Randy D. Aronson, VMD
Veterinarian/Practice Owner

Dr. Randy Aronson has dedicated his professional life to providing innovative veterinary care for companion animals of Arizona. He is never satisfied with the status quo and determined to provide the best care for his patients and the people who love them. Advancing preventative and diagnostic capabilities as well as enhancing treatment outcomes is his passion. Dr. Aronson augments his 30 years of traditional veterinary experience, as both a practice owner and accomplished practitioner, through the completion and certification in complementary modalities. These therapies include acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and physical rehabilitation therapy. His gift is seeing the big picture, embracing the concept of optimum health and accurate diagnoses, caring for the whole animal, not simply treating disease symptoms. Inspired by the synergy of integrating conventional and complementary medicine, Dr. Randy Aronson and his wife, Dr. Geren Thurston; set out to create a new paradigm of care for companion animals of southern Arizona. P.A.W.S. Integrative Veterinary Center is his passion and shared vision for the future of veterinary medicine.

Dr. Aronson grew up in Philadelphia dreaming of becoming an equine veterinarian or an NBA star. He received his undergraduate degree from George Washington University. He went on to pursue his Veterinary Medical Degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated in 1980 receiving the Leonard Pearson award, the highest honor of student achievement. He then completed a combined small animal Internship in 1981.

When Dr. Aronson is not caring for animals and educating clients at P.A.W.S., he hosts a call-in talk radio show (The Radio Pet Vet on 104.1 FM, Saturdays 8-10AM). He enjoys educating pet owners through both public speaking and column writing. He is a member of the national Speakers’ Association; he has published numerous articles in both national and local periodicals. To ensure quality and accountability for the safety and benefit of his patients, he directs and co-formulates 2Docs, a comprehensive line of pet vitamins and dietary supplements.

Although he loves biking, hiking, fishing, gardening and reading most of his free time is spent goofing around with his 3 year-old son, Benjamin.

Geren T. Thurston, DVM
Veterinarian/Practice Owner

For Dr. Geren Thurston, a passion and appreciation for animals combined with a love for science and problem solving shaped a childhood dream of becoming a Veterinarian.  As soon as she had her driver’s license, she secured her dream job cleaning kennels and walking dogs at a Veterinary Clinic in Nebraska.  Through this early experience, she was transformed by the profound human-animal bond, the magical connection of meaning and joy that we share with animals.  Witnessing the important role medical care, disease prevention and education have in the lives of people and their beloved pets, resolved her to continue her pursuit of Veterinary Medicine.  Sharing in, protecting and prolonging the relationships that we experience with animals is her enduring source of inspiration and fulfillment.

Dr. Geren Thurston fell in love with Tucson during her undergraduate education, earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arizona in 1997.  She attended Veterinary School at Colorado State University in Fort Collins and received her D.V.M. degree in 2001.  She was a fine student, recognized through varied academic and service achievements.

Upon completion of Veterinary School in 2001, Dr. Geren Thurston eagerly returned to Tucson to begin her career caring for dogs and cats.  She enjoys the challenges and rewards of general practice, from puppy and kitten exams to end of life care, as well as the preventative, surgical and medical services in between.

After many years of planning, Dr. Geren Thurston and her best friend & husband, Dr. Randy Aronson, opened P.A.W.S. in July of 2008.  P.A.W.S. is the embodiment of their shared passion and vision for the future of Veterinary Medicine, as well as their commitment of caring for pets and people of Southern Arizona.

In her free time, she loves goofing around with their son, Benjamin.  She enjoys being outdoors, going to the movies, working around the house, hiking and horseback riding.

Kathryn Halstead, DVM
Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Kathryn Beers Halstead was born and raised in Casa Grande, Arizona. She had a love for animals from an early age and was active in 4-H sheep, horse and veterinary science programs. Dr. Halstead completed her undergraduate studies and doctorate of veterinary medicine degree at Colorado State University, graduating in 2004. During this time she was active with the SCU equestrian team, Habitat for Humanity and was a working student at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since graduation, Dr. Halstead returned to Arizona and has worked in dairy cattle, equine and small animal general medicine and surgery. Dr. Halstead’s professional interests include soft tissue surgery, regenerative medicine and pain management. She is currently a member of the American Veterinary medical Association, American Animal Hospital Association and is a credentialed Vet-Stem practitioner. She is thrilled to be attending Chi Institute’s Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine acupuncture program in the fall of 2010. Dr. Halstead’s personal interests include spending time with her dogs, bunnies, birds & tortoise; hiking, river guiding and surfing.

Julie Mayer, DVM
Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Julie Mayer, who has recently relocated to Arizona, has been practicing veterinary medicine in Chicago since 1991.  She has dedicated most of her career to holistic medicine and rehabilitation.  Dr. Mayer owned Integrative Pet Care and operated Therapet, two rehabilitation and holistic centers in Illinois.  Dr Mayer was named one of "Chicago's Best Vets" by Chicago Magazine and most recently received the 2010 Iams Eukanuba AARV Award for excellence in the field of Veterinary Rehabilitation.  Dr. Mayer is certified in veterinary acupuncture, veterinary chiropractic, canine rehabilitation, is a Reiki practitioner and continuously seeks education in the growing field of integrative care and physical rehabilitation.  She had appeared  on numerous network news programs, published articles, and she also serves as a guest lecturer at veterinary continuing education seminars on rehabilitation  and complementary veterinary medicine.  Dr. Mayer has also reached out to the general public by speaking at colleges and events on topics related to animal rehabilitation and holistic veterinary medicine.  She also regularly moderates webinars on nutrition.  Dr. Mayer serves on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians and is a member of the American Canine Sports Medicine Association, the American Association of Veterinary Nutrition, and many other veterinarian associations.  Dr. Julie Mayer works to combine conventional and complementary treatment modalities providing the ultimate in an integrative healing experience.  Dr. Julie shares her love with her friends and rescued pets consisting of two dogs, five cats, turtles, and a parakeet.  She also likes attending dog and human sporting events and enjoys water sports.

Audrey
Veterinary Technician Supervisor

Audrey has worked in the veterinary field for seven years and joined the P.A.W.S. team so that she could expand her knowledge base to include Alternative Medicine.  She especially enjoys the hands-on aspect of her work and making each pet’s visit as comfortable as possible. 

Audrey’s particular interests include assisting with surgery, in-house lab work, as well as other technical procedures.  She finds working at P.A.W.S. fulfilling because of the compassionate clientele and their desire to embrace treatments on the cutting edge of veterinary medicine. At home Audrey shares her days with her three dogs; Dallas, Cinder and Joey.

Karyn
B.S., Certified Veterinary Technician

Karyn is a certified veterinary technician and first met Dr. Aronson while pursuing alternatives to traditional medicine for one of her own pets while working at another general practice in town. Prior to coming to PAWS, she also worked in the field of child welfare and family preservation, while in college; particularly with families involved with Child Protective Services. She graduated in 2008 from the University of Arizona with a BS in Family Studies and Human Development, but has since returned to pursue veterinary school. Karyn is highly involved with animal rescue and welfare and is an active board member of 3 organizations, including P.A.W.S. Foundation, Woofs without Roofs. She also went to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to help with rescue/reunification operations.

Her areas of special interest include behavior and training, anesthesia and surgery, and animal welfare and rescue. Karyn is a professional member of the Society for Behavioral Veterinary Technicians, National Associations of Veterinary Technicians in America, and Veterinary Health Care Team of Arizona. Karyn also works with Dr. Vanya Moreno and Animal Magnetism.

Karyn Shares her life and home with boyfriend Justin and their family of dogs and fosters. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, yoga, Pilates, horseback riding and spending time with her dogs, friends and family.

Angela
Certified Veterinary Technician

Angela attended Pima Medical Institute and began working as a Veterinary Technician in 2007. She enjoys her job immensely and loves assisting the doctor during examinations.

Angela and her husband share their home with their young son, 4 dogs and a cat. In her spare time she enjoys going to the movies, hiking, riding dirt bikes and spending time with family and friends. She is currently taking classes at Pima Community College to further her career in the veterinary field.

Yolanda
Certified Veterinary Technician

Yolanda has been with P.A.W.S. since the beginning. She graduated from Pima Community College's Veterinary Technology program and has her Associates degree of Applied Sciences.

Animals have always been Yolanda’s passion and she feels very lucky to be working with the pets she so admires.

Yolanda shares her home with her two sons, husband and various pets.  In her spare time she enjoys beading as a hobby.

Jason
Veterinary Technician

Jason has loved animals ever since childhood. When asked in kindergarten class what he wanted to be when he grew up, Jason said a “bunny rabbit”. He grew up in a household full of loved pets. He and his mother would often rescue the stray cat or dog found in the neighborhood. At the age of sixteen Jason accepted a volunteer position at the Micke Grove Zoo in his home town of Lodi California. Within a short period of time Jason became a regular employee of the zoo. It was his passion for animals that allowed him to achieve many great things at the zoo. Jason worked as a sea lion trainer and also worked with baboons, big cats and many exotic birds. Jason then left his hometown to attend the Exotic Animal Training College located in southern California. He gained much knowledge there and as a result became employed with an animal productions company located in San Diego. With this company he worked as an exotic bird showman at many fairs as well as a trainer for movies and television. He once appeared on the Jay Leno show as a guest demonstrating the beauty and intelligence of exotic birds. Along the way Jason has also managed to maintain his career as a veterinary technician. He has been a technician now for twelve years. His experience as a technician includes general practice, exotic care, emergency care and specialty medicine. He is now very excited to be with our practice and learn the integrative approach to animal care. Jason and his partner have recently moved here to Arizona from California. They currently have three dogs and one cat. Their names are Dame, Lola, Dior and Ralph.

Linnea
B.S.,Veterinary Technician

Linnea is a native of Chicago and moved to Tucson in the fall of 2009 to escape another long Chicago winter. She earned her bachelor’s in Marine biology and zoology at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, FL. While in school she became a veterinary assistant and quickly became a veterinary technician. After graduation she moved back to Chicago to become the director of an animal hospital there. She took a break from the veterinary field for an internship at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, working with dolphins and sea lions, but quickly realized how much she missed dogs. She then joined a hydrotherapy facility, swimming dogs as rehabilitation. During her time there, she learned about the importance of integrative medicine, grain-free diets, and natural remedies. After her move to Tucson, she became the director of another animal hospital but wanted to find a more integrative approach to medicine and she found PAWS! She enjoys talking to clients about Raw and grain free diets, weight management and dental care. She hopes to do hydrotherapy again and also become certified in canine massage.

Linnea lives with a Manchester terrier, Pepe, Zoe – a stray dog she nursed back to health from vestibular disease and her turtle, Raphael.

Sherri
Certified Canine Rehabilitation Assistant

Sherri has been in the veterinary field since 1984.  She started as a kennel assistant and worked her way up to become a veterinary assistant.  She spent 7 years in the emergency veterinary field—two of them as a supervisor,  and has always had a strong interest in rehabilitation and in geriatric patients.  In 2005 she gave up her supervisory position at the veterinary emergency clinic to pursue her passion in rehabilitation.  She attended the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in Florida where she had the highest score ever obtained on the final exam and became certified in canine rehabilitation. With a strong desire to offer the best care for her patients, she continued her education with advanced neurology rehabilitation, canine sports rehabilitation, custom splinting and bracing, and an externship at Dr. Marcellin-Little's rehabilitation facility.

Sherri developed and instituted a rehabilitation facility in North Carolina where she worked until March of 2009, at which time she was offered an amazing opportunity to work with Dr. Aronson and the staff of P.A.W.S. Veterinary Center. Henceforth, she married a very wonderful man, Jim, in February of 2009, went on a fabulous San Antonio honeymoon, came home, loaded a moving truck, and drove across the country for 4 days with her new husband and her beautiful kids Lindsey and Tyler.

Now in Tucson, Sherri is adjusting to the heat, loving the city, P.A.W.S. and is very excited to be able to offer its patients an option for pain relief, longer quality of life, and quicker recovery time.

Lisa
Customer Service Representative Supervisor

Lisa graduated with honors from Pima Medical Institute and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. She started out as a Technician quickly working her way up to Hospital Manager at Banfield Pet Hospital where she was worked for the last 3 and a half years. Although she thoroughly enjoyed her time there, her love for animals and interest in alternative medicine brought her to PAWS Veterinary Center.

Lisa enjoys hiking, managing her husbands band,  making jewelry, crocheting, knitting, making clay sculptures and playing guitar.   She spends her time with her best friend and husband Kalani, 2 cats (Orion and Cyan) and 3 dogs (Buddah, Katsu and Pepper).

Kimberly
Customer Service Representative

Kim grew up in Miami, Florida and attended the New World School of the Arts, from which she graduated in 1991.  Kim recently moved from Tampa to Tucson, and has been working as a veterinary assistant since 2003.  Working with animals has become a passion of Kim’s.

Kim is a very outgoing and cheerful person, and often is the one that can put a smile on your face after a busy day.  You can definitely say she is “short but sweet” (referring to her height). 

Julia
Housekeeping/Kennel Tech

Over the years Julia has worked in both the pet and housekeeping fields, including, but not limited to: pet sitting, vet clinic receptionist and owning her own house cleaning business.

Julia was about 12 years old when her parents bought her a Scottish Terrier that she was supposed to train and show.  Age 13 came around and a very sick, small kitten arrived on her doorstep.  She spent many days sleeping in the bathroom with “Little Sandels” until he recovered.  Julia thought this kitten could do no wrong but the rest of the family thought otherwise, especially as he got older. Other wonderful dogs and cats have crossed Julia’s path over the years and were regarded with warmth and as a strong part of her family bringing laughter, joy and innocence into her life.