, DACVS
Board Certified Surgeon
Dr. Christopher J. Dillon, DVM, DACVS is a specialist in advanced surgical techniques, which include Soft Tissue Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, and Neurosurgery. After graduating from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University, he gained many years of experience working in his own private practice. He later decided to continue his education, and went on to successfully complete a small animal medicine and surgery internship and Small Animal Surgery Residency at The Animal Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Dillon has a major focus on reconstructive surgery as it relates to trauma and cancer treatment.
Dr. Dennis Ting, DVM, DACVS
Board Certified Surgeon
Dr. Dennis Ting, DVM, DACVS, is originally from Southern California where he attended the University of California, San Diego for his undergraduate work in the field of Animal Physiology and Neuroscience. He then earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of California, Davis in 2003. In the following year, Dr. Ting returned to Southern California to complete a one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery. With a growing interest in small animal surgery, he completed a surgery specific internship in Denver followed by an orthopaedic research fellowship at Michigan State University. Dr. Ting then stayed on with Michigan State University and completed his residency training in small animal surgery. Dr. Ting is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. He has particular interests in orthopaedics, traumatology, and oncologic surgery. He is trained in minimally invasive surgeries such as fluoroscopic-assisted fracture repair. Dr. Ting has published a number of original orthopaedic articles in various veterinary journals and has presented numerous lectures on international, national and local levels. He remains active in veterinary continuing education and is a leading instructor in veterinary orthopaedic courses.
Dr. Michael Bednar, DVM
GP Veterinarian
Dr. Micheal Bednar joined RIVC in the summer of 2024. After graduating from Tuskegee University in 2007, Dr. Mike joined the Army as a Captain and Veterinarian, later worked for the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation as the Medical Director, as well as a private practice. He spends his free time with his family in Boonton with two dogs and cat. He enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, and camping as a full-time associate veterinarian in the summer of 2015. After graduating from Tuskegee University in 2007, Dr. Mike joined the Army as a Captain and Veterinarian, later worked for the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation as the Medical Director, as well as a private practice. He spends his free time with his family in Boonton with two dogs and cat. He enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, and camping
Mark Hladyk
Veterinary Technician, AVA, P.F. Dip, Certified Dog Trainer and Behaviorist
Mark Hladyk has a wide variety of training and experience in the animal industry. Since he was 16 years old he has been working in animal shelters, pet day cares, grooming salons, and animal hospitals.
Mark started his pet care education by getting his Diploma as a dog groomer at North Jersey Dog Grooming School in 2011. After that he was very interested in Dog Training and Animal Psychology, eventually getting his Dog Training Diploma in July 2015 from Penn Forster Collège and has knowledge in Animal Psychology in March 2016. Need to learn as much as he could, he would later get his Pet Adoption Certification from Holly & Hugo.
However, Mark wondered what about the medical field that could go along with Dog Training, so he went and got his Veterinary Assistant Certification, AVA in 2018 with Morris County Vocational School in Denville. To update his credentials, he went back to school for Dog Training and a Certification Dog Training with Animal Behavior College in 2022.
Mark uses Fear Free techniques in his training programs. He does not use shock collars or force in any of his sessions. He tries to use natural positive reinforcement and natural training and takes time to understand the clients and the dog(s) he is working with.
With a thorough evaluation and report for owners, he will work with you to get to a resolution by working as a team to get to the source of the problem. There is no quick fix in dog training. However, if we work together as a committed team, together we can get to the root of the problem.
While Mark dedicates his life to helping pets and pet parents alike, he does enjoy sitting back, embracing the joys of life with singing, writing and photography.
Kate Choi
Veterinary Technician
Kate Choi is one of the most promising young veterinary technicians we’ve met at RIVC. Before joining our team in 2023, Kate studied animal science with equine specialization and public health at the University of California. Her incredible intellect and dedication to her studies allowed her to graduate early so she could prepare herself for veterinary school.
Since moving to the US from Korea, Kate has been fascinated with veterinary medicine since her dog Byul was diagnosed with IVDD. Kate threw herself into the veterinary field to learn as much as possible. She’s been a veterinary assistant throughout high school, a research assistant studying the African swine fever, and a lab technician intern at Rutgers University working with mice, rats, ferrets, and swine. Kate takes every opportunity to learn from her elders and environment to make her the best future veterinarian possible.
Maya Helwani
Veterinary Technician
Maya is a veterinary technician who started at RIVC in April 2024. Maya has a passion for animals that outshines the brightest stars as she has 15 years of experience working in the veterinary field. Her specialty is prenatal and raising newborn kittens, working with local rescue groups to help these kittens find a loving home.
Her love for animals goes beyond kitten care as she aims to be the greatest veterinary technician she can be by continually learning and pushing herself every day to support any animal in need. Currently, she is learning how to perform ultrasonographic imaging on cats and dogs.
Maya’s love for animals drives her home life as she unwinds by spending time with her 13 cats, all of whom she cherishes as her children. It doesn’t matter how bad a day gets, Maya loves nothing more than to sit back with a cup of coffee and snuggle with her cats to relax.
Jose Alagrin
Veterinary Technician
Jose is a veterinary technician who strives to provide compassionate, well-rounded care for every pet he meets. He believes animals can sense our intentions, so he approaches each pet with an open heart to provide a safe and supportive environment.
With experience in both traditional veterinary medicine and a growing interest in natural remedies, he loves being part of a team that integrates different approaches to pet health. His overall goal is to make every pet visit as stress-free and positive as possible while supporting their overall well-being.
Faith Brady
Veterinary Assistant
Faith is a young and aspiring student of veterinary medicine. Faith's been on a journey with animals since she was young, and has applied to multiple internship programs to work with animals. It was through these programs that she found RIVC and asked to shadow Dr. Kuo and Dr. Hirsch to understand a different view of veterinary medicine. It wasn't long before she chose to join our team and learn all she can about holistic medicine. Faith is still deciding if she wants to be a veterinarian or another animal specialist, but we are happy to be supporting Faith on her journey.
When everything is all done at work, Faith spends her time at home with her 3 cats, Oreo, Binx, and Chloe, and a turtle named Manipurak aka Tiny Turtle.
Ella Hamawi
Receptionist
Ella has always been an avid lover of animals. While starting as a dog bather at a grooming salon, she decided to branch out to see how else she can immerse herself in the animal field, leading her to us at RIVC.
While she doesn't have any long-term goals at the moment, she keeps herself open to all possibilities to wherever her heart leads. Until then, she has become our diligent receptionist, studying veterinary medicine with our Doctors, and comfortably spending her evenings with her beagle Juno and guinea pigs Bob and Cheerio.
Jivan Zyra Natividad
Virtual Assistant
Jivan is a veterinary virtual assistant who combines her love for animals with a passion for learning. Working behind the scenes, Jivan gets to help care for pets by supporting veterinary teams and ensuring that every furry friend gets the attention they deserve. Diving into new cases, learning about innovative treatments, and staying up to date on the latest in veterinary care are what make the role so fulfilling. When not working, Jivan is often with her own pets or exploring walking trails while probably stumbling upon the cutest trail cats.
Sheila Marie Daayta
Remote Assistant
Sheila is one of our remote receptionists who helps schedule appointments and provides gentle and quick customer service to all our clients. Starting in November 2023, Sheila was drawn to the veterinary field due to her family business and interests in poultry production. She has been working with animals for over 5 years and wants to learn as much as possible to expand her knowledge to help her family business.
After a long day of work and studying, Sheila enjoys taking relaxing road trips, listening to music, and playing with her dog, Jimny.
Joana Cruz
Customer Service Rep
A passionate and dedicated Customer Service Representative with nearly seven years of experience, Joana holds a Bachelor's degree in Science and a degree in Financial Management, which she used to build a career in providing excellent customer support. With strong communication skills and a commitment to helping others, she thrives in delivering quality service and ensuring customer satisfaction.
Beyond work, Joana is a proud fur mom to her two beloved Persian cats, Yuki and Sena, who bring joy and warmth to her daily life. She loves spending her free time embracing the great outdoors—whether it's camping under the stars or engaging in adventurous activities. Music is her constant companion, and she enjoys unwinding with her favorite K-drama series after a long day.
Amanda Bracken
Intern
Amanda Bracken is our newest intern at RIVC and is beyond excited and grateful for the opportunity. She has had a passion for animals since she was a little girl and has wanted to work with them all her life. While learning from Dr Kuo and Dr Hirsch, Amanda also volunteers at her local animal shelter and is a Pet Enrichment Specialist working with dogs at Morris Animal Inn. Amanda intends to make her passion for animals a career in the future and with all of the amazing experiences she’s learned, hoping to become a Veterinarian.
Outside of devoting every hour to animal care, she spends most of her free time drawing and creating art and musical theatre. Amanda can’t wait to learn more alongside the amazing team at RIVC and expand her knowledge and experience!
Jorelle Baker
Freelance Writer
Jorelle Baker is the clinic's freelance writer and content creator for RIVC, as well as helping the Doctors create handouts for clients.
Jorelle has always loved writing and studying animals. He studied at William Paterson University for a Bachelor's in English, later becoming a certified veterinary assistant at Animal Behavior College. Never wanting to stop stimulating his mind, he takes classes online to learn more about animals, psychology, and folklore to live a well-balanced life.
Jorelle is constantly pushing himself toward his next professional and personal goals, but loves nothing more than to just sit down and relax with his cat Kana.