Four Paws Veterinary Center Team
Meet the veterinary staff of Four Paws Veterinary Center who will take care of your pet’s essential health needs.
Our Veterinary Team
It is our commitment to provide quality veterinary care throughout the life of your pet. We treat your pet as we would our own.
Christopher Tripi, DVM
Dr. Tripi is a Veterinarian at Four Paws Veterinary Center. He has been a practicing veterinarian since 2002 and has been with Four Paws since it opened in 2011.
Dr. Christopher Tripi attended the Atlantic Veterinary College located at the University of Prince Edward Island. After he graduated, he took part in an internal medicine / critical care internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. Later he took part in a surgical internship at Sage Centers. Dr. Tripi’s medical interests include surgery, dentistry and informative communication with his patients and clients.
Dr. Tripi’s personal interests include: snowboarding, biking, camping and the outdoors.
Education: Atlantic Veterinary College
Keri Smyrni, DVM
Dr. Smyrni is a Veterinarian at Four Paws Veterinary Center. She has been a practicing veterinarian since 2002 and has been with Four Paws since it opened in 2011.
Dr. Keri Smyrni attended the Atlantic Veterinary College located at the University of Prince Edward Island. After she graduated she returned to the Bay Area and received additional training in internal and emergency medicine at Dublin’s own Iron Horse Vetcare.
Keri enjoys spending time with her family and friends, as well as swimming and skiing.
Education: Atlantic Veterinary College
Heather Burns, DVM
Dr. Heather Burns is originally from Alamo, California and grew up galloping the foothills of Mount Diablo on horseback. From a very young age, she dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. After graduating from Carondelet High School, (fun fact: this is where Dr. Smyrni also attended high school and where the two first met), she began her veterinary studies at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, and Iowa State University.
After college, she completed her Bachelors of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVM&S) from the Royal College of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh, Scotland, and a post-graduate rotating internship in Los Angeles at Animal Surgery and Emergency Center.
Since 2006, Heather has been working in both specialty emergency positions and general veterinary practices in California. She is honored to be able to bring her years of experience to Four Paws Veterinary Center.
Heather is an avid traveler and live music enthusiast. She continues to pursue her love of horses, caring for an off-track thoroughbred named Bowie. She currently lives in Martinez with her five rescue pets: two cats, Finley Quaye and Farrah Pawcette; and three dogs, Delilah, Riff and Theodore.
Jen, Practice Manager
Jen is the Practice Manager at Four Paws Veterinary Center. She has been with the practice since 2011.
Jen was raised on a small ranch with horses, pigs, chickens, cats and dogs. She grew up participating in 4-H and FFA and raised both swine and rabbits. Jen has been in the veterinary field since 2004 and enjoys that every day is different and that she is constantly learning.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends and two dogs; Emma and Beanz. She also loves to go on hikes, read and relax on the beach.
Rachel, Veterinary Assistant
Rachel is a Veterinary Assistant at Four Paws Veterinary Center. She has been with the practice since 2020.
Rachel has always had a love for animals. She grew up with Cooper, a miniature poodle, and rescued her own dog, Sulley. She is currently in school to become a registered veterinary technician and loves working with animals.
In her free time, Rachel loves to spend time with her family and her dogs. She also enjoys baking and watching Disney movies.
Julie, RVT
Julie is an RVT here at Four Paws.
She went to Carrington College in 2013 and has been in small animal practices since then. She loves all animals big and small but her heart will always be with our furry feline friends and has a special love for geriatric dogs. She has lived in the bay area her whole life but loves escaping to the woods for hiking and camping with her husband & 2 kids any chance she can.
She currently has 1 cat & 1 rat, and is hoping to welcome a new golden retriever puppy to the family soon.
Terilyn, Veterinary Assistant
Terilyn is a Veterinary Assistant at Four Paws Veterinary Center. She has been with the practice since 2021.
Terilyn grew up in Dublin surrounded by dogs and small mammals. From her Shar-pei Yoshi to her guinea pig named Butterscotch, she has loved furry friends of all shapes and sizes. You will recognize Terilyn by her beautiful pink and purple hair. She is more then thrilled to be a part of team dedicated to the health and happiness of your four-legged kids.
In her free time, Terilyn enjoys being around vibrant people, hanging outside with friends, snuggling her pups and dancing around.
Lauren, Veterinary Assistant
Lauren is a Veterinary Assistant at Four Paws Veterinary Center. She has been with the practice since 2021.
Lauren loves being a part of the Four Paws team and growing and learning with us. Her interests include nutrition, toxicology, and large animal.
Lauren’s personal interests include running, hiking, baking, the outdoors, and spending time with her golden retriever Auggie. She also likes to dress Auggie up for special occasions and holidays and have a photo shoot.
Amber, Veterinary Assistant
Amber’s love for animals started at a young age, growing up with dogs, cats, rabbits, lizards & birds. She has recently made a career change & is studying to become an RVT at Carrington College.
In her free time, Amber enjoys anything outdoors in the sun, working out, traveling & snuggling up watching horror movies with her Pitbull William & two sphinx cats, Zelda & Goji.
Sophia, Veterinary Assistant
Sophia is a recent graduate from UC Davis where she studied animal biology. While she has always had a love for animals, it was her love for her childhood dog named Hazel that inspired her to work in the field. She is excited to learn and grow with the Four Paws team.
In her free time she enjoys going to concerts, spending time with her loved ones and relaxing at home with her dog Tachi.
Lauren M., Veterinary Assistant
Lauren is a Veterinary Assistant at Four Paws. She has been with the practice since 2023.
Since she was very young, Lauren has had a love of animals and an interest in working closely with them. Growing up, she was unable to have pets of her own, so she took small pet sitting jobs around her neighborhood and found that she felt her most happy and fulfilled when caring for them. After working in customer service and retail for over ten years and establishing a life and family, Lauren was recently able to pursue her dream of working with animals. She took the opportunity to change her career path in 2023, get a certificate as a Veterinary Assistant, and join the Four Paws team.
In her free time, Lauren enjoys studying philosophy, gardening, cooking/grilling, spending time outdoors, caring for/playing with her two dogs (Molly & Buster), playing video/board games with her husband, daughter, and friends, creating/editing videos, and trying to add a little kindness into the world.
Jaylenne, CSR
Jaylenne is a Customer Service Representative at Four Paws. She has been with the practice since 2023.
Jaylenne grew up around all sorts of animals including hamsters, birds, dogs, cats, lizards, and even horses. Growing up around animals large and small, she decided her love and passion for them would make a fitting career. She is currently studying to become an RVT at Modesto Junior College where she will receive her large and small animal veterinary technician certificates.
In her free time, Jaylenne enjoys going to the gym, traveling, and spending time with her dogs Precious and Gizmo. You may even find her with her horse Centenaria.
Kareen, CSR
Kareen is a Customer Service Representative at Four Paws Veterinary Center. She has been with the practice since 2018.
It was because of a homeless kitty that brought Kareen to Four Paws. Chica, the homeless kitty, wandered into Kareen’s yard sickly, thin and hungry for a new and loving home. With the help of a local rescue organization, Four Paws and a place to call home, Chica made a full recovery. Kareen was so impressed by the kindness that was practiced at Four Paws that she needed to be a part of our team.
Kareen enjoys gardening, spending time with her family and her fur babies.
Lili, CSR
Lili has a certification in veterinary assistance and hopes to continue her education in animal behavior and medicine. She is very excited to have the opportunity to learn and grow with the Four Paws team.
In her free time you can find her cuddling up on the couch with her three fur babies and a good book. She also enjoys video games, taking naps, and trying new foods.