Dr. Neil Farrington
DVM
Dr. Farrington was born and raised in Scottsdale, AZ. He graduated from Veterinary School at Colorado State University in 1982.
Prior to purchasing Catalina Animal Hospital, he practiced for many years in Mesa AZ, where he also helped raise his 2 daughters, Ashley & Lindsay.
He enjoys exercise, watching baseball, gardening, and reading. Dr. Farrington and his wife Maria, have 3 cats Honey, Junior, and Leo.
Dr. Derek Osterheld
DVM
Dr. Osterheld attended undergraduate College in New Jersey, Florida, Colorado and Scotland. He is a 1996 Ross University veterinary graduate, finishing his veterinary education in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
He’s the proud owner of Bosco, his horse and Pappy, his cat. They have been with him through all his years in vet school. For the past 20 years, he has worked in both day practice, and emergency small animal veterinary medicine. He appreciates the connection clients have with their regular day practice veterinarian. In his free time, he really enjoys cooking, skiing, and spending time with his wife and mom. He has a passion for the farm life, since growing up helping his dad with the farm back home.
Dr. Stephanie Howton
Dr. Stephanie Howton is an Arizona native who has been caring for animals and their families for more than 15 years. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University and then earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University in 2010.
She is passionate about preventative and internal medicine, while providing compassionate, individualized care to her patients. She is a member of both the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Feline Veterinary Medical Association.
Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Howton enjoys spending time with her husband, 2 boys, and many furry and scaly pets. She also loves exploring nature and photographing wildlife. As an Arizona native, she feels fortunate to call Arizona home and enjoys caring for the pets and families in the community she has always known and loved.
Maria Farrington
Office Manager
Maria was born and raised in Colombia, South America, then moved to Arizona in 2012. Since she was a young girl, she’s cared and nurtured various of animals growing up, and continued to grow into the Animal Healthcare field in her adulthood where she’s blessed to contribute and continue making a difference.
She has a Business Administration degree but in addition to her duties managing the animal hospital, she provides Holistic Therapies for our pet patients. Something that is a true passion for her. She was trained and gained the necessary experience to contribute to significantly improve the health of the beautiful pets that visit us every day.
Some passions she holds outside of Animal Healthcare; Maria enjoys continuing education, playing piano (her favorite hobby), cooking, and watching baseball. She enjoys any free time spending most of her time with her husband and their 3 cats.
Brianna Bidabe
Receptionist
I’ve been a Veterinary Receptionist on and off for the past five years, and I absolutely love what I do and the connections I’m able to make with our clients. I have a deep-rooted passion for animal health and care, and I hope that somewhere down the road, I can become a veterinary technician and be more hands-on with the nursing and medical side of caring for your pets.
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is being able to remember your pets by name, recall their stories and cases, and hear about the little things that make them so special to your families.
I’ll never take for granted the warmth it brings to someone’s heart when they realize that I remember their beloved pet—even years later.
My favorite moments are seeing the relief and happiness on a pet parent’s face when their furry family member has a successful outcome. Those moments remind me exactly why I love what I do.
I look forward to meeting every single one of you and, of course, all of your furbabies! Maybe along the way, we can exchange a few stories of our own.
Alexandria Rodriguez
Veterinary Technician
With six years of dedicated, hands-on experience in the veterinary medicine field, Alexandria has built a diverse and robust career spanning general practice, shelter medicine, and high-intensity emergency care. A 2020 graduate of Pima Medical Institute.
Alexandria’s professional journey is defined by her adaptability and commitment to animal welfare, whether managing day-to-day clinic operations or navigating the critical demands of emergency triage.
Outside of her professional life, Alexandria balances her passion for caregiving with a love for adventure. She is an avid traveler and hiker who loves exploring the great outdoors, always making sure to carve out quality time to spend with her beloved animals.
Monica Andrea Arce
Veterinary Technician
My name is Andrea! I am one of the new technicians here at Catalina Animal Hospital! I have been a Phoenix resident my entire life! I have always had a strong passion for animals and am delighted to be a part of veterinary medicine! I have been a technician for over 3 years and am dedicated to learning and expanding on my skills every day! I aspire to become a forensic pathology, mixed animal, or exotic veterinarian! I can’t wait to grow with the Catalina Animal Hospital family!
Joshua Ortega
Veterinary Technician
I am a certified Veterinary Assistant (AVA) and a 2024 graduate of the West-MEC Veterinary Assisting program. With hands-on experience in general practice, I am deeply passionate about providing high-quality care to patients and supporting both animals and their owners.
When I am not at the clinic, you can usually find me diving into video games, hitting the dance floor, or spending quality time with my favorite furry companions—my two beloved chihuahuas.