Dr. Katherine O’Brien
AVMA member, FVMA member, Board of Directors @ Marion County Veterinary Medical Association
Board of Directors @ Pet Emergency Treatment Services in Ocala
Speaker @ Veterinary Practice Solutions Conference
Dr. O’Brien has been a lover and admirer of the beauty and innocence of animals since she was a little girl. Her dreams of becoming a veterinarian in order to help and speak for animals came true when she graduated from Louisiana State University in 2007. She purchased Maricamp Animal Hospital in 2012 with the purpose of creating an environment that always advocated for the animals no matter what the situation. Dr. O’Brien knew the only way to do this and be able to be the saving voice for other animals in the community and statewide was to become a Veterinarian. She saves hundreds of lives every year. Her passions are for the pets of course but also her family. She is married to the wonderful Dr. Alberto Rullan and they have two boys that are learning to love animals as much as their parents. Their household also includes Blue, a Labrador, Henry, a toy fox terrier, Xylazine, a midsize mix breed & too many horses to count.
Dr. Kathy Otero
Dr. Kathy Otero is from Puerto Rico. Her husband, René, also hails from Puerto Rico and is a Power System Electrical Engineer. In their free time, they love to visit the springs, go to the beach, travel and hike. Their household includes two rescue cats ~ Jahsii and Erizo. Dr. Otero graduated in 2012 from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine then did her clinical rotations at the University of Florida in Gainesville. After graduation, she studied acupuncture at the Chi Institute in Reddick, Florida. She has been part of Maricamp Animal Hospital since 2013. Dr. Otero’s veterinary interests include internal medicine, dermatology, and acupuncture. She is a very happy and upbeat member of the Team here at Maricamp Animal Hospital. She loves playing music at work and having fun throughout each work day. Her real passion is to help pets be healthy and help clients care for their pets.
Dr. Valerie Carle
Born and raised on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, Valerie Carle Rivera earned her Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology from the Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus in 2017. She then gained invaluable experience working as a veterinary technician at the Caribbean Primate Research Facility for three years. In 2020, Dr. Carle pursued her dream of becoming a veterinarian at Michigan State University, where she graduated with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in May 2024.
As a certified Veterinary Medical Acupuncturist, Dr. Carle is passionate about integrative medicine and believes that prevention is the key to better health for pets. She is dedicated to educating her community on the importance of preventive care. In her free time, Dr. Carle enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, mountain biking, and staying active at the gym. Additionally, she is a certified Zumba instructor and has shared her love for dance by teaching classes both back home and during her time in veterinary school.