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About Us

We understand the unique bond between you and your furry companion.
veterinarians taking care of dog

Full-Service Veterinary Hospital in Rockville

We understand the unique bond between you and your furry companion, and we believe they deserve the best. That’s why we combine cutting-edge veterinary knowledge with a genuine passion for animals.

Katherine Cortez Navarro

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Our Goal

Our goal is to be your partner in pet parenthood.
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Great Location

We are proud to serve the communities of Rockville, Bethesda, North Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Olney, and the surrounding areas.

Our Team

Our dedicated team cares for you and your pet

Dr. Sunil Kakarla

Dr. Sunil Kakarla

DVM, PH.D, Owner

Dr. Sunil Kakarla, an experienced and compassionate veterinarian in Cary, NC, grew up in India. After graduating from the College of Veterinary Medicine in India, he practiced as a companion animal veterinarian for five years in a metropolitan city in India. He moved to the United States in 2005 with a passion for practicing high-quality veterinary medicine in an advanced setting. During that process, he pursued his MS and Ph.D. in a renowned lab at Marshall University in West Virginia.

As a graduate student, Dr. Kakarla performed cutting-edge research and had several high impact publications to his credit. While pursuing graduate studies, he simultaneously completed the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE) in 2010.
Soon after this accomplishment, he began volunteering at several local animal hospitals. He completed his clinical experience program and obtained his license to practice in the US the same year.

In 2011, after graduating with a doctoral degree, he joined a small animal practice in Durham/RTP where he established a huge clientele and treated about 6000 to 7000 pets per year.

With his continued passion to provide the best quality veterinary care, he joined the state-of-the-art Walnut Street Animal Hospital in June 2016. As a veterinarian in the RTP area of NC, he strongly believes in quality care for pets and in being available to his patients when needed.

Sunil Kakarla is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and has special interests in dermatology and soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, as well as emergency medicine. Dr. Kakarla is married and has a son and a daughter. He enjoys spending quality time with his family, including his 1-year-old Golden-Doodle, Brownie, and a 4-year-old Poodle, Milky. He enjoys serving his community by actively helping rescue groups and shelter pets, and in his free time, he plays volleyball.
Dr. Raam Krishna Karanam

Dr. Murali Mallela

D.V.M, Chief Veterinarian

Dr. Murali Mallela became the head veterinarian at our hospital in January 2022. He earned his B.V.Sc. and M.V.Sc from the ANGRA University in Hyderabad, India in 2010. He then continued his education at Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine - Virginia Tech, where he earned a Ph.D. in Veterinary and Biomedical in 2011. Shortly after, Dr. Mallela completed his post-doctoral research at Yale University and the University of Florida School of Medicine. Moreover, he authored and co-authored several research papers and presented his research at various national and international scientific meetings. After his post-doc, Dr. Mallela decided to get back to his passion for practicing veterinary medicine. He worked in Detroit for one year as a small animal veterinarian, and before joining us, he worked at Banfield for several years.
During his leisure time, Dr. Mallela enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, going to the movies and photography.
Dr. Surendra Rasamsetti

Dr. Surendra Rasamsetti

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Surendra Rasamsetti received his DVM in 2019 from a renowned veterinary institute, SVVU, in India. With his passion for veterinary medicine and applied research, he moved to the United States in 2020 and pursued his master's in Comparative Biomedical Sciences, with a focus in Microbiology, in the Poultry Diagnostic Research Center of the College of Vet Med at the University of Georgia. During this time, he focused his research on Food Safety by improving Salmonella surveillance in the poultry industry using novel CRISPR-SeroSeq technology at Dr. Shariat’s lab. Dr. Rasamsetti participated in applied research projects and authored high-impact publications working in association with UGA professors, USDA, and the U.S. Poultry Industry.
After receiving his M.S., he worked as a small animal surgery technician at Cary Animal Care in North Carolina and completed all the board exams under the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) program, administered by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). He is currently licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Virginia and Maryland. He brings his diverse expertise in veterinary medicine and applied research to our team.

Dr. Rasamsetti is a member of the AVMA and has special interests in internal medicine and soft-tissue surgery, as well as emergency medicine. Dr. Rasamsetti spends his spare time working out and volunteering at local animal shelters to provide spay and neuter surgeries. He enjoys watching movies, music, cooking, and traveling. He likes to play badminton and basketball.
Sarah Van Staalduinen

Sarah Van Staalduinen

Administrative Director

Sarah is an NC State graduate with double majors in Animal Science and Applied Nutrition. She has lived with animals her entire life and has always had a special place in her heart for them. She has been with the company since 2019, and she loves her job. Not only does she have the opportunity to meet new people and pets on a daily basis, but she also gets to help those fur babies stay happy and healthy with their families. Her favorite things to do outside of work include spending time with her furry kiddos; two dogs named Ochi and Denali, and two cats named Juniper and George. When she’s not at work, you can find her hiking with her dog, or taking part in any other activities in which she can include them.
Caitlin O’Neil

Caitlin O’Neil

Client Coordinator

Hello! My name is Caitlin, and I have been with Walnut Street Animal Hospital since 2017. I started out as a receptionist and after being with this practice for a year, I was promoted to Manager and transferred to our sister location, Capital Boulevard Animal Hospital. I absolutely loved the experience of opening a new clinic and getting acquainted with all of the rescues. I am excited to start my new role as Client Coordinator with the company. I have always loved working with clients and making sure the owner and furbaby have a positive experience. In my free time, I am with my 2 human kiddos as well as my own furbabies.
Katherine Cortez Navarro

Katherine Cortez Navarro

Shift Lead

Katherine has loved animals since she was a child and has grown up with a fair share of pets. Katherine is a dedicated veterinary assistant with a passion for animal care. Through her hard work and commitment, she earned a promotion to shift lead, showcasing her leadership skills and knowledge of veterinary procedures. Katherine thrives in her role as a vet assistant, finding joy in helping animals and supporting their well-being. Her enthusiasm for her work and her ability to collaborate with her team make her an invaluable asset in the field of veterinary medicine.

In her free time, Katherine loves to spend her time with her son, husband, and her furry best friends.
Maria Schans

Maria Schans

Veterinary Assistant

Maria was born in Russia and loves to travel. She looks forward to applying to college and wants to major in biology. With a passion for caring for animals, she has a cat named Mishka and three chickens of her own. She has also volunteered at wild bird sanctuaries and dolphin rescue organizations. In Maria’s free time, she loves to watch sports and play soccer.
Hermione Ricks

Hermione Ricks

Veterinary Assistant

Hermione was born in South Jamaica Queens, New York, she then moved to Maryland. Hermione graduated from Wilde Lake High School in 2021 with an impressive 4.38 GPA. After graduation, she made the decision to follow her heart into the Veterinary field. Driven by her love for animals, Hermione is now a full-time college student, actively pursuing a career in Veterinary medicine while also working full-time. Her goal is to become a Veterinarian and establish her own mobile Veterinary business. She is dedicated to providing compassionate care for animals of all kinds all over the world.
Hermione’s journey is driven by her firm dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of animals, and she inspires those around her with her ambition and compassion.

Outside of work, Hermione shares her life with an affectionate American Pit Bull named Egypt, who brings her happiness. She also has a passion for singing and loves to take on new adventures, always wanting to find new experiences and opportunities to explore.
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Elizabeth "Liz" Madariaga

Receptionist

My name is Elizabeth, but I go by Liz. I am a full-time mom/soon-to-be student. I have two mutts who I love so much, and I’m currently raising my very own Wednesday Addams.
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You’ve Come to the Right Place

High-quality veterinary care in Rockville

Rockville Pike Animal Hospital provides compassionate, comprehensive veterinary care for dogs and cats in Rockville, Bethesda, North Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Olney, and the surrounding areas.
Logo Rockville Pike Animal Hospital
Rockville Pike Animal Hospital provides loving, high-quality veterinary care for dogs and cats in Rockville.

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Hours

Mon-Sat: 9am-7pm
Sunday: Closed