Our veterinary staff are passionate professionals, dedicated to giving your pet the best care
Our Veterinary Staff
-
Dr. Arthur Klomhaus serves as Chief Medical Officer of Animal Samaritans, where he leads the strategic vision, clinical excellence, and operational performance of one of the most comprehensive nonprofit veterinary organizations in the Coachella Valley. Under his leadership, Animal Samaritans has significantly expanded its scope, accessibility, and quality of care—while remaining deeply rooted in its mission of “Improving the lives of animals and people.”
Dr. Klomhaus earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University, where he was elected Class President and served for three years. He then completed an intensive postgraduate internship at Veterinary Specialists of Northern Colorado, receiving advanced training in internal medicine, surgery, neurology, and emergency medicine—an experience that shaped his multidisciplinary and systems-based approach to patient care.
After beginning his career in general practice in Fort Collins, Colorado, Dr. Klomhaus returned to the Coachella Valley, where he served as a general practitioner at VCA Rancho Mirage and later as Medical Director at VCA Valley Animal Medical Center. In these roles, he developed a strong reputation for clinical leadership, team development, and operational efficiency.
Since joining Animal Samaritans in 2021 as Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Klomhaus has led a transformative expansion of veterinary services. He has been instrumental in developing and scaling urgent care capabilities, enhancing access to advanced diagnostics and specialty services, and improving clinical workflows to elevate both patient outcomes and client experience. His leadership has helped position Animal Samaritans as a regional leader in high-quality, high-impact veterinary care—serving both privately owned pets and vulnerable animal populations.
Equally important, Dr. Klomhaus has remained steadfast in preserving the organization’s nonprofit mission and community-centered values. He has championed initiatives that expand access to care for underserved populations, support shelter and rescue medicine, and strengthen partnerships that amplify impact across the region.
A key example of this commitment is his leadership in overseeing the partnership between Animal Samaritans and Guide Dogs of the Desert. Through this collaboration, he helps ensure exceptional veterinary care for service animals that play a critical role in supporting individuals who are blind or visually impaired—further extending the organization’s impact beyond traditional clinical care.
Dr. Klomhaus’s leadership philosophy emphasizes compassionate care, clinical excellence, operational accountability, and continuous growth. He is deeply committed to building strong veterinary teams, advancing medical standards, and creating sustainable systems that allow nonprofit veterinary medicine to thrive at scale.
Outside of his professional responsibilities, Dr. Klomhaus shares his home with two rescue dogs—Brooke, a French Bulldog, and Hugo, a Pug—both adopted through Animal Samaritans. Their presence serves as a daily reminder of the organization’s mission and the life-changing impact of rescue and compassionate care.
-
Justine Ziembo was born and raised in a small town in Michigan. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology with pre-veterinary emphasis from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, before relocating to the Coachella Valley. She currently serves as Director of Clinic Operations at Animal Samaritans, where she oversees the business and operational functions that support high-quality, accessible veterinary care.
In her role, Justine helps ensure smooth daily operations, financial sustainability, effective staffing, and a positive clinic culture—balancing exceptional patient care with organizational efficiency, client service, and long-term growth. She chose a career in veterinary medicine out of a deep love for animals and the meaningful bond they share with people, particularly the significant impact pets have on daily life and overall well-being. Justine is especially passionate about expanding access to care for underserved communities. Outside of work, she enjoys golfing, skiing, and traveling.
At home, Justine and her husband are happily outnumbered by their four male pets—Capone, Ben, Steve Dog, and Mustachio—who unquestionably run the household and keep life entertaining.
-
Dr. Vincent Baldanza was born and raised in northern New Jersey. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Delaware, where he studied Animal Science and spent semesters studying abroad in Australia and Italy.
Dr. Baldanza graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania. After graduating from veterinary school, Dr. Baldanza completed a one-year small animal rotating internship at the University of Minnesota and a three-year residency in medical oncology at Cornell University, where he was selected as an American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation Clinician-Scientist Fellow for his research in canine osteosarcoma.
Upon completion of his studies, Dr. Baldanza moved to Los Angeles to work with the Veterinary Cancer Group and ACCESS specialty hospitals for several years, becoming a board-certified medical oncology specialist under the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Dr. Baldanza moved to the desert and began working for Animal Samaritans full-time in January 2024. Outside of work, Dr. Baldanza enjoys reading, traveling, and desert life with his husband and their dog and cats.
-
Dr Boone received her DVM degree from the University of Georgia. She completed a small animal rotating internship with an emphasis in surgery at Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Her primary areas of practice have been Emergency Medicine and Shelter Medicine working in both government animal control and private non-profit humane societies. She has worked in numerous mobile spay/neuter units. Since December of 2025, she has focused strictly on HQHVSN (High Quality High Volume Spay Neuter).
-
After receiving her DVM from the University of California, Davis and a PhD in Veterinary Pharmacology from Texas A&M University, Dr. Greco became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine before joining the faculty of Colorado State University where she taught veterinary internal medicine for twelve years; in 2002 she was promoted to full professor. Dr. Greco then moved to NYC and practiced at the Animal Medical Center for several years before joining Nestlé PURINA in the Global Nutrition and Scientific Communications team. She provided scientific support to global markets and has expertise in the communication of veterinary internal medicine and nutritional information to technical audiences such as veterinarians, breeders and veterinary technicians before retiring in 2022.
She has been the Editor-In-Chief of a veterinary journal and has authored several books and over 200 scientific articles and book chapters. Dr. Greco is considered an authority in the area of small animal endocrinology and feline medicine; in fact, she was awarded the 1996 Pfizer award for research excellence and the 1998 American Association of Feline Practitioners research award for her work on dietary treatment of feline diabetes mellitus. Dr. Greco has served as President of the Society for Comparative Endocrinology (1990-1998), as Program Chairman for ACVIM (1995-1997), Board member of the Western Veterinary Conference (2013-2016) and Editor in Chief of Topics in Companion Animal Medicine (2000-2018).
-
Dr. Adonia Hsu received her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania and began her career in a general practice in Brookly, NY in 2003. Driven by a passion for specialty medicine, she pursued an internship and subsequently completed a cardiology residency at the University of Davis in 2009.
Following her residency and board certification, Dr. Hsu practiced in Seattle, WA, for three years, where she was honored as one of Seattle’s best vets in 2011 by Seattle Met Magazine before relocating to San Diego. IN 2012, she joined VCA Emergency Animal Hospital $ Referral Center in San Diego. She focused on managing chronic and critical cardiac cases and performing non-invasive catheter-based procedures. During this time, she also provided veterinary cardiology services in the Coachella Valley. Dr. Hsy is now embarking on a new venture, Veterinary Cardiac Care SD, a mobile veterinary cardiology service.
In addition to her clinical practice, she is a consulting cardiology for the National Marine Mammal Foundation and the US Navy Marine Mammal Program. Most recently, she has co-authored several publications and presentations on cardia health in dolphins and sea lions.
-
Dr. Kingsley completed a dual degree in Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Public Health at St. George’s University in 2010. After completing an internship at Veterinary Emergency and Referral Group in Brooklyn, she continued to primarily practice in emergency medicine. In 2016, Dr. Kingsley returned to her hometown in the beautiful Coachella Valley (Go Aztecs!) to raise her daughter. After a total of fifteen years in emergency medicine, she joined the amazing Urgent Care team at Animal Samaritans; carrying over experience in a variety of difficult cases and high-quality medicine. Dr. Kingsley enjoys spending her free time travelling, riding horses, reading, and watching movies.
-
Born in Canada, Dr. Kocian moved to the United States with family when she was a teenager so she could play tennis year around. Dr. Kocian obtained a tennis scholarship to a college in Los Angeles and graduated with a BS degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology. She continued her education at Oklahoma State University where she attended veterinary school. After finishing school, she moved to the Coachella Valley to be close to her family. Dr. Kocian worked for VCA Valley Animal Medical Center in Indio for 9 years. She has been with Animals Samaritans for the last 14 years. Her special interests in veterinary medicine are wellness/preventative care and caring for aging pets.
She has one 15-year-old cat name Elsie. In her free time, she like walking/hiking, swimming, yoga, watching movies and going to thrift stores. Dr. Kocian’s also enjoys traveling and attending continuing educations classes in exotic destinations.
-
Kevin received his DVM from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. He pursued his interest in zoo medicine with an internship at the San Antonio Zoo. He then worked at a small animal clinic (Antelope Valley Animal Hospital) in the high desert for a couple years. In 1999 he became the veterinarian for The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert. Kevin spent 18 years working there before coming to Animal Samaritans in 2017. He has been with Animal Samaritans since that time working as a general practitioner.
-
My name is Marie Dunton, and I’m a California native, born and raised right here in the desert. I’ve had the privilege of being part of Animal Samaritans for a combined total of 23 years. I originally worked with the organization for 12 years, took some time away, and have now been back for the past 11 years. My time here has been deeply meaningful, and I’m proud to continue serving a mission that’s so close to my heart.
I’ve been married to my husband for over 30 wonderful years. Together we’ve raised two amazing daughters and are now blessed with a beautiful granddaughter who brings so much joy to our lives.
My love for animals doesn’t stop at work. At home, we share our lives with three cats. They were adopted through Animal Samaritans and the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, and one simply decided we were her family and made herself right at home. Animals have always been a central part of my life, both personally and professionally, and I feel grateful every day to do the work that I do.