Our Doctors

Dr. Efrain Vassallo was born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and is fluent in Spanish and English. He knew from a young age he wanted to become a veterinarian. Dr. Vassallo said the movie “Jurassic Park” was what first interested him in animals and science.

“I was amazed by the biology and science, so for the longest time I wanted to be a paleontologist,” Dr. Vassallo said. “But then I realized all those animals were dead, so I switched goals after that.”

Dr. Vassallo started his education at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez as a pre-Vet student before graduating from Lousiana State University in 2016 with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. During his time at university, Dr. Vassallo worked with an orthopedic surgeon in Puerto Rico, and at private practices in Las Vegas and Texas. Most of his externships were small animals, but he has some experience with farm animals.

“I really like interacting with clients and pet owners, so that’s why I prefer small animals,” Dr. Vassallo said.

During his externship in Las Vegas, Dr. Vassallo saw that there were better opportunities to learn more about animal medicine and decided to relocate to Nevada. He is interested in surgery, internal medicine, and working with “misunderstood patients.”

In his spare time, Dr. Vassallo enjoys exploring the Las Vegas area, trying different types of food, reading, working out, and traveling to places like Zion National Park and Phoenix. He and his girlfriend have a Greyhound named Callie, a three-legged cat named Squanchy, a Pitbull-mix named Groot, and a senior cat named Hagrid.

Dr. Tifanie Silver was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and subsequently moved to Dallas, Texas where she graduated from high school. Dr. Silver attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville on an athletic swimming scholarship and completed her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, and her Master’s Degree in Animal Science with an emphasis in Parasitology.

Prior to veterinary school, Dr. Silver volunteered at the Montgomery Zoo in Montgomery, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida in Naples, and as a Marine Mammal Intern at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. She completed Veterinary Externships at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, the National Greyhound Rescue Program in Philadelphia, Sea Life Park on Oahu, and at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga.

Dr. Silver attended Tuskegee University, School of Veterinary Medicine in Tuskegee, Alabama, where she obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2016. After graduating, she relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada to join Craig Road Animal Hospital for a general practice internship; she later joined the staff at Aliante Animal Hospital in 2017.

Dr. Silver is the proud parent to a “spirited” husky mix named Chinook; CC, a very “sensitive” cat; as well as several aloof reptiles, including a ball python (Lucy), a corn snake (Jasper), and a sulcata tortoise (Spartacus).

She recently lost her beloved rescued, former racing greyhound named Prescott. Dr. Silver also has experience keeping exotic birds, fish, and rodents.

In her free time, she enjoys classic and modern science fiction/fantasy media, traveling, tabletop and video gaming, as well as various artistic and craft medias.

Dr. Krystal Chinchilla was born and raised in Northwest Indiana. Throughout her childhood, she grew up with a variety of animals, including two dogs, three birds, two mice, two hamsters, 12 cats, and several fish.

She attributes her desire to become a veterinarian from an early age to this “zoo.” She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Science with minors in Biology and Philosophy from Purdue University in 2016. During her undergrad, she studied abroad in Ireland for six months, where she began working in a parasitology lab.

Dr. Chinchilla continued working in parasitology labs during both her undergraduate and veterinary schooling, producing two peer reviewed publications, and one poster on her research. She graduated with her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University in 2020.

It was at Iowa State that Dr. Chinchilla met her husband, who was an international student from Costa Rica studying livestock genetics.

After graduating, Dr. Chinchilla, her husband, and their four pets made the cross country trek to Las Vegas to join the team at Aliante Animal Hospital in June 2020.

Her main interests in veterinary medicine include parasitology, internal medicine, and ophthalmology. At home, she has two dogs named Tico and Finn, and two cats named Millie and Squid, who are her world.

During her free time, Dr. Chinchilla likes hiking, baking, and drawing/painting.

Dr. Joshua Scharf grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia, and is the middle child of three brothers, alongside numerous pets including dogs, cats, rats, sugar gliders, hamsters, and chameleons.

He found out at a very young age his passion was helping animals. Dr. Scharf completed his undergraduate degree in Biology at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. Prior to starting veterinary school, he worked as a zookeeper, caring for large hoofstock. While working at a zoo, he met his now fiancé. Dr. Scharf received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Virginia-Maryland College 2020. His professional interests include pathology, internal medicine, and neurology.

Dr. Scharf has three dogs at home named Dekker, Summer, and Ghost, all with tons of personality. During his free time, he enjoys rock climbing, hiking, playing board games, and spending time with friends and family.

Growing up near Boise, Idaho, Dr. Brian Redmond, and his dogs would watch countless hours of Animal Planet and be enamored by wildlife expert, Steve Irwin. From an early age, Dr. Redmond was deemed the neighborhood’s favorite and most trusted pet sitter, which strengthened his interest in animal compassion. This advocacy continued into his teenage years as he repaired a bird sanctuary, helping him become an Eagle Scout.

Dr. Redmond graduated from Brigham Young University—Idaho with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Organismic Biology. During his time as an undergrad, he shadowed local veterinarians and interned with Yellowstone Bear World. It was during his internship that he gained a unique experience working with black and grizzly bears, wolves, deer, elk, bison, and countless other species. Dr. Redmond went on to attend Washington State University, College of Veterinary Medicine (Go Cougs!). In 2020, he completed his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. His interests in animal medicine include anesthetic management, dentistry, and cardiology.

Dr. Redmond and his wife are proud parents of two children, with one on the way. He is also teaching his children to love and care for animals. In his free time, he likes to kick back and watch a good college football or basketball game or engage in a competitive card or board game with friends and family.