Our Doctors
Fern Hill Veterinary Care
Meet your Team
I am so enthusiastic and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Fern Hill Veterinary Care family!
Originally from northern California, I earned my veterinary degree from the University of California, Davis in 2006. I then completed an internship in emergency & critical care at DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital in Portland Oregon. After working in emergency and critical care settings for more than a decade, I made the transition into general practice, where I have enjoyed the opportunity to practice high-quality medicine while also fostering more lasting relationships with my patients and their families.
Whether I’m managing an emergency situation or seeing a puppy for their first wellness visit, clear communication and client education is paramount. At Fern Hill, we emphasize a progressive team approach with the goal of finding the best plan for each individual pet. Our work truly takes a village, and we couldn’t succeed without a dedicated team of staff and pet families!
I enjoy providing comprehensive care, ranging from wellness and disease prevention to urgent care, chronic disease management, and hospice care. I am trained in veterinary acupuncture, through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society.
I am owned by one scruffy mutt, Paco. In my spare time, I enjoy getting outdoors in the beautiful pacific northwest, hiking, international travel, photography, and gardening.
Dr. Shana Downes
My family hails from the North Island of New Zealand. I emigrated to the United States in my tweens and eventually landed in the Pacific Northwest. Prior to choosing a career helping animals, I had forays in the visual arts then wildlife biology.
I graduated from Washington State University in 2004 with my veterinary degree. My career started in a rural town treating rattlesnake bites and other non-urban problems. Since then I’ve honed my skills and love getting to know people and their pets. I became certified in acupuncture in 2008.
Going the extra mile is in my DNA. I try to be the best listener possible, provide education and give options that align with your values. My favorite appointments include seeing recent adoptees as well as making sick cats and dogs feel better.
I feel very lucky to be able to practice at Fern Hill. Getting to know each other will allow me to create an individualized approach for your pet. Given the combined experience of our doctors and staff you will be in great hands.
My pets are Penny and Momo the dogs and Zoya the cat. We long to have guinea pigs but Penny might enjoy them a little too much. My husband is an exacting carpenter at home, builder of megastructures at work and ardent animal lover. We enjoy spending time in nature as much as we can. The gorge is our favorite place to be with family and friends. I play on a die hard misfit soccer team and love mountain biking.
I served on the Portland Veterinary Medical Association Board helping organize and provide continuing education opportunities for fellow veterinarians. I also mentor veterinary students on how to take care of themselves and be a great vet. I can’t wait to meet you and your pets.
Dr. Yvonne Roberts
I grew up in Maine with many dogs and cats and a barn filled with random livestock and slightly rogue horses. Equine obsessed, I was an avid pony-clubber and three-day eventer.
After attending Cornell University for undergraduate and veterinary school, I moved to Portland in 1996.
I began in general practice, then transitioned to DoveLewis Animal Emergency Hospital as a senior staff veterinarian for seven years. I loved managing critical cases, teaching veterinary interns, and running the Animal Blood Bank. Finally, after countless overnight shifts, I returned to day practice and remembered all of the reasons I had missed it.
My interest in internal medicine and challenging cases never waned, but it was refreshing to return to wellness and preventative care, which are so crucial for pet longevity. Dental care and optimizing senior pet quality of life are also passions of mine. But perhaps what I missed the most was the long-term relationships with people and the animals in their lives.
Past and ongoing volunteering includes the P.A.W. team, Feral Cat Coalition, past president of the Portland Veterinary Medical Association, and the PCC Veterinary Technology Advisory Committee.
Outside of work, my life is filled with two amazing teenagers and two dogs, three cats, and backyard chickens. I love travel of any sort. Recent adventures included a spay/neuter campaign I was lucky enough to join in Ladakh, India, several years ago. Also in the excellent column: wine, wandering with my dogs, great TV series, yummy food, minimally strenuous hiking, and having an empty afternoon.
Now, I have the lovely good fortune of creating an independent practice with two of the absolute best veterinarians I know. With our emphasis on stress-free handling and incorporating owners as partners in their pets’ care, we are building the practice we’ve dreamed of. Come see why we are so excited to be Fern Hill Veterinary Care!
Get to know Dr. Zambelli and learn about her adventures here.
Dr. Alicia Zambelli
Dr. Shana Downes
I am so enthusiastic and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Fern Hill Veterinary Care family!
Originally from northern California, I earned my veterinary degree from the University of California, Davis in 2006. I then completed an internship in emergency & critical care at DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital in Portland Oregon. After working in emergency and critical care settings for more than a decade, I made the transition into general practice, where I have enjoyed the opportunity to practice high-quality medicine while also fostering more lasting relationships with my patients and their families.
Whether I’m managing an emergency situation or seeing a puppy for their first wellness visit, clear communication and client education is paramount. At Fern Hill, we emphasize a progressive team approach with the goal of finding the best plan for each individual pet. Our work truly takes a village, and we couldn’t succeed without a dedicated team of staff and pet families!
I enjoy providing comprehensive care, ranging from wellness and disease prevention to urgent care, chronic disease management, and hospice care. I am trained in veterinary acupuncture, through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society.
I am owned by one scruffy mutt, Paco. In my spare time, I enjoy getting outdoors in the beautiful pacific northwest, hiking, international travel, photography, and gardening.
Dr. Yvonne Roberts
Prior to choosing a career helping animals, I had forays in the visual arts and then wildlife biology. Along the way, I found out I like people too. I graduated from Washington State University in 2004 with a Veterinary Medicine degree.
My veterinary career started in a rural town treating rattlesnake bites and other non-urban problems. Since then I’ve honed my skills and love getting to know people and their pets. I try to be the best listener possible, educate owners and give options that align with your values and relationship with your pet. My favorite appointments include seeing pets that have just been adopted and making sick pets feel better. I am also certified in acupuncture for animals.
I feel very lucky to be able to practice at Fern Hill. I am a strong believer that keeping veterinary medicine in the hands of veterinarians is the best way to safeguard the well-being of pets. Getting to know each other will allow me to create an individualized approach to each patient. One of the best things is working as a team to get this done! With all our combined experience we’re able to provide the best possible care which is truly exciting.
My current family includes one husband, one cat, and two dogs. We enjoy spending time in nature as much as we can. The gorge is our favorite place to be with family and friends. I also play on a die-hard misfit soccer team and love mountain biking.
I served on the Portland Veterinary Medical Association Board helping organize and provide continuing education opportunities for fellow veterinarians. I also mentor veterinary students about to enter the profession. I’ve had some fabulous mentorship along the way and try to pay it forward. I can’t wait to meet you and your pets.
Dr. Alicia Zambelli
After attending Cornell University for undergraduate and veterinary school, I moved to Portland in 1996.
I began in general practice, then transitioned to DoveLewis Animal Emergency Hospital as a senior staff veterinarian for seven years. I loved managing critical cases, teaching veterinary interns, and running the Animal Blood Bank. Finally, after countless overnight shifts, I returned to day practice and remembered all of the reasons I had missed it.
My interest in internal medicine and challenging cases never waned, but it was refreshing to return to wellness and preventative care, which are so crucial for pet longevity. Dental care and optimizing senior pet quality of life are also passions of mine. But perhaps what I missed the most was the long-term relationships with people and the animals in their lives.
Past and ongoing volunteering includes the P.A.W. team, Feral Cat Coalition, past president of the Portland Veterinary Medical Association, and the PCC Veterinary Technology Advisory Committee.
Outside of work, my life is filled with two amazing teenagers and two dogs, three cats, and backyard chickens. I love travel of any sort. Recent adventures included a spay/neuter campaign I was lucky enough to join in Ladakh, India, several years ago. Also in the excellent column: wine, wandering with my dogs, great TV series, yummy food, minimally strenuous hiking, and having an empty afternoon.
Now, I have the lovely good fortune of creating an independent practice with two of the absolute best veterinarians I know. With our emphasis on stress-free handling and incorporating owners as partners in their pets’ care, we are building the practice we’ve dreamed of. Come see why we are so excited to be Fern Hill Veterinary Care!
Get to know Dr. Zambelli and learn about her adventures here.