Meet Our Team
Dr. Gry Wildenstein
Veterinarian
“I love my work as a vet for all our furry pet friends: cats, furry exotics, and dogs; it is very fulfilling and makes me smile. I enjoy diagnostic challenges and I like to work with pet owners to find solutions that work for them. I especially enjoy dental surgeries and procedures as well as extractions. It is so rewarding to help pets lead a better-quality life without ongoing pain from dental infections and more”.
Dr. Gry Wildenstein graduated from The Royal Veterinary College of Denmark in 1987. She practiced in her home country, Denmark, for 4 years before moving to NY in 1992, then practiced in several local practices. Dr. Wildenstein created Adana Veterinary Clinic and opened its doors in 2004. The clinic has grown into a well-established practice, known for its care and attention to pets and their owners. In February 2023 Dr. Wildenstein sold the clinic to CareVet and continued as Medical Director for the practice. She has gradually stepped down in hours since then and transitioned from Medical Director in August 2026 to part-time veterinarian. Since October 2026 she has focused on dental procedures, exotics, and her established patients. This will allow her to enjoy more time to visit/see family, to travel, as well tending to the house and garden with her spouse, Bob.
Gry and Bob live in the community and manage a huge and varied vegetable garden all summer. Their combined crop of 5 adult children with 4 grandchildren, are spread all over the country, from North Carolina, Kentucky, and Boston in the East to Oregon and Washington in the West! Gry and Bob both enjoy the outdoors in any season: hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing especially. They love to cook from scratch and from the garden; Gry is an avid baker and bakes all their bread! Together they enjoy travelling and exploring new places in the world. Gry and Bob currently share their house with 4 cats, a senior iguana from 2012, and their yard with a small bunch of pampered egg-laying hens.
Dr. Alice Marie Donnelly
Veterinarian
“I knew from the age of 7 that I wanted to be a veterinarian for dogs and cats.”
Dr. Donnelly grew up in downstate New York and spent eight years at Cornell University, graduating from the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996. She has 30 + years of experience in small animal general practice and is passionate about providing thoughtful, compassionate care to her patients.
“I particularly enjoy soft tissue surgery and chronic disease management. I value working with devoted pet owners to help them understand what is going on with their pet, explore their treatment options, and develop practical plans to manage disease and enhance quality of life. I take pride in providing high-quality, honest, and practical medicine for my patients.”
Dr. Donnelly loves pets of all sizes. Over the years, she has shared her home with a variety of dogs, including German Shepherds, Bullmastiffs, and Boston Terriers, as well as a number of cats. She is currently owned by two French Bulldogs, Neville and Flora.
“When I’m not working or catering to the whims of my French Bulldogs, I enjoy cooking, reading mystery novels, riding my cruiser bike, and being a homebody on my tiny piece of the world.”
Dr. Ericksen
Veterinarian
Dr. Sarah Ericksen has always had a passion for working with animals (she wrote about it in kindergarten), but she initially started out in a different career field, having earned a bachelor’s in Political Science and Forensics and a master’s degree in Asia Pacific Studies. She then spent several years in San Francisco working in higher education. In 2010, Dr. Ericksen started rehabbing wildlife and thus began her journey to a career in veterinary medicine.
Dr. Ericksen graduated from Cornell University in 2019 with her DVM, where she also completed a shelter medicine internship in 2020. In the years since then, she had been working at emergency and urgent care clinics in the Finger Lakes region. While she enjoyed the unpredictable and fast paced nature of emergency work, Dr. Ericksen decided to transition to working in general practice, so she could build long-term relationships with clients and their pets.
Dr. Ericksen joined the Adana team in July of 2025 as a part-time veterinarian and in August 2026 became the clinic’s Medical Director. She is thrilled to take on this role and uphold Adana’s reputation for personalized care while also keeping the clinic at the forefront of veterinary medicine. She hopes to make clients feel informed and empowered in the decision-making process for their pet’s health and well-being.
Dr. Ericksen has several veterinary interests including preventative care, geriatric medicine, feline medicine, furry exotics, community outreach and disaster preparedness.
Sarah lives in the Village of Dryden with her husband, John, and their three young children. They share their household with a Great Pyrenees and 3 cats, including a trouble-making Bengal.
Dr. Marisa Quinlan
Veterinarian
Dr. Marisa Quinlan grew up in Dryden, NY and she is very excited to be returning to the area to join the Adana team! She completed her undergraduate studies at the State University of New York at Geneseo with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in psychology. She earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island in 2017 before completing a small animal rotating internship at Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Services. Dr. Quinlan then completed a behavior specialty internship at the University of Pennsylvania prior to beginning her behavior residency training there. She then led the creation of the first behavior specialty service in Rochester, NY in 2020 while also working in general practice and urgent care. She is passionate about minimizing stress for her patients and meeting their behavioral needs both at the vet and in their everyday lives! When not at work, Dr. Quinlan enjoys snowboarding, gardening, hiking with her Black Lab Perseus (Percy), and knitting with her two cats Andromeda (Andy) and Cassiopeia (Cassie) cuddled on her lap.
Tyler Totman
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Tyler joined our Adana team in August 2012, returning to her home state after having lived in Georgia for 3 years working at veterinary hospitals. She started with Adana as a Veterinary Assistant, but her skill set and dedication to the field made her pursue a degree as a Licensed Veterinary Technician and Tyler passed her exam in 2016.
Tyler loves working in a practice that combines a ‘small-town feel’ with state of the art technology, as well as one that stresses the importance of reducing its carbon footprint. She enjoys getting to know our clients and their pets. Tyler has an excellent rapport with all pets, she excels in helping the patients feel loved and safe.
Tyler is also our main Feline Advocate, she helps lead and maintain the program at Adana to assure all staff is trained in safe, compassionate handling guidelines for cats. She understands cat behavior and how to approach and handle cats in a gentle, empathetic and caring manner. Ask for Tyler if you have concerns about bringing a nervous cat to the veterinary practice.
Outside of the office, Tyler loves to spend time outdoors, either digging in the garden at home or exploring the local trails. She can also often be found crafting something or tackling home DIY projects. And if it’s football season, Buffalo Bills’ games will be heard somewhere around the house!
She shares her home with her husband, daughter, and fur kids: dog Knox and 2 cats Spyder and Wilson.
Emily Strack
Licensed Veterinary Technician
I was born and raised on Long Island and after spending the last four years out in Utah I am excited to be back in my home state of New York. I received my Bachelor’s at the University of Connecticut in 2018 and continued my education in a Vet Tech program. In 2020, I became a Licensed Veterinary Technician and have been working in small animal general practice since. I have always loved animals since I was a little girl and you could always find me in the corner with the dog when I went over to a friend’s house. I love being part of a team that cares so much for animals, their people, and each other. I am excited to get to know all of our clients and their furry family members.
In my free time, I love to read books (particularly fantasy and romance) and to care for my plants. I also love travelling and spending time in nature. Some of my favorite types of habitats are rainforest or cloud forest if I should be so lucky to go there. I love to go birding especially in the Spring when the beautiful warblers migrate through. I live with my partner, Jack, and the sweetest dog you will ever meet, Willow.
Samara Cathirell
Vet Tech Assistant, Vet Student class of 2029, Per Diem
Since the start of the pandemic, I have worked at animal hospitals in the DC area, and now upstate NY. I find purpose in providing pets the compassion they deserve, and indirectly, their owners. Previously working in emergency, I was able to help pets and their owners during their time of greatest need. Now working at a local, community-focused practice such as Adana, I find comfort in forming lasting relationships with clients and their pets. It is amazing and rewarding to watch pets grow up, as well as follow their lives from puppies to senior citizens.
Originally from the DC area in Maryland, I am pursuing my B.S. in Animal Science with a pre-veterinary concentration at Cornell. I previously attended community college and got my associate’s degree in Maryland. Outside of school, you can find me hiking Ithaca’s beautiful trails, swimming, camping, taking care of my plants, or at local dairy farms with cows performing research.
I have one rescue back home in Maryland, named Kano. He is a large, silly goofy guy with a personality about as big as he is. He is a simple fellow who doesn’t like too much affection – all he asks for is your company.
Claire Conklin
Vet Tech Assistant, Vet Student class of 2028, Per Diem
I grew up with dogs and cats, and have loved learning about all kinds of animals since I was young. I trained and competed with my dogs in the local 4-H dog club, where I became involved with teaching youth about dog training, health, and sports. My family has been bringing our pets to Adana for years, and has always treated them with a high level of care and kindness. I am very excited to work here and share that kindness with more families and their pets!
In the Spring of 2024 I learned that I had been accepted into the veterinary medicine program at Cornell. I am super excited to start classes in August 2024. I have loved my past 15 months with Adana, but plan to take a break this first semester to focus on getting into the exciting studies of Vet Med!
I grew up in Dryden, NY and studied at Ithaca College for my Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. I worked as a research lab technician in Birmingham, AL for a couple years after graduating, and decided to move back to the northeast to pursue veterinary school. Outside of work, I love camping and hiking with my dogs. I also enjoy jewelry-making and baking!
I have 2 windsprites named Honey and Simon, and a leopard gecko named Banana. I compete with Simon in conformation, agility, rally obedience, and racing, and hope to do dock-diving with Honey when she’s older. Banana prefers to lay on warm rocks and eat crickets.
Abbey Woodstock
Vet Tech Assistant
I was born and raised in Michigan. I received my bachelor's degree in business from a small college near Lake Michigan and recently moved to the Ithaca area with my fiancé in the Summer of 2026. I have had an assortment of pets throughout my life including dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils and rabbits and have always known I wanted to work with animals from a young age. My first job in veterinary medicine was at a shelter and I became passionate about helping animals ever since. Before working at Adana, I was a vet assistant at a large veterinary hospital and while I enjoyed seeing a wide range of patients and specialties, I enjoy working at Adana because it's a small enough clinic where you can build relationships with clients and their pets.
Outside of work I enjoy hiking and playing tennis. When I'm not spending time outside, I love reading and binge watching shows with my fiancé and our crazy orange cat, Newt. As far as Newt's hobbies go, you'll find him on his cat tree hunting bugs outside of the window or taking a nap in the sun.
Lucy Farmer
Vet Tech Assistant
I grew up in the Ithaca and Dryden area and have always been an animal lover. I have been an avid equestrian since I was just two years old and hold a New York State Wildlife Rehabilitator license. I recently graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Animal Science and am currently applying to veterinary school with the goal of becoming an equine veterinarian. While horses are my first love, I have really enjoyed gaining experience working with dogs and cats and getting to know their families at Adana.
I am excited to continue learning and growing as a veterinary professional while helping provide compassionate care to the pets and families who come through our doors. I especially enjoy getting to know clients and their pets and helping make their veterinary visits as comfortable and positive as possible.
Outside of work, you can usually find me riding or spending time with horses. I also enjoy spending time with my friends and family and, of course, my cat, Spider!
Kianna Boyes
Boarding and Cleaning Assistant
Working in a veterinary setting has always been an interest of mine. I take pride in the health and welfare of all creatures whether they are furry, have scales, or are covered in feathers. I first learned about Adana when I first adopted three of seven ferrets. Adana was the one of the closest clinics who saw ferrets. Since then, I have fallen in love with this practice! I enjoy the people and the atmosphere, I always feel welcome whenever I come to work!
Outside of work, I enjoy using my artistic and creative skills for whatever I see fit. I have a fascination with researching any animal that catches my attention, I just need to know everything about them. A fun fact about me is that I have a bachelor’s degree in English/Professional Writing from SUNY Cortland. I have a great appreciation for classic novels like Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, poems and short stories by Edgar Allan Poe as well as quite a bit of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets.
I also enjoy spending time with my family, friends, and children (pets). I currently have two kitties (Izzy and Shye), seven ferrets (Diesel, Turbo, Juno, Phineas, Eddie Allan Pou, Willow, and Blaze), three bearded dragons (Lorenzo, Sebastian, and Ophelia), a gargoyle gecko (Zuko), and two ten-gallon aquariums with a variety of tropical freshwater fish and plants.
Melissa Hine
Hospital Manager
From a young age, I’ve always been fascinated by animals, both pets and wildlife, and science. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work in the veterinary field and have been a dedicated member of the Adana Veterinary Clinic team since April 2011. Throughout my many years in veterinary medicine, I’ve gained experience in various positions, including veterinary assistant, receptionist, and inventory manager, before stepping into my current role as hospital manager. I’m always happy to help with any questions you have, and if I don’t know the answer right away, I’ll make sure to find it for you! My passion for helping others, including pets and their owners, shines through everything I do.
Outside of work, I cherish time with my family, my partner Bill, and my three adult children. I also enjoy tending to my indoor plants and outdoor garden. On nice days, I love walking local trails or spending time at the park with my two dogs: Trucker, a playful chocolate lab, and Bender, an energetic Australian cattle dog
Alexis Gillett
Receptionist
I enjoy working at Adana because I value working on a team that cares so deeply for their patients. I love working with animals and the people that love them.
Since moving to Ithaca from New York City, I’ve enjoyed exploring the lake and gorges that make this place so beautiful. I spend a lot of my free time with my cats, Rose and Little Man and dogs Xena and Oyster. We like to hike, garden, and work on our 130 year old house. I’m a lifelong cat lover with a newly found passion for dogs after fostering many rescues. I’m particularly interested in learning about canine genetics, history, structure, and polishing my training skills.
I’ve had our sweet girl Rose since she was a kitten. Xena and Little Man are a mischievous senior dog and cat bonded pair that we foster failed while living in NYC. They were both quite chunky when they arrived, but they’ve become much healthier and active since we adopted them… though they occasionally still team up to sneak into the treat stash! Oyster, our year-old Icelandic Sheepdog, is the newest member of the family and very enthusiastic about all things. He also enjoys intercepting Xena and Little Man’s food heists. Oyster and I have been exploring the world of dog sports and conformation showing. He’s also become a great hiking and fishing buddy!
Bobbie Elwood
Receptionist
I’m a busy mom who loves to hunt, fish, travel, and spend time outdoors. I’m also a huge sports fan, especially Friday Night Lights in the fall and Diamonds in the spring! I have a lifelong love for animals and have been fortunate to share my life with alpacas, fainting goats, chickens, rabbits, cats, dogs, horses, donkeys, and cows. Coming from a farming background, caring for animals has always been a natural and meaningful part of my life. I believe Adana is a great place to work because it is centered around two things I value deeply: love and care for animals and the importance of teamwork. I’m excited to be part of a team that shares that same passion and commitment.
