Dr. Carlson is originally from Plano, IL. She grew up with her adoptive family (including a younger brother) while learning the value of hard work. She hasn’t slowed down since she started working full time at 16, graduating early and heading to Chicago to spend the next seven years in stock trading. Her path to becoming a veterinarian may have been a little untraditional, but she became determined to shift her focus in life to helping animals when they need it most.

After graduating with her DVM in 2001 from the University of Illinois, Dr. Carlson went on to complete her general internship at the Animal Medical Center of New York, her surgical internship at the Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center and her surgical residency at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. She finally made her way to beautiful Northern California, working at Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital as well as PETS Referral Center for five years before spending the next eight at the VCA Bay Area Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Hospital.

Dr. Carlson has finally made her dream to start her own practice a reality with Lenity. She’s able to offer her considerable experience and skills to pets that need it most here in the Bay Area. In this time of corporations buying up many of the general and specialty veterinary practices, Dr. Carlson joins a small group of specialists committed to maintaining private ownership.

Her goals are to maintain a very sophisticated level of client service and patient care that can truly only be accomplished in a smaller, hands-on, privately owned setting with direct owner involvement.