Meet Our Staff
Our team of healthcare professionals include Doctors of Veterinary Medicine, Certified Animal Health Technicians, Receptionists, Veterinary Assistants and Hospital Manager.
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. Linda Ross DVM, and owner, Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital
"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." says Dr. Linda Ross.
Dr. Ross received her B. S. in Zoology from University of Massachusetts and her DVM 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 is the 2003-2004 President.
"At 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."
Dr. Ross was born in Portland, and lived in many cities across the United States. And, she has worked in various fields, including farming at a Chinese vegetable farm, restaurant management, physical fitness training, summer camp administration and microbiology lab technician.
Dr. Ross is married and has one son. "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," says Dr. Ross. "Everyone at Laurelhurst Veterinary is motivated by this truly significant and remarkable relationship."
Pamela Duggan, DVM
Pamela Duggan grew up with many dogs and cats, and also a few birds and small critters. 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 dog, Sadie, and their cat, TazMan.
Dr. Duggan received her Bachelor of Science in Zoology from University of California at Davis in 1989. During her college career, she worked for three years in the animal sciences and veterinary medicine departments as an animal caretaker and research assistant.
At the time, 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 Dr. Duggan 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 as a veterinary student, graduating in 1996 with her veterinary medical degree. Dr. Duggan began her veterinary practice in northern California, working with dogs, cats, horses and livestock.
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.”
Laura Strom, DVM
Washington State University 1989 Bachelor of Science, Wildlife Biology, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1993.
Once 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 and all the opportunities to practice medicine that were missing in a wildlife-focused career." 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.
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
Adrianne Fairbanks has been a staff veterinarian at Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital since 2002. She is a northwest native and grew up in Eugene, Oregon. During her childhood she learned how to love and care for all different kinds of animals. She has had many animal companions – dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, hamsters, birds and even some snakes!
After high school, Dr. Fairbanks traveled to East Lansing Michigan to get her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science. She then completed another four years at MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2002. After finishing her DVM, she wanted very much to come back to her roots in the northwest to live and practice veterinary medicine.
Dr. Fairbanks loves living in the same neighborhood as Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital. She frequently sees patients and clients out and about and loves the sense of community. Dr. Fairbanks also loves living in the city of Portland that allows her to indulge in her favorite hobbies. These can include gardening, hiking, biking, camping, river rafting, reading and playing with her own pets. She shares her home with a wild and crazy Beagle and two wonderful indoor cats.
Dr. Fairbanks' passion is the human-animal bond and the impact animals have on people’s lives. It is this bond that influences how she practices veterinary medicine. Dr. Fairbanks helps her patients using all the faucets of her training and knowledge through surgery and general veterinary medicine.
Melinda Knox, DVM
Dr. Melinda Knox grew up in a suburb of Boston Massachusetts, later moving out to southern California to attend college at the California Institute of Technology and majoring in biology. At the time she was planning on a career in medical research. Then things took a turn. Never having been allowed to have pets growing up, she was excited to be given a beautiful cat named Josie. After the first few visits to the veterinary clinic with her new pet, she had discovered a new career. Dr. Knox went on to Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 1998.
After veterinary school she moved out to Arizona, practicing there for two years, before eventually settling in Portland with her husband. They now share their house with four cats (including Josie), a dog, a guinea pig, and a chinchilla. They enjoy all the outdoor activities in Portland and spend a lot of free time camping, hiking, and kayaking. Dr. Knox’s favorite aspect of veterinary medicine is taking care of pets in their golden years, so they have the highest quality of life possible. She also has a special interest in veterinary dentistry. Dr. Knox is a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners, the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association and the Portland Veterinary Medical Association.
Suji Valia, DVM
Dr. Valia joined the Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital in August of 2007. Originally from the northeast, Dr Valia’s schooling and veterinary training was done in Georgia. Shortly after graduation from the University of Georgia, she was westward bound towards Portland. Family and friends have lured her here; beautiful scenery and limitless opportunity for new adventures and being a part of a wonderful new community are keeping her here.