Hospital

As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jena Valdez oversees our most innovative and impactful veterinary care programs, which are designed to offer quality, compassionate care to shelter animals and affordable, non-judgmental veterinary care to clients and their pets.

In addition to overseeing veterinary services at the SF SPCA, Dr. Valdez pioneered the launch of the Community Veterinary Clinic, a first-of-its-kind, preventative care center in San Francisco’s Excelsior district (a longstanding veterinary-resource desert). She is also working to export the scalable Community Clinic model to under-resourced communities throughout California.

A graduate of Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Dr. Valdez has extensive experience in private practice, sheltering, and high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter services. She’s a nationally recognized advocate for increasing access to veterinary care and increasing diversity within the fields of veterinary medicine and animal welfare.

Dr. Valdez shares her San Francisco home with her husband, their ball-obsessed Dachshund mix, and a regal brown tabby.

My name is Isabella (Bella) Benitez, and I recently graduated from The Ohio State University. My journey in veterinary medicine began at the age of 13, when I started volunteering at a municipal shelter in LA County, where my passion for community medicine and sheltering took root. Since then, I've gained experience in general practice, a teaching hospital, shelters, and an emergency clinic. My medical interests include soft-tissue surgery, dentistry, wound management, neurology, and learning more fear-free and cat-friendly handling techniques. Outside of veterinary medicine, I enjoy rock climbing, backpacking with my dog Atlas, caring for my houseplants, and arts and crafts. I'm excited to meet everyone and start my career at SF SPCA.

Upon graduating from college, I knew I wanted to work with animals, but I wasn’t sure in what capacity, because I also wanted to start a family. I found work in a small animal hospital with women who were both mothers and vets. I quickly saw that becoming a veterinarian would allow me to have a rewarding career and be a mother at the same time. Today, I am both, and I love it!

It’s important to me to be of service to my community and the people around me. I believe in supporting pet parents with the knowledge they need to care for their pets and to provide a wide spectrum of care to every patient, no matter their socio-economic status.

I have always loved caring for animals and problem-solving, and I get to do both as a veterinarian. I love being able to provide accessible care to animals and their families. 

After graduating, my decision to work at the SF SPCA was a natural one for me. The sense of community within the organization is palpable, and I was drawn to the wealth of experience among the staff. Our collaborative approach to medicine ensures that each case benefits from multiple perspectives, enriching the care we provide. The variety of medicine is another aspect I cherish about working here. From urgent care in the main hospital to performing surgeries at our spay/neuter clinic, every day presents new challenges and opportunities to make a difference in the lives of pets.  

Recently, I looked at my old copy of Dr. Seuss’ "My Book About Me,” which I’d filled out when I was 11 years old. On the "What do you want to be when you grow up?" page, I'd written “Veterinarian.” 27 years later, I love being a veterinarian and witnessing the depth of the human animal bond daily. I’m especially excited to join the SF SPCA, where I’m able to serve all segments of society and help as many people as possible enjoy their pets’ unconditional love.  

Diana Montano is a veterinarian focused on small-animal practice. She obtained her veterinary degree from FMVZ-UNAM, an AVMA-accredited school. She successfully completed a small-animal rotating internship at VHS in Kansas State University. Diana has worked as a general practitioner in both Canada and the U.S. She considers herself a cat person and loves outdoor activities. During her free time, you will likely find her hiking, exploring museums, or perhaps watching a series at home. She advocates for the Hispanic community and provides services in both Spanish and English.

Even though I’ve been practicing veterinary medicine since 1993, I still enjoy being with, observing, and working with animals and wildlife. I love drawing on my own personal and work experiences to connect with our clients and have a positive impact on people and their pets. 

I am excited to be part of the SF SPCA to support our Bay Area community and animal companions. All animals deserve great care, and cats hold a special place in my heart.

Every day at work at SF SPCA is an opportunity for me to contribute to a better future for pets and the people who love them.

I love working with animals on a daily basis, and I enjoy teaching their people how to keep them healthy and prevent future medical problems. I love the detective work of solving a mystery and learning new surgeries and techniques to help clients who might not be able to afford specialty-level care. I’m also excited to support healthy communities by teaching a new generation of veterinarians to provide compassionate care for all animals.