Dr. Melody Herder-Jimison, DVM
Years in Practice: 41
Education: University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Herder started in veterinary medicine as the only assistant in a one doctor shopping center practice in Southern California after graduating from University of California, Irvine Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry.
In 1980, she graduated from U.C. Davis School of Veterinary Medicine fifth in her class. Dr. Herder began her practice career at Michigan State University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in an internship in small animal medicine and surgery. She returned to California in 1981 to begin private practice at Marina Pet Hospital in San Francisco.
In 1982, Dr. Herder married Robert Jimison, a Registered Veterinary Technician working at Marina Pet Hospital. Dr. Herder became chief of staff at an affiliate Valley Veterinary Hospital in Walnut Creek in 1983. Dr. Herder and Robert Jimison purchased Village Oaks Veterinary Hospital, Martinez in 1993 and moved their family to Contra Costa County.
Having outgrown the facility in the Village Oaks Shopping center, Dr. Herder and her husband built Muir Oaks Veterinary Hospital in 2001. Dr. Herder’s veterinary passion is small animal medicine from routine health maintenance to complicated medical cases – especially oncology.
Dr. Herder’s other passion is music and she has definitely been caught singing to her patients. In her free time, she sings with several choirs, takes voice and ballroom dance lessons and walks all over Martinez. And she loves to travel, although that does take her away from her Golden Retrievers, Samson and Dottie and her polydactyl cat, Peekay.
Dr. David Jimison, DVM
Years in Practice: 7
Education: University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Jimison has worked at many positions within veterinary medicine. Dr. Jimison’s career began here at Muir Oaks Veterinary Hospital, where he started as a part-time kennel attendant in 2001. He worked his way up to a veterinary assistant, where he worked part-time and during the summers while earning his B.S. in Animal Science from the University of California, Davis. He attended veterinary school at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, graduating with honors in 2014. After veterinary school, he moved to Los Angeles for a veterinary internship at VCA, West Los Angeles Animal Hospital.
In 2015 Dr. Jimison moved across the country to Boston to work as a general practitioner at Angell Animal Medical Center, a branch of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. As a general practitioner, he has a passion for all aspects of preventative care, including developing specifically tailored vaccine and parasite prevention strategies for each pet. He also has a special interest in the management of endocrine and gastrointestinal diseases. In his free time, Dr. Jimison will often be found catching up on the latest entertainment and movies. He also enjoys snowboarding, hiking, backpacking, and spending time outdoors with his dogs Ty and Poppy. He also has a tabby named Sharkbait and a turtle named Louie.