Meet The Doctors

Dr. John Abella
Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Canine and Feline)
Certified Veterinary Medical Acupuncturist
Dr. Abella received his Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) with academic distinction from the University of Hawaii in 1986.  He subsequently received his doctorate of veterinary medicine (DVM) from Colorado State University in 1993.  He then completed an extensive medical & surgical internship at VCA West LA Animal Hospital among a variety of veterinary specialists. With his attainment of diplomate status with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, Dr. Abella provides a board certified practitioner’s medical and surgical knowledge for your cats and dogs.  There are fewer than 10 veterinary general practitioners in the county who hold this distinction.  Dr. Abella is also certified as a Veterinary Medical Acupuncturist, PennHip practitioner, Hill's nutrition consultant, and a stem cell advocate trained with VetStem®.  He has served over 150 practices throughout Hawaii and California as an independent contractor emphasizing critical and emergency care.  Dr. Abella is also an accomplished ceramacist and enjoys golf, surfing, and soccer.

Dr. Craig Zelles
Dr. Zelles received his Bachelor of Arts degree in zoology from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1987.  He then worked as a veterinary technician for several years in Los Angeles attaining significant experience in endoscopic gastroenterology.  He went on to receive his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at the prestigious University of California at Davis’ School of Veterinary Medicine in 1994.  During his doctoral studies, he gained additional extensive ultrasound and radiology training under the direct supervision of one of the pioneers of veterinary ultrasound.  His exceptional skill as a surgeon earned him a surgical scholarship in 1993.  Since entering general clinical practice in 1994, Dr. Zelles has amassed invaluable surgical, ultrasonographic, and endoscopic experience.  Helping people and their animals is Dr. Zelles’ greatest professional joy.  His greatest personal joys are his wife Jennifer, his daughter Catalina, surfing, sailing, triathlon, and playing the guitar.

Dr. Mumtaz Vora
Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners  (Canine and Feline)
Dr. Vora was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya.  She graduated from the University of Nairobi, school of veterinary medicine and then completed her veterinary training in the United States at the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine.  She completed an intensive medicine and surgery internship at one of the most prestigious specialty hospitals in Weymouth, Massachusetts.  Since her internship Dr. Vora has practiced small animal medicine and surgery for the past ten years.

Her love and passion for her profession led to her pursuit and attainment of the  specialty certification by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) in Canine and Feline Medicine.  She is also certified by PennHip for hip dysplasia evaluation.  Dr. Vora’s primary interests include geriatric care, diseases of the endocrine system, kidney disease and surgery.

Dr. Vora is married with one child and at present has 2 beloved cats Sakina and Henry. Her interests include cooking, reading, languages and traveling. Dr.Vora has been a member of the veterinary staff of Aloha Animal Hospital since 2006.

Dr. Rebecca Nostrand
Certified Veterinary Medical Acupuncurist
Dr. Nostrand attended the University of Georgia for both undergraduate and veterinary school. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1997, and she received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 2001. The following year she completed an intensive internship in Emergency and Critical Care Medicine and Surgery in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Since then she has worked as both an emergency and general practice clinician in Massachusetts and Virginia. She moved to Vista in the summer of 2007 and is honored to be a part of the Aloha Animal Hospital. Her professional interests include surgery and emergency medicine, acupuncture, and in her spare time she enjoys running, cooking, gardening, and spending time with her husband and their two dogs. 

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 The Support Staff

The receptionists of Aloha Animal Hospital are an experienced link to communicating with you.  Their job is much more demanding than one would imagine.  The receptionist is responsible for organizing our schedule to meet with yours while determining your animal’s needs.  All the while, the receptionists are checking patients in and out, answering a plethora of questions, insuring prescription fulfillment, and keeping our finances straight.  Our receptionists are a vital communication link between you and  our veterinarians and we appreciate their abilities to keep the hospital organized.