BVSc (Hons), MVetSurg, MVetClinStud, DACVS-SA

Dr. Preston has been an ACVS Board Certified Specialist Surgeon since 2016. He started working in Nanaimo in October 2020, and soon realized the need for specialty surgical services in this area. He continued working 2-3 days a week out of different clinics and hospitals, helping over 750 pets through a variety of complex procedures such as cruciate surgeries, fracture repairs, gall bladder removals, and even the occasional open chest surgery!

Driven by the goal to continue to provide this service to the community at a fair and affordable price, while elevating the standards of care for animals in need he founded ORCA. Together with his team, he aims to continue to make a tangible difference in the lives of pets and their families.

When he isn’t in the operating room, you can find him making pizza at home or indulging in his wife’s handmade chocolates. While he doesn’t share his home with any fur friends yet, he does enjoy spending his time off with his family gardening, swimming, or planning out their next pizza party night.

Assistant Manager

Jill has been a member of our pod since start up, and a familiar face to anyone that has seen Dr. Preston since 2022. She started on the front desk as a member of the reception team at a previous hospital, and then transitioned into a full time assisting role. She wanted to blend her passion for client care and communication with her love of helping animals, and found herself at the forefront managing Dr. Preston’s referral services shortly after. Jill loves being on the front lines of the surgical team, and enjoys getting to know her clients and their pets. She is always excited to receive updates on how patients are doing after a fracture repair or TPLO, and is passionate about client care and education.
In the future, Jill hopes to help develop a rehab program within the hospital to be able to further educate clients and help pets flourish throughout their recoveries.

When she isn’t in the hospital she can either be found chasing adrenaline, or having a casual morning drinking coffee with her cat, Pippin - the bravest little hobbit. She likes to rock climb and hike with her partner and friends, and jump out of perfectly good airplanes! She has over 200 jumps under her parachute, has her Coach rating, and loves to share her passion for her sport by teaching other people how to (safely) jump out of airplanes!

BVSc, DACVIM (Internal Medicine), Fellowship in IR/IE

Erinne Branter grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. She completed her Bachelor of Science at the University of Victoria. Upon completion, she attended the University of Melbourne Veterinary School in Australia and graduated with Honors in 2006. Following veterinary school, she completed a small animal rotating surgical and medicine internship at the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan, NY.

Erinne then completed a three-year small animal internal medicine residency at the University of Wisconsin- Madison and received board certification in 2011. During her residency, she developed a strong interest in Interventional Radiology/Interventional Endoscopy and went on to complete the first year-long, full-time IR/IE Fellowship at the Animal Medical Center, NYC. Dr. Branter also headed a full-time Interventional Radiology department in Los Angeles for 4 years.

She then founded a specialty/emergency WAVES hospital in Victoria, BC and teaches Interventional Radiology techniques internationally.
In addition to being passionate about her field and her patients, Dr. Branter loves the outdoors, is eco-conscious and can be found hiking or biking when not at work. Dr. Branter is also bilingual, speaking both English and French fluently.

Lead Surgical Assistant

Alina has been in the veterinary industry since 2014, and has been a valuable member of our pod since start up.

She is eager to learn and advance her skills, has a keen interest in anatomy and physiology, and enjoys learning as much as she can about the various surgeries being performed. Having spent the past 3 years working alongside Dr. Preston in another hospital, Alina was eager to follow her passion for surgery and join his team at ORCA as the Lead Surgical Assistant, where she oversees the support staff and spreads her vast knowledge of surgical assisting skills.

Alina's favourite aspect of being the Lead Surgical Assistant is scrubbing into surgery alongside Dr. Preston, where she can put her skills and knowledge to the test. Her favourite cases to work on are the more technically challenging cases; she loves seeing the relief patients find once they have been put back together.

When she isn’t at the hospital, Alina is tending to her garden, geese, or hobby farm. She often makes gourmet style charcuterie boards, artisan sourdough loaves, and enjoys relaxing in the first class outdoor enclosure she built for her furry family members.

Client Service Liason

Kylie began her career in veterinary medicine in 2020, and this year marks her five-year anniversary in the field. Over the years, she’s worked both as a general practice assistant and surgical assistant, but her heart belongs to reception, where she thrives supporting clients and helping them feel welcomed and heard.

Born and raised in Victoria, Kylie spent several years in Squamish to pursue her love of outdoor recreation before settling in Parksville. She’s passionate about client care and believes in helping people help their pets. She also loves diagnostics—particularly radiographs, bloodwork, and ultrasound—and is always eager to keep learning.

Kylie shares her home with Jasper, a high-energy Brittany Spaniel who is always ready for an adventure. Outside of work, Kylie is a true wilderness explorer who enjoys cold water plunges, hiking, sea swimming, and backpacking. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in classical music performance from UVic, and currently plays with the Oceanside Concert Band.

RVT

Mya has been part of the veterinary field since 2019, starting out as a kennel attendant in a busy emergency hospital. Since then, she’s worked her way through a variety of roles before discovering her true calling as a Registered Veterinary Technologist (RVT).

Originally planning to become a veterinarian, Mya quickly realized that her favorite part of the job — hands-on, patient-focused care — was exactly what RVTs do best. From that moment on, she knew she was on the right path.

Mya has a special interest in animal behavior and holds certifications in both Fear Free® and Low-Stress Handling®. Her veterinary superpower is gaining the trust of nervous dogs — especially those who just need a little patience and understanding to show their affectionate side. That passion comes from her own experience with a fearful rescue dog, who could only be handled under sedation until Mya learned to take things slow and build his confidence. Watching his transformation sparked a lifelong commitment to helping anxious pets feel safe.

She’s also a firm believer that learning never stops. Whether it’s through continuing education or the lessons found in daily cases, Mya is always looking for ways to grow her knowledge and refine her skills. She takes pride in providing thoughtful, compassionate care tailored to each animal’s unique needs — and celebrates every small victory along the way.

Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Mya can’t imagine calling anywhere else home. Outside of work, she enjoys horseback riding, spending time outdoors, and volunteering with a local feline rescue society. She shares her home with two rambunctious cats, her senior cattle dog mix, and a rotating crew of foster pets — each one leaving a pawprint on her heart.

Administrative Assistant

Lane joined our Pod in 2024, and has been in the veterinary industry since 2016. She has taken on the role of Administrative Assistant, and helps with a variety of tasks, such as client services, inventory, and account management. Lane has extensive experience in client relations, and her favourite part of working in a hospital setting is being able to connect with clients, helping them and their fur kids through the stress and anxiety of a veterinary visit.

In 2019, she won the Veterinary Receptionist of the Year Award at the North American Veterinary Excellence Awards at VMX in Orlando, Florida, which speaks to how truly dedicated she is.

When she isn’t in the hospital, she can be found traveling around beautiful Vancouver Island, dining out at her favourite restaurant, Asteras, or spending time with her own fur kids, Georgia and Fonzie.

Surgical Assistant

Hannah graduated high school early and went straight into the veterinary field. She never really knew what she wanted “to be” growing up, but has always had a passion for helping and working with animals.

Hannah has lived coast to coast, and relocated to Nanaimo to join our pod at start up. She loves being able to make a difference in the lives of the pets we see, as well as their families, and enjoys being a support network for clients during stressful times. She enjoys surgery, and has a keen interest in the sterilization and processing of instruments and surgical kits.

She shares her home with her best friend, Izzy, a lovely golden retriever. When she isn’t at the hospital or hiking with Izzy, Hannah loves to spend time crocheting, sewing, or baking tasty treats for her friends, family, and coworkers.

Surgical Assistant

Meghan has been an integral part of our team since start up. She completed her certification in veterinary assisting through VIU in 2023, and has a year of experience in the field.

Meghan loves to prioritize patient needs and comfort, and her favorite part of the job is nursing care. She often goes above and beyond to ensure patients are comfortable and feel safe while in hospital. Their beds are always set up with extra blankets, they receive tons of snuggles (especially on night shifts), and she ensures that there is always an endless supply of treats (when appropriate). Meghan is also quite crafty, and spends down time in the clinic creating fun decorations for our patients that require splints or bandages - check out our highlight reel on Bandage Art!

A Vancouver Island local, Meghan loves to spend her free time exploring our beautiful island with her Labrador, Ellie, and her mini Dachshund, Zoey. When she isn’t outdoors, she can be found snuggled up at home having fun with various arts and crafts, and enjoying her favorite meal - breakfast for dinner.

Registered Veterinary Technologist

Kara-Lee has been part of the veterinary field since 2020 and has worked on and off in referral medicine with a special focus on surgery — her true passion, which she discovered early in her career. She loves the precision, teamwork, and patient care that come together in the OR, and finds it deeply rewarding to be part of helping animals heal and thrive.

Growing up in a small town in Ontario, Kara-Lee always knew she wanted to work with animals — whether that meant becoming a veterinarian or a marine biologist. In June of this year, she and her husband (and their dog, Leela) made the move to Vancouver Island for a fresh adventure and the opportunity to join the ORCA team.

Kara-Lee’s veterinary superpower is one-on-one patient care and comfort. She takes pride in making sure every patient in her care feels safe, cozy, and supported — right down to the perfect blanket tuck. She loves that no two days are ever the same, and that each one brings a new chance to learn something new.

Outside of work, Kara-Lee enjoys spending time in nature, exploring new places, reading, and puzzling. Her favourite food is a traditional Newfie Jiggs Dinner — a nod to her family roots on both sides — though she’ll never say no to a good burger. She shares her home with Leela, her sweet German Shepherd–Aussie mix named after the Futurama character, and proudly identifies as a Hufflepuff.

Veterinary Assistant

Audrey has been part of the veterinary field since 2019 and always knew she wanted to become a veterinarian — until she discovered that her true passion lay in hands-on patient care. Working as a Veterinary Assistant she is directly involved in every part of a patient’s visit and takes pride in helping both pets and their people feel supported.

Originally from Oshawa, Ontario, Audrey moved to Vancouver Island in search of milder winters and a slower pace of life. She quickly fell in love with island living — and with the endless opportunities to explore its trails, beaches, and hidden gems.

A self-proclaimed cat enthusiast, Audrey has a special place in her heart for feline patients (and, truthfully, for all the cats). She takes pride in making sure each one feels safe and understood, even the ones who prefer to keep their opinions to themselves.

Outside of work, Audrey enjoys cooking, baking, and discovering new corners of the island. Her favorite food is sushi, though she’s equally happy testing out new recipes at home. She shares her life with two cats — Mr. Wonton Caesar Salad, a four-year-old Ragdoll, and Mr. Freshwater Fish, her spirited one-year-old tortoiseshell — both of whom keep her entertained and endlessly covered in cat hair.