Carissa is one of our newer Veterinary Assistants at Heritage Veterinary Care in Hopedale, OH. She deeply loves animals, and being able to help them every day makes this career even better for her. At home Carissa has Bo, a lazy but wonderful Beagle who lives with her parents, and she also claims her boyfriend's Chocolate Lab, Tilly — she is wildly energetic in true Lab fashion, but the most loving dog you will ever meet.
Carissa earned her Associate's degree from Vet Tech Institute in Pittsburgh, PA, completed her studies in 2022. After graduating, Carissa joined Laurel Highlands Animal Health in Somerset, PA in October 2022, where she worked as a Veterinary Technician under Stacey Harbaugh until March 2026. Carissa hold Fear Free, IDEXX, and Nestlé Purina certifications earned in 2022, and she is a member of AALAS and AAHA.
Being able to help animals is what Carissa love most. Her technical skills — drawing blood, running bloodwork, pulling vaccines, dispensing medications, and taking X-rays — allow her to make a hands-on difference every day, and she also takes pride in being a strong support for my team. My love for animals is what brought me to this field, and the ability to make a real difference in their lives is what keeps me here. Outside of work I enjoy taking walks with Bo, hunting and fishing, and binge-watching shows.