Meet Our Veterinary Team
Get To Know Our Team!
Animal Care Center is a full-service veterinary medical facility, located in Joppa, MD. The professional and courteous veterinary staff at Animal Care Center seeks to provide the best possible medical care, surgical care, and dental care for their highly-valued patients.
Veterinarians
Dr. Rebecca Anderson
Doctor
Education: University of Delaware, Virginia – Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Rebecca (Smoot) Anderson completed her undergraduate degree in Animal Science at the University of Delaware in 1999. She then received her degree in Veterinary Medicine from Virginia – Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. She has been living in Harford county since moving to Maryland with her husband, Brian, son, Matthew, daughter Madeline, 3 cats and their dog Granger.
Dr. Dianna Beavers
Co-Owner and Medical Director
Dr. Dianna Beavers was born and raised in Harford County. She graduated from Fallston High School in 1996. She did her undergraduate work at Villa Julie and Virginia Tech. She received her doctorate from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003.
She resides in Fallston on her family-horse farm with her husband, 2 children, 2 Jack Russell Terriers, a Giant Schnauzer, and her horses. When not working at Animal Care Center or on the farm, she enjoys watching her daughter play polo with her pony, Raquel, and cheering for her son on the baseball field.
Dr. Suzanne Rittler
Dr. Rittler has over 25 years of experience in both general and emergency veterinary medicine, with a special interest in internal medicine, behavior medicine, and dentistry.
She graduated summa cum laude from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1995 and completed a small animal internship at Delaware Veterinary Specialty Group. For 15 years, she owned and operated her own veterinary hospital, further honing her expertise and dedication to patient care.
Originally from Maryland, Dr. Rittler enjoys life with her fiancé, two children, and their beloved dogs, Rocky & Otto.
Dr. Jeff Phillips
Veterinarian
Dr. Phillips brings over 30 years of experience in veterinary medicine, with a strong focus on soft tissue surgery, dentistry, and feline medicine. Originally aspiring to fly jets for the U.S. Navy, his path took a different turn after earning a degree in Zoology from the University of Maryland at College Park. While initially considering human medicine, his work in animal research labs at Johns Hopkins and Bethesda led him to veterinary medicine, where mentors recognized his potential.
After graduating from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Phillips began his career in lab animal medicine before discovering his passion for small animal clinical practice. He has since devoted his career to providing exceptional care, particularly for cats, which he finds as quirky and fascinating as he is.
Beyond his work in the clinic, Dr. Phillips is deeply committed to animal welfare, volunteering his time for spay and neuter services and assisting rescue groups. His dedication to helping animals aligns with the core values of Animal Care Center & Pet Resort.
Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Phillips leads an active and adventurous life. He is an avid baseball player, still pitching and playing third base, as well as a certified PADI Divemaster with a love for scuba diving. At home, he enjoys gardening, reading, weight training, and spending time with his 19-pound orange rescue cat, The Hound.
Our Team
Becky Riley
Practice Manager
Becky joined our staff in May of 2011 and has been a terrific asset to us. She works in Reception, Veterinary Assistant as well as the Office/Practice Manager. Becky resides in Harford County with her husband, children, and dogs Lola and Turbo.
Kaitlin (Kate) Reilley
Registered Veterinary Technician
Hello my name is Kaitlin, I normally go by Kate or Katie. I joined the Animal Care Center team in July of 2021. I started my vet tech career in 2015. I went on to graduate from the CCBC Vet Tech program in 2017. I have always had a love for animals which led me to this occupation.
I have 4 cats and a dog named Greg at home. I love spending time with friends and family during my free time.
Anya Hammerman
Registered Veterinary Technician
Hi everyone! My name is Anya. I’ve been working in the field since 2017, starting out in emergency medicine. From there, I went on to work in a high-volume GP, and started to find my love for anesthesia and fear free patient care. I have a Shiba Inu named Chio, and a grey street cat named Jake from State Farm. I also have a bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Technology from the University of Missouri. In my spare time, I love hiking, reading, and relaxing with my husband and our pets.
Shelly Edzik
Head Veterinary Assistant
Shelly started working at Animal Care Center in high school as a kennel technician, she worked her way up to customer service representative and then transitioned to her current position as a veterinary assistant. She is currently enrolled in an online veterinary technology program to become a registered technician. She has a mixed breed dog named Shermy and a cat named Spike. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and reading.
Misty Evanshine
Veterinary Assistant
Misty has over 20 years experience in the veterinary field. She has been a valued employee since 2006. Misty ensures all of our lab equipment runs smoothly so we can ensure we have all the information to keep your loved one healthy. Misty has an interest in the complex field of dermatology.
Her goal is to travel and photograph throughout the US with her dog River.
Paige Louis (Seasonal)
Veterinary Assistant
Paige is a recent graduate of the University of Delaware Pre-Veterinary Medicine program. She is currently in the process of applying to veterinary schools. In her spare time she enjoys playing with her 3 family dogs, reading, hanging out with friends, and more!
Lexi Marquardt
Veterinary Assistant
Hi, I’m Lexi! I started at Animal Care Center in August 2024. I have been a veterinary assistant for 3 years and have always had a strong passion for helping animals. I graduated from HCC’s Veterinary Assistant program in March 2022. I have a dog named Pluto and a cat named Atlas. In my free time, I enjoy cuddles with my pets and tending to my plants.
Val Knepp
Veterinary Assistant
I’ve been in the vet field as an assistant for 11 years and have worked in ER, specialty and general practice as well as dealing with exotics. I have a 14 year cocker spaniel named Cinnamon who is the absolute love of my life. If I’m not found helping to save your furry family member you can find me writing my latest adventure as a Game master or editing videos on gaming for Youtube. I love traveling and make it a point to go to Connecticut yearly along with Canada and New York. The dream is to make it out to California one day.
Maddie Morris
Veterinary Assistant
I have been in the vet industry for 4 years and plan on attending veterinary school in the fall. I have several pets including a chocolate lab named Pippa, and a herd of sheep on my family farm. My hobbies include skiing, hiking, lacrosse, as well as being an avid supporter of the Ravens and Orioles.
Mark Matassa
Client Liaison
Mark Matassa began his employment here as a kennel tech in high school. He has moved his way up through the different positions and most recently has become the client liaison. The previous clinic cat Turkey is now living with Mark and enjoying his forever home!
Nicole Heintz
Head Customer Service Representative
Howdy! My name is Nicole. I help manage the front desk at Animal Care Center.
I joined the practice in January 2021. Having many years in customer service, has helped me learn compassion, patience and awareness. I enjoy helping others and being part of a team.
Working in a veterinary clinic has been rewarding and has been a blast.
I reside locally with my husband and 2 dogs Bella and Edward. I look forward to helping our clients and providing comfort.
Jennifer Conley
Customer Service Representative
My name is Jenn and I have 1 cat, “Beasty”. I have been in the veterinary field since 1996. I enjoy being outdoors, gardening, camping, kayaking, and knitting.
Brittany Bennett
Customer Service Representative
My love and passion for animals stems from my childhood. Having dogs growing up I remember how much joy that brought me. It wasn’t till the age of 21 that I began my career in the animal industry. I spent time working in kennels as well as veterinarian offices and dog training on the side. I have a dog named Dexter (a mixed mutt) who I love to compete in sports with. I compete in Dock Diving, Obedience, AKC work and much more. I love being able to help people with their animals. I look to always improve my knowledge of the wonderful animal industry.
Abby Zappardino
Customer Service Representative
My name is Abby! I’ve been back and forth with working at ACC since 2014. I started out in kennel for a few years and then went to reception. I grew up in Baltimore County but I moved to Harford County in 2020. I am a cat mom!! I have two cats, Nash and Sophie. I enjoy reading, photography, and spending time at home with my family.
Hanna Frey
Veterinary Assistant
Hi, my name is Hanna and I have 2 dogs and 1 cat that I love with all of my heart. I joined the Animal Care Center team in November of 2023. I graduated from the University of Delaware in 2021 with my BA in Criminal Justice. My love for animals gravitated me towards this job and I absolutely love it.
Betty - The Clinic Cat
Our dear Betty came to us in May 2023, she lives at the clinic and is enjoying all of the attention. She is currently working on fitness and her weight loss goals. Betty is loveable and always greets us with a smile and meow every morning. She completes our clinic and we are glad to have her.