Southpaw Vet is a family-owned and operated veterinary practice located in the San Diego area. We are a local, independent clinic, and believe that our quality of care benefits from that fact. We value the connection we have to our communities and work hard to continuously be a positive force within them. Being a San Diego resident allows us to better understand the specifics of our client’s and pet’s lifestyles and needs.
As a team, we value honesty, respect, and loyalty, and we expect the same in return from our clients. We are a group of trained medical professionals who are committed to your pet’s well-being, and in order for us to provide gold standard care with confidence, we need to earn the trust and support of our clients.
A happy staff means better patient care. We understand that we can’t provide the best quality care without a positive work environment. Our culture benefits from being collaborative and cohesive, so we strive internally to achieve this. Veterinary medicine is demanding and emotional, yet even during the most difficult of times, our devotion for pets helps bring forth positive energy.
We love animals. And that’s why we’ve dedicated our lives to helping them. Pets are our family members and best friends, so we aim to give them the care they deserve while giving you comfort in doing so.
DAMN GOOD VET CARE
DAMN GOOD VET CARE
Dr. Joshua Yonas
Owner, MS, DVM
Education and Training
• Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine
• San Diego State University
• Dickinson College
Professional Affiliations
• AVMA, CVMA, SDVMA, USDA
• Fear Free Certified
• Recover BLS/ALS CPR Certified
About the owner, Dr. Yonas
Dr. Yonas is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania to earn his Bachelor's degree. After receiving his undergraduate degree, he worked in North Carolina studying marine mammal migrations on the east coast. He fell in love with marine mammal science and went on to earn a Masters of Science at San Diego State University, studying the evolution of swimming in walruses. While in San Diego, he adopted an English Bulldog named Lola who convinced him to go to vet school.
Dr. Yonas attended Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine, and completed a small animal rotating internship in veterinary medicine and surgery at VCA Veterinary Care in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After spending four years in the Pacific Northwest, Dr. Yonas is happy to be back in his favorite place with his Chocolate Lab Gus, French Bulldog Hula, and husband Matt.
Dr. Rebecca Mayne
Medical Director, VMD
Education and Training
• University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
• Franklin and Marshall College
Professional Affiliations
• AVMA, USDA
• Fear Free Certified
• Recover BLS/ALS CPR Certified
About Dr. Mayne
Dr. Rebecca Mayne is a native of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and received her undergraduate degree in Animal Behavior from Franklin and Marshall College. She then went on to earn her veterinary medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating, Dr. Mayne ventured to San Diego with her husband, Ethan, and their two cats, Luke and Brayden. Her professional interests include internal medicine, soft tissue surgery, cardiology, and preventative medicine. Dr. Mayne is also dedicated to minimizing fear and stress in her patients, and is a Fear Free certified veterinarian. Dr. Mayne loves getting to know her clients and their pets, and providing them with individualized care. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, horseback riding, and making memories with friends and family.
Dr. Shehnav Sekhon
DVM
Education and Training
• Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine
• University of Nevada, Reno
Professional Affiliations
• AVMA, USDA
• Fear Free Certified
About Dr. Sekhon
Dr. Sekhon is originally from Las Vegas, NV, and completed his undergraduate from the University of Nevada, Reno with his Bachelor's in Veterinary Science and a minor in business administration. During his undergrad, he also joined the Nevada Air Force National Guard as an Avionics Technician and served for 6 years. He graduated veterinary school at Colorado State University in 2021 and has interests in surgery, preventative medicine, and entrepreneurship. He moved to San Diego in order to be near the beach and learn to surf with his fiancé, Nicole, and their pets, Mrs. Puff, a pitty, and their cat named Paul. His hobbies include traveling, making things out of wood, leather, or repurposing old items, snowboarding, and a new found interest in house plants.
Dr. Jennifer Gustafson
DVM
Education and Training
• Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine
• San Diego State University
Professional Affiliations
• AVMA, USDA
About Dr. Gustafson
Dr. Jennifer Gustafson grew up in San Diego, California. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology with an emphasis in Zoology in 2005 from San Diego State University. She then moved to Kansas to attend Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2009. She worked in Connecticut for 4 years while her husband finished up school before returning to San Diego, where she has been practicing for the past 10 years. Dr. Gustafson’s professional interests are internal medicine and preventative medicine. She has a strong passion to provide comprehensive patient care and excellent client communication. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two children, husband, cat named Zoie, and dogs named Mia and Lady. Her hobbies are wildlife photography, crafts, and reading.
Dr. David Demner
DVM, Diplomate, ACVS
Education and Training
• National University of Colombia
About Dr. Demner
Dr. David Demner is a Board-certified veterinary surgeon who graduated from the National University of Colombia in 2003. Upon graduation, he joined their soft tissue surgery department for advanced training in surgery for two years, and then became an assistant professor. David later moved to California, and after a rotating internship, completed his residency in surgery at a private practice in Southern California. He passed the certifying examination and became Board Certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, and after five years of working as a surgeon in private practice, he founded Veterinary Mobile Surgical Specialist (VMSS). Dr. Demner’s goal is to offer excellent care to patients in need of surgical care at a reasonable price. He enjoys all aspects of surgery, but his specific interests include orthopedic and soft tissue surgery.
Marielle Salden
Client Service Manager
Marielle is originally from the Netherlands, and has been living in the US for almost 14 years. While only being with Southpaw for two years, Marielle brings forth 5 years of veterinary experience and leads our team as our Client Service Manager.
Jessica Andersen
Hospital Manager
Jessica was born and raised in Orange County and has been with Southpaw since opening in 2022. She has 7 years experience across many roles in the veterinary field which makes her perfect for our Hospital Manager.