Meet our Team

Dr. Sarah McLaughlin joined AEAC after graduating from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in May of 2015. Prior to veterinary school, Dr. McLaughlin earned a Bachelor of Science from Northern Arizona University in 2008. Her professional interests include avian medicine, exotic animal dentistry, and ophthalmology. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, drawing, and taking care of her two Yellow-naped Amazon parrots and two cats.

Kelly has always had a strong passion for animals since she was little. She first started her veterinary medicine career in 2014 and has since gained extensive customer service experience in both general and emergency practice. Through brief encounters with exotics throughout her career, she fell in love with small mammals and followed her dream to work at an exotic-exclusive veterinary clinic when she joined the AEAC family. Kelly is very passionate about husbandry and nutrition and is often found researching the most up to date information for various species. Kelly currently lives with 2 ferrets, a mini horde of degus, 3 chinchilla’s and two dogs. In her free time, you can find her sewing cage liners for her small business, involving herself in small scale, private rescue for hedgehogs & chinchillas and spending time with family.

Originally from northern California, Sophia was raised around all species of animals. From reptiles and dogs, to hamsters, fish, turtles, and birds, her heart has been touched by all. She started her journey in the animal field after graduating high school in Florence, Arizona by working at PetSmart. She then made her way up the chain from cashier to a professional groomer, worked the shelter life at Pinal Animal Care and Control, and even has her own grooming business. She finally made her way to vet med in 2022 and hasn’t looked back. She loves being part of the support system for animals and their parents. When she’s not working, she’s spending quality time with her own kiddos, a Red-Eared Slider, Hurricane, two cats, Misa Misa and S’more, two dogs, Hooligan and Kore, and a bearded dragon, Kairi.

Born and raised in Arizona, Emilia has been around exotic animals nearly her entire life. Having met her pet cockatiel Scooter at the age of 5, she shortly later decided that working in the veterinary medicine field was where she wanted to be. Having family and relatives in Mexico, Emilia has worked on expanding her knowledge of veterinary terminology in Spanish to be able to assist in translations. Since middle school, Emilia has been volunteering with multiple bird rescues to gain experience working with all types of birds. Shortly after graduating from EVIT's Veterinary Assistant program in 2023, Emilia joined AEAC's Animal Care team to be involved in the veterinary field and to work with many different species of exotics. On Fridays, Emilia spends her afternoons volunteering with Ginger's Parrot Rescue to work with Senegal Parrots and learn about them. In her free time, Emilia enjoys spending time with Scooter, friends and family; drawing, playing video games, listening to music, and reading.

Taliesin is from Mesa, Arizona, but spent most of his childhood summers working on his grandfather’s cattle ranch in Colorado. He has been around a large variety of animals from a young age (including emus), and has always held a passion for animals and their welfare. 

At home he has two cats, a grey Persian named Theodora (Theo) and an orange cat named Zinobia (Zino). In addition to two the cats, he has a small army of jumping spiders that he breeds, a tarantula named Charlie, a day gecko named Dae, and 3 ball pythons named Soba, Nova, and Enchilada. Though the menagerie seems to grow every year! Taliesin also holds a passion for isopods, and is heavily involved in the isopod community, and focuses on giving back – specifically to teachers – when able. 

Outside of caring for his animals, Taliesin spends his time reading, playing video games, playing board games with his roommates, and playing DnD with his friends.

Brooke was born and raised in Queen Creek, Arizona, graduated from Casteel High School along with EVIT to get a certificate in veterinary assisting in 2023 and did her externship at a small animal veterinary clinic. Brooke is currently close to getting her associates from CGCC, to then transfer to ASU in the Fall of 2025, for a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. She always grew up with dogs and cats, but started getting into exotic animals. Her first exotic pet is a leopard gecko named Leo, who is now 8 years old. She also has a hamster named Pumpkin, a guinea pig named Georgie, fish, tortoises, 4 dogs named Charlee, Daphne, Chester, and Willow, and 2 cats named Milo and Sophia. She always had a passion for animals at a young age and knew this is what she wanted to do for her career. During her free time she is hanging with friends and family, drawing and painting, playing with her animals, or reading. 

Diana was raised in Gilbert, Arizona on a rural property, she cultivated a lifelong passion for animals.  Her diverse experience spans ownership and care of various pets, including dogs, cats, livestock, horses, poultry, and exotic animals such as a hedgehog, a bearded dragon and cockatiels.  Recently, she exited ownership of her auto repair business but continues to own and run an equine training facility.  She currently serves as a board of director and holds the position of Vice President of the National Pony Of the America’s Club.  When not overseeing clinic operations and ensuring client satisfaction, she pursues horseback riding with her horse Reggie, provides horseback riding instruction, and enjoys cycling, hiking and kayaking.