Meet Our Doctors
Our team of healthcare professionals include Doctors of Veterinary Medicine, Certified Veterinary Technicians, Client Care, and Veterinary Assistants.
Each member of our staff pursues continuing education to keep current on the latest medical advances and techniques. We also implement staff training regularly in the form of staff development forums.
- Dr. Linda Ross
- Dr. Pamela Duggan
- Dr. Laura Strom
- Dr. Adrianne Fairbanks
- Dr. Melinda Knox
- Dr. Suji Valia
- Dr. Sari Miller
Linda Ross, DVM, and practice owner
Dr. Linda Ross was born in Portland, has lived in many cities across the United States, and worked in various fields, including farming at a Chinese vegetable farm, restaurant management, physical fitness training, summer camp administration, and microbiology lab technician. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from University of Massachusetts and her Doctorate degree from Texas A&M University. She became a partner in Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital in 1999, and sole owner in 2001. She is a member of American Veterinary Management Association, Oregon Veterinary Medical Association and Portland Veterinary Medical Association, for which she has served on the Executive Board, and was the 2003-2004 President. "I love veterinary medicine and veterinary practice – the tough part is that like a baby, the patient can't tell you much. And it's the caretaker's education, skill, beliefs and actions that determine the outcome and success of the treatment. I love the relationships I have with patients and their owners and the opportunity I have to watch and support the human and animal bond," she says.
On managing and owning Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital: "We work as a team, we engage in ongoing education, teamwork processes and an established schedule of team meetings and communication. Every member of our team is focused on providing the very best medical care – and that care begins when you enter our hospital, meet our reception team, communicate with our medical staff about your pet and necessary follow up, and check out at the completion of your appointment. We work diligently to provide you the very best care for your animal companion.”
Pamela Duggan, DVM
Dr. Pamela Duggan received her Bachelor of Science in Zoology from University of California, Davis. Although she had worked for three years in the animal sciences and veterinary medicine departments as an animal caretaker and research assistant, she thought she had “outgrown” her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian and went to work at a medical research firm in San Francisco. After a couple of years, she realized that veterinary medicine was not only the field she was truly most interested in, but would offer the most challenges and opportunities for a compelling career. She went back to UC Davis and received her Doctorate. She worked for several years with dogs, cats, livestock, and horses in Northern California.
Dr. Duggan joined the Laurelhurst team in 2001 after moving to Oregon. She loves living and practicing in Portland, with its pet-friendly people and great mix of outdoor and city amenities. Dr. Duggan says, “I enjoy the practice of wellness medicine – keeping pets healthy and working with their families to maintain a strong, caring bond. Internal medicine cases offer challenges which I also enjoy. Our great staff at Laurelhurst, special clients and great patients make it all worthwhile.” She has had horses since she was 11, and her current equine companion is a Quarter Horse named Gator. She and her husband share their home with their 2 dogs and cat.
Laura Strom, DVM
Dr. Laura Strom earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Washington State University with focus on Wildlife Biology, she joined her fiancé in Alaska to work for the State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation during the Exxon Valdez oil spill clean up effort. Starting in the office, then quickly shifting to fieldwork with the shoreline survey crew – she flew out to survey beaches and document the degree of damage.
While her interest was in Wildlife Biology, Dr. Strom discovered that she really preferred working with people and their pets. "I am very happy helping pet owners in any way medicine has to offer, and particularly enjoy veterinary dentistry, animal behavior and holistic medicine," says Dr. Strom. She received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University.
Dr. Strom is an accomplished musician. She was a flutist in the Washington State Cougar Band, and various groups within the College of Music as a harpist. She also played with the Washington-Idaho Symphony as the principal harpist prior to her senior year of Veterinary College. Though she still enjoys playing the harp for family and friends, she now enjoys gardening, cooking and traveling with her family.
Adrianne Fairbanks, DVM
Dr. Adrianne Fairbanks was born and raised in Eugene, OR. She left the Pacific Northwest to attend Michigan State University for both her Bachelor’s degree and Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating, she settled back in Portland to continue enjoying the outdoor recreation, and she began working at LVH in 2002. She currently resides in Portland with her husband, baby daughter, dogs Lucy (a beagle) and River (a Chesapeake Bay Retriever), and cat Cassidy. In her spare time, she has an array of activities, including gardening, cooking, hiking, river rafting, camping, downhill skiing, and reading.
Dr. Fairbanks treats dogs and cats, and finds the human-animal bond the most rewarding part of veterinary medicine; balancing her copious interests and dedication to her work is the most challenging part for her. She chose to work in the veterinary field because of the excitement of learning new things, working with animals and their humans, and her interest in the science and art involved in treating animals. If she could, she would love to focus exclusively on animal surgery. Initially, she chose to work at LVH because of the wonderful staff and sense of community with the clientele, and that continues to be her favorite aspect.
Melinda Knox, DVM
Dr. Melinda Knox grew up in Massachusetts. After attending the California Institute of Technology, she had a strong desire to work with animals all day every day, and she attended Tufts University for her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine, and she’s been practicing for 12 years now. She settled in Portland to get married; she, her husband, and daughter also live with Fauna, a guinea pig; Julius, Juliette, and Jarvis, cats; and Fenway, a lab/Mastiff/Rottweiler mix. When she’s not working, you can find her playing with her daughter, sewing, quilting, or enjoying a variety of outdoor activities.
Dr. Knox works with cats, dogs, and occasionally pocket pets; eventually she would like to receive an ABVP (American Board of Veterinary Practitioner) certification in feline medicine, and especially concentrate on dentistry and geriatrics. For Dr. Knox, the most rewarding part of veterinary medicine is having the ability to be a resource for needing help for their pets, although doing that in the most affordable fashion makes it also the most challenging part. Dr. Knox came to LVH because of the high quality of care and staff; her favorite part is still working with a fabulous staff.
Suji Valia, DVM
Dr Suji Valia was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. After receiving both her Bachelor’s degree and Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia, she decided to move to Portland to enjoy the great outdoors activities, great sense of community, and a variety of cultural events, as well as being closer to family. She started working at Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital in 2007. She chose Laurelhurst because she fell in love with the mission; the sense of cohesiveness and limitless possibilities, as well as interacting with the staff and clients keeps her here. When she’s not at LVH, she loves reading, painting, gardening, baking, backpacking, hiking, and running, as well as spending time with her 2 dogs, Taco and Charlie.
Dr Valia sees both dogs and cats, and she loves focusing on wellness care, especially instilling good practices early, and geriatric care, helping older pets get through their golden years comfortably and happily. On why she wanted to become a veterinarian, she says, “They do an unspeakable amount for our well being and happiness-it’s nice to be able to give something back to them.” Because there are so many variables that need to be evaluated in addressing a problems as well as how dynamic a typical day can be, makes the veterinary practice so difficult. Forming tight-knit bonds with families and pets, being an advocate for patients, and experiencing the drastic differences each day brings makes being a veterinarian the most rewarding.
Sari Miller, DVM
Dr. Sari Miller was born and raised in the Seattle/Tacoma area. She attended Western Washington University for her Bachelor’s degree and Washington State University for her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. After receiving her DVM, Dr. Miller left the Pacific Northwest to do a veterinary internship at New York City Veterinary Specialist. Being there for a year, she relocated back to Portland, which for her is the perfect blend of city and outdoor living, in addition to being close to her family and friends. She currently resides with her two cats, Gizzy and Zola, dog, Truck, and husband. In her free time, you can find her running, hiking, doing Crossfit, cooking, and spending time with her loved ones.
Dr. Miller works with dogs and cats, and more specifically, loves internal medicine, and emergency/urgent care cases. Having to put together the pieces of the puzzle to diagnose problems in patients that can’t tell you where it hurts is the most challenging part of veterinary medicine for Dr Miller, but also the reason she loves the field so much. She also loves getting to know the unique personalities of every patient and forming relationships with both patients and their owners. She chose to work at LVH because it strives to provide the best medicine available while involving clients in every step of the way and because the staff is professional, skilled and fun to work with.