Lighthouse Veterinary Clinic Team

Jessica Acuna

Hi! My name is Jessica, I have 10 years in the animal care industry, 3 of those years in veterinary medicine. I have an animal science degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and am currently working towards my LVT from Penn Foster. My favorite hobbies include horse riding and reading books. 

Dr. Tara Renkes

Dr. Tara Renkes attended Tuskegee University for her Veterinary Degree and University of Hawaii at Hilo for her undergraduate degree. She spent her first four years out of veterinary school working at a 24-hour, mixed animal emergency hospital before moving to Houston to transition into small animal general practice. Dr. Tara is originally from Spring, TX and currently lives in Richmond, TX with her husband and several pets. Dr. Tara has a caring bedside manner, takes a special interest in cytology, and has a true dedication to patient care.

Alanna Sincere

Hi, I got my start working with large animals in East Texas! I dealt mostly with horses and petting zoo animals, then branched out to working on a goat farm. During these times, I was able to grow my skills in animal handling, breeding, and large animal medicine. When I adopted my Border Collie Cutter and found out he had heartworms, I became very interested in small animal medicine and fell in love with it! I am currently earning my Bachelor’s of Science in Agriculture from Stephen F. Austin State University. I also have a large passion for horticulture and enjoy tending to my garden in my free time. I hope to be a smiling face to all the pet parents and encourage them during hard times with their pets!

Lori Ramagli

I have been in veterinary medicine for 17 years. I have worked in shelter medicine, emergency/specialty, veterinary research, large animals, and general practice. I graduated with my bachelor’s in animal sciences and my master’s in animal behavior. I have worked in customer service since I was 16 years old. I have three fur babies: Ruby, a playful border collie, Rowdy, an old soul tabby, and Prieya, a Palomino quarter horse. In my free time, I like to ride my horse, hike, spend time with friends and family, and train in boxing and Krav Maga. I am an apprentice at the Krav Maga Houston school and teach in their kids program on Fridays!

Dr. Harshitha Chandrasekar

Dr. Chandrasekar—who goes by Dr. C—completed her bachelor’s at Texas A&M University and her doctorate at Royal Veterinary College in London, UK. Dr. C is excited to be back working in Houston after spending a few years in Brooklyn, NY! She enjoys all things dogs and cats and has a special interest in surgery, dermatology, and ophthalmology. Dr. Chandrasekar prioritizes client relationships and looks forward to caring for your pets from the puppy/kitten stage to their senior stage!

Dr. Chandrasekar currently resides in Richmond with her husband, and she enjoys cooking, traveling, and art in her spare time.

Dr. Kevin Pina

Dr. Pina earned his bachelor’s in 2006, his MBA in 2010, and his veterinary doctorate in 2011 from Texas A&M. His professional interests include patient longevity, long term client relationships, and surgery. He lives in Richmond with his wife, 5 young children, 2 dogs, 1 cat, a hamster, and beta fish. His hobbies include distance running, audiobooks, and soccer.

Janay Monroe

Hello! I’ve recently just graduated from Prairie View A&M University with my bachelor’s in agriculture with a concentration in animal and food sciences. I’ve been around animals my whole life big and small, and it’ll be a joy to take care of yours!

Reyna Govea

My name is Reyna, I have worked in veterinary medicine for 15 years and have experience in both large and small animal medicine. I am passionate about surgery and caring for pets before, during, and after surgery. In my spare time, I manage a small farm with my family, and I have a wonderful husband and three loving boys.

Sarah Monday

I’ve been in the animal field for 16 years. I have experience in equine sports rehabilitation, canine post-surgical rehabilitation, and general practice. I received my bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in equine science and large animal. I am also certified in equine therapy! I’ve spent the last eight years in Colorado tuning my skills in general practice where I received my RVT license.

In my free time, I enjoy riding horses, hiking, and spending time with my dogs. I have a German Shephard named Jack and a Pitbull mix named Socks. It’s my passion to help animals back into their natural rhythm and to advocate for those who don’t have a voice.  

Erik Maldonado

Hey! Erik here, I was born in Florida and lived there for most of my life. I was enrolled in South Tech Academy’s veterinary assistance program for 4 years in Highschool and graduated with my Certification in Veterinary Assistance. I have been working in the field ever since and recently moved to Houston. My next favorite thing to do after caring for animals is to play video games.

Mackenzie Lockman

I graduated with my associates in science. I love to travel and have lived in Illinois and Alaska! In my free time, I like to spend as much time as possible with my partner.

Karina Aguilar

Karina was born and raised here in Texas and has been in the veterinary field for4 years. Her favorite thing to do is go out for sushi with her significant other and spend time with all her fur babies at home. Her hobbies consist of taking care of her fish aquarium, doing art, and watching a variety of movies! I cannot wait to help your fur baby get the care
they need!

Lisa Cadena

Hello there, my name is Lisa! I have dedicated most of my life to rescuing and healing animals in need. Growing up surrounded by pets, I developed a deep love and understanding of animals early on. I am currently working towards becoming a future veterinarian, and I strive to continue to help and service abandoned and injured animals.

Farise Cravens

Hi! My name is Farise and I am a Houston native. I recently graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Kinesiology. My love for animals grew while I worked in local animal shelters and influenced my decision to pursue veterinary medicine. I am so happy to gain experience at Lighthouse as I plan on applying to vet school in the coming years.

Katie Koerth

Howdy! My name is Katie, and I was born and raised in the Fort Bend County area. I graduated from George Ranch High School and my collegiate career began as a member on the Blinn College Livestock judging team. In the Fall of 2021, I received my Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Texas A&M University. My agricultural background, coupled with my dedication to serving the community, has fostered my love and passion for large and small animals.