Desert Ridge Animal Hospital
Meet Our Team
We pride ourselves on building long-lasting relationships with our patients and clients.
Desert Ridge Team
Furthermore, all of the doctors at our hospital are “Fear Free” certified – this means they have additional training to make each visit as stress-free as possible for your pet.
Michael Berman, DVM
Veterinarian / Owner
Before purchasing Desert Ridge Animal Hospital, Dr. Berman spent five years working in other practices in Scottsdale and Phoenix, AZ. A born and raised Minnesotan, he graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010. Dr. Berman enjoys all aspects of veterinary care but has a particular interest in nutrition, dental care, behavior, and feline internal medicine. In 2016, Dr. Berman became the first Fear Free certified veterinarian in the state of Arizona – a philosophy he brings to all aspects of patient care for your pets here in North Scottsdale! In 2017, Dr. Berman joined the Veterinary Dentistry Academy, a select group of doctors who have completed advanced training in all aspects of oral care for dogs and cats.
When Dr. Berman isn’t at the hospital, he can often be found at home with his wife, Dr. Kitchen, and their twin boys. He hopes to add a cat or three to their family again soon.
Katie Kitchen, DVM
Veterinarian / Owner
Before purchasing Desert Ridge Animal Hospital, Dr. Kitchen worked at Faust Animal Hospital in Phoenix for nearly four years. Born and raised in Arizona, she graduated from Deer Valley High School and Arizona State University West before heading up to Minnesota for vet school. This is where she met her future husband, Dr. Berman. It wasn’t hard to convince him that sunshine was better than snow, and they moved back to Arizona shortly after she graduated. Dr. Kitchen has a particular interest in behavior, nutrition, and canine internal medicine.
When not at the clinic, Dr. Kitchen enjoys spending time with her husband and the furry members of their family: Mason, an Australian Shepherd, Tworty, the tortoise, along with the pets Dr. Berman brought into the family. She also enjoys competing in agility with Mason, reading, and spending time with her twin boys.
Rishika Virdee , DVM
Veterinarian
Outside of work, Dr. Virdee loves to travel and has an affinity for the arts; she could happily spend just as long over-analyzing an inspiring piece of cinema/literature as she would your fur kiddo’s X-rays. She has a family dog (a white Maltipoo named Ollie) and a cat whom she adopted 2nd year of Vet School (a shorthaired grey tabby named Bumi).
Carrie
Technician
Carrie’s human family includes her two daughters, Sarah and Julia. Their household is run by a Bullmastiff named Paisley as well as her cat called Bingo. In her free time, Carrie enjoys hiking, playing softball, and hanging out with her friends and family.
Devyn
Technician
When not at the animal hospital caring for your furry friends, she is usually at home being bossed around by her seven-year-old son, Cylus. They also live with their sassy cats named Malfoy and Anakin, and their three dogs, Lola, Willow, and Opie. Devyn looks forward to coming to work every day and enjoys not only getting to know the dogs and cats we care for but the owners who share her love for their animals.
Amy
Technician
Kortney
Technician
Kortney shares her life at home with three dogs – a Shih Tzu named Ella, a chihuahua named Samsona, and a Belgian shepherd named Duke. In her infrequent spare moments, she enjoys eating out and traveling.
Alexis
Technician
Alexis was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. She started her career in Veterinary Medicine originally since she thought she might want to eventually become a veterinarian. She began her career at a boarding facility and then worked for several years at Dr. Phillips Animal Hospital in Orlando. Alexis moved to Arizona to continue her education – she is currently studying forensic psychology at ASU!
Outside of work, Alexis enjoys hiking and is a total foodie! She also appreciates a good Netflix binge when possible. She has a young Heeler/Rottweiler mix named Colby.
Karly
Technician Assistant
Alison
Technician Assistant
Mariah
Customer Service
After 6 years of working in California, she packed up and moved to Arizona. She lives with her fiancé and fur baby Yeti, a blue heeler. They enjoy exploring Arizona, meeting new people, and going back home to visit family.
Monika
Customer Service
Monika has an 8 year old terrier mix and a 3 year old calico tabby cat. In her free time, she enjoys rollerskating, gardening, and hiking. Her passion is to make sure animals get the treatment and care they need.