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AJ Martin (Dr. Martin) grew up in Chino, California on his family’s dairy farm. He is proud of his Portuguese heritage, as well as the tradition of dairy farming, carried on by his parents, who were third generation dairy farmers.
AJ obtained his degree in Dairy Sciences from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2010. He went back to work on the family farm, which helped him realize his desire to become a veterinarian. He then earned his DVM from Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences (OSU-CVHS), where he met Kylie.
AJ has a passion for surgery and has taken advanced courses on orthopedic surgery. These specialized procedures include fracture repairs using internal fixation methods, femoral head ostectomy, medial patellar luxation repair, and lateral suture placements. He is also skilled in soft tissue surgery, with the ability to perform cesareans, splenectomies, pyometra surgeries, soft and hard palate repairs, and other complicated procedures. Dr. Martin loves creating lasting relationships with his clients and aims to be a servant to his community.
Kylie Martin (Dr. Byrd) grew up in Ada, Oklahoma, riding horses with her dad and spending as much time with animals as possible. Since the age of six, she knew she wanted to be a veterinarian, or, as she said, a “petnarian.”
She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from OSU in 2015, and her DVM from OSU-CVHS in 2019. At the time of graduation, she also earned her Certification in Veterinary Acupuncture (CVA) from the Chi Institute for Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine in Florida, and believes in the power of acupuncture to both relieve pain and to balance the body, therefore relieving disease. She became a Certified Veterinary Food Therapist (CVFT), also from the Chi Institute, in 2021, and utilizes the healing power of food for her patients by creating custom homemade diets. She has been a certified Reiki practitioner since 2016.
Kylie has a passion for other holistic modalities as well, including laser therapy, Chinese herbal therapy, nutraceuticals/supplements, essential oils, manual therapy, and providing palliative and/or hospice care for geriatric and cancer patients. Dr. Byrd loves providing pet owners with the tools they need to make their pets as healthy and happy as possible.
Jessica lives in Morro Bay with her husband, two children, 5 cats, a dog,
2 guinea pigs, and a snake. Jessica has lived in Morro Bay her entire life and values the local wildlife and natural beauty. She can often be found on the beach. She believes in promoting appreciation for wildlife and their habitat. The local community is important to Jessica, and her family’s Morro Bay roots go back to 1977.
Jessica has always been drawn to animals, and began working at Morro Bay Vet Clinic in 1999 while she was still in high school. She worked at the clinic for 13 years, until shortly before the birth of her daughter. For the next few years Jessica was a full - time caregiver to her grandfather and a stay - at - home mom.
Jessica returned to work at Morro Bay Vet Clinic in November 2019. She loves every aspect of her job at the clinic. She values and appreciates all the pet families she has gotten to know over the years. You will often find her smiling face greeting you as you walk in the door as our head client service representative.
With over 28 years of experience in the field, and almost 18 years in critical care and emergency medicine, Stacy's expertise and experience are what make her a great Technician Supervisor.
In the future, she is looking to become certified in pet loss and grief counseling. She also holds special interest in pain relief advocacy for patients and is knowledgeable in fear free practices.
Outside of work, she enjoys lifting weights, going to the beach, and spending time with family (she has two wonderful sons). She is oftentimes accompanied by GiGi the WonderChi (pictured - one eyed superstar), and at home is bossed around by a demanding 16 lb black cat named Loki!
Kathryn has been working in veterinary hospitals since 2002 and has worn many hats along the way—animal caregiver, massage therapist, dog walker, and even habitat builder during her internship at the Folsom Zoo. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Horticulture and a certification in small animal massage therapy, Kathryn has combined her love of science, healing, and creativity into a career dedicated to helping animals feel their best.
Before joining Morro Bay Vet Clinic, Kathryn managed the Physical Therapy Department at an animal hospital in San Luis Obispo, where she provided laser therapy, massage therapy, and plenty of belly rubs (the unofficial but essential treatment). She is also a certified PEMF and red light therapy practitioner, adding cutting-edge therapy to her toolbox.
Kathryn loves being part of the Morro Bay Vet Clinic team, especially the close-knit, family-run atmosphere. When she’s not at the clinic, she continues her work through her business, Paws in the Poppies, where she helps pets live their happiest, healthiest lives.
Fun fact: Kathryn’s lifelong connection with animals started in Golden Gate Park, where she and her dad used to feed squirrels and scrub jays. To this day, she insists that animals were her first (and favorite) coworkers.
Animals have been a central part of Lizzy’s life for as long as they can remember. Growing up in rural Costa Rica, the jungle served as both playground and classroom, sparking a deep connection to wildlife, nature, and science from an early age. As a child, all of [Name]’s imaginary friends were animals — and as an adult, most of the real ones are too.
With more than 15 years of experience in veterinary medicine, Lizzy has found a true niche as a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT). The role combines technical skill, scientific knowledge, and compassion, and Lizzy takes pride in being an essential part of each animal’s care team — providing comfort, calm, and connection during stressful times.
Before entering veterinary medicine, Lizzy wore many hats, including industrial welder, diesel mechanic, repo man, and ocean technician laying fiber optic cable across the Pacific. Much of life was spent living off-grid, staying as close to nature as possible. These experiences shaped a hands-on approach to life and instilled adaptability in all environments — traits that now serve Lizzy well in animal care.
Today, Lizzy lives in Atascadero with their husband Evan and a beloved menagerie. Together they raise chickens, quail, and one very friendly turkey named Holiday. Over the years, Lizzy has unintentionally become a magnet for blind and visually impaired animals — a group that has become a special focus. Their blind dog Stevie and one-eyed kitten Strawberry are constant companions, recently joined by a one-eyed chick named Cotton-Eyed Jane, cleverly named by Lizzy’s stepson.
Outside of animal care, Lizzy is an avid gardener, lifelong welder, and watercolor artist who paints the subjects they love most: animals, plants, and the quiet beauty of nature. Much of Lizzy’s free time is spent outdoors, often surrounded by their trio of dogs — Stevie, Maybe, and Nala (aka Lil’ Nanas) — and Strawberry, who remains convinced she is one of them.
Looking ahead, Lizzy plans to expand her skills into animal rehabilitation and massage. She remains dedicated to advocating for the forgotten and overlooked, providing sanctuary to those in need, and filling the world with tiny fluffy chickens and little blue eggs.
Sam is a client service representative for the clinic, primarily assisting up front with scheduling appointments, communicating with clients, and doling out prescriptions.
Originally from the East Coast, Sam has been on this side of the country for about eight years and has worked in the pet industry for over a decade. Between retail, kennels/doggie daycare, and veterinary medicine, she's seen all sides! She has loved animals her entire life, and has owned a variety of different critters over the years.
When not working, Sam enjoys spending time with friends and her dog, Bishop (pictured). She also likes making jewelry and thrifting.
Bree is a dedicated veterinary assistants that supports both the medical team and pet owners with compassion and care. With a natural love for animals and a strong attention to detail, Bree helps ensure that every patient feels safe and comfortable—from routine checkups to surgical procedures.
Her responsibilities include making sure the exam room is prepped, the patients are comfy, and the vets have everything they need . She provides gentle, hands-on care to animals of all shapes and sizes. Bree is known for her calm presence, clear communication, and deep commitment to animal wellness.
Outside the clinic, she enjoys exploring the Central Coast, spending time with her pets, and continuing her education in veterinary science.
Dee has been a Veterinary Technician at Morro Bay Veterinary Clinic since May 2025. She has worked in the veterinary field since 2014, with four years of experience as a Veterinary Technician. Dee is passionate about animal care and is committed to her professional growth.
Looking ahead, she is focused on earning her Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) license. Once registered, she hopes to specialize in anesthesia and analgesia while also pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Language Arts with a concentration in American Sign Language Interpretation. Her goal with ASL Interpretation is to broaden the scope of people and pets she can help.
Outside of work, Dee enjoys spending time at the beach or hiking. She also loves watching movies with her cat, taking her snake or dog for walks, and going thrift shopping. In her free time, she makes room for skating, wine nights, pool days, and coffee dates. Her favorite way to spend a day with her two children is at a splash park, always followed by pizza.
A fun fact about Dee is that all of her pets are named after book characters: her cat, Sir Pounce; her snake, Nagini; and her dog, C.P. Goose.
Ember has always had animals at the heart of her life. As a child, she dreamed of being an “Aminal Person,” a goal that carried her from a decade in education to her current path in veterinary medicine. She holds a Master’s in Teaching and a degree in Animal Science with an emphasis in Equine Studies and Horse Husbandry. While earning her degree, she competed in Western Pleasure, deepening her appreciation for the partnership between horse and rider. Now part of the Morro Bay Veterinary Clinic team, Ember is inspired by its holistic approach to care and is pursuing her dream of becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM).
When she’s not at the clinic, Ember’s love of theatre takes center stage. Whether performing or connecting with her community, she brings the same creativity and heart that once filled her classrooms. At home, she shares life with her golden retriever, Sugar, and two cats, Burley and Luna. All of her dogs have had food-inspired names — though Sugar might be the sweetest of them all.
Looking ahead, Ember is excited to blend her background in education, passion for performance, and foundation in animal science into a career rooted in learning, compassion, and holistic healing.
These are AJ and Kylie's fur children! They love hiking, chasing balls, eating food, monitoring the squirrels, and protecting mom and dad from evil mail carriers.
Trinity comes to work every day to run quality control on the lobby treats. Karma works full time as a squirrel monitor at her house in Morro Bay, but does sometimes come to work as well, to make sure the peanut butter hasn't gone bad.
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