Meet Our Veterinarian Team
Meet the veterinarians & team of Foothill Farms Veterinary Hospital. We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets.
Get to Know Our Veterinary Team
We are solely dedicated to your pet’s care! We look forward to getting to know you, and we hope you’ll take the time to scroll down and get to know us.
Our Veterinarians
Marc Malek DVM, CVA
Medical director
Certified Fear Free Veterinarian
Advanced Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist
Advanced Photobiomodulation (Laser) Practioner
Level III Animal Reiki Instructor
Kriya yoga initiate
Black belt (Isshinryu Karate)
Level 3 Parelli Horsemanship
Known as Dr. Doolittle by many clients, Dr. Malek lives his dream of helping the animals he loves and the people who love them every day. He graduated from U.C. Davis with a B.S. in Environmental Toxicology in 1986 and in 1990 from the School of Veterinary Medicine. Immediately after graduating, Dr. M began practicing with a mixed animal practice (large and small animals) in the Marysville / Wheatland area. When the owner of the practices sold the large animal component of the practices, Dr. M moved to Sacramento and began a new challenge as the managing veterinarian for a fast-paced small animal clinic in 1993. The opportunity to purchase Foothill Farms Veterinary Hospital trumped a potential surgical residency in 1994.
Over the last 12 years, Dr. M has dedicated much of his continuing education to Integrative practice. Therapeutic laser treatment has been a staple at FFVH since 2011 due to Dr. Malek’s early adoption of this rapid physical medicine healing therapy. He received his Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (large and small animal) certification in April 2014 from the Colorado Veterinary Medicine Association’s OneHealth SIM Acupuncture course. He and many of the staff have been learning and practicing Animal Reiki since 2012 and he received his level III Animal Reiki instructor certification in June of 2014.
Since 2021, Dr. M and Shelley have owned Cielo Sulla Terra Estate vineyards and Winery in Fairplay. They are excited to share their “Heaven on Earth” with everyone, including non-wine lovers. Of course their winery is pet friendly!
Tamara Carney, DVM
DVM
Dr. Carney has been practicing veterinary medicine for 7 years, after graduating from UC Davis. She takes great pride in working in general practice, where she can create customized treatment plans tailored to each patient and client. With a keen interest in preventative care, dermatology, and hospice care, Dr. Carney enjoys handling a wide variety of cases.
In her free time, Dr. Carney loves spending quality moments with her family and friends. A fun fact about her is that she lived abroad in Switzerland for three years before starting vet school. During this time, she gained invaluable experience working alongside a small animal veterinarian who also collaborated with local zoos to care for big cats. This diverse background enriches Dr. Carney’s approach to veterinary medicine, combining compassion, expertise, and a global perspective.
Bellen Barragan, Veterinary Nutritionist, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition)
Veterinary Nutritionist, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition)
Dr. Belen Barragan has been practicing veterinary medicine since she graduated in 2018. She earned her Veterinary Degree at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Following graduation, she completed a Small Animal Rotating Internship at Iowa State University, focusing mainly on the ER and internal medicine departments. In 2021, she completed a two-year Small Animal Clinical Nutrition Residency program at the University of California, Davis, and achieved Board Certification through the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2022.
Dr. Barragan prides herself on being thorough during her appointments, educating pet owners, and developing customized nutritional plans for dogs and cats. She understands and respects each person’s feeding philosophies, providing her best recommendations to support the health and well-being of her patients.
In her free time, Dr. Barragan enjoys exercising and relaxing with yoga, taking her dog Taffy on hikes with her husband, and going to the movie theater.
Holly Abney, DVM
DVM
Dr. Holly Abney is a dedicated veterinarian who combines her passion for working with animals and helping the families that love them. She graduated from the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine in 2017 and has been practicing for 7 years. Her professional interests include surgery, internal medicine, feline medicine, client communication, and hospice care. Dr. Abney is committed to providing compassionate and high-quality care to ensure that your furry family member receives the best treatment possible.
Megan Hirano, DVM
DVM
Dr. Megan Hirano graduated from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2015 and has been dedicated to providing exceptional care to her patients ever since. She has a special interest in neonatal medicine, preventative care, and acupuncture, ensuring her patients receive comprehensive and holistic treatment.
Outside of her professional life, Dr. Hirano enjoys riding her horses and spending quality time with her toddler. Her passion for both her family and her equine companions enriches her approach to veterinary medicine, bringing empathy and a personal touch to her practice.
Maria Gonzalez, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Maria Gonzalez recently graduated from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2024. She also holds an undergraduate degree in Animal Biology from UC Davis, where she graduated in 2020. Dr. Gonzalez has a diverse interest in veterinary medicine, enjoying comparative veterinary medicine and learning from various species. During her clinical year, she tracked “Mixed Animal,” working with dogs, cats, equids, ruminants, and exotics. Her professional interests include preventative medicine, ultrasonography, dermatology, and pain management. She is committed to pursuing further continuing education in these areas to offer the highest quality of care to her patients.
Dr. Gonzalez prides herself on providing attentive patient care and making her patients feel as comfortable as possible while in the hospital. During veterinary school, she often spent time with her patients in their runs or kennels, offering a variety of foods until finding their preference and being the last and first face they saw during recovery from anesthesia. She is passionate about building community and chose veterinary medicine to help both animals and people.
In her free time, Dr. Gonzalez enjoys hiking and spent almost every weekend during veterinary school exploring new trails in California with her fiancé. She loves trying new dishes and restaurants and is often inspired by watching cooking shows while cooking. A fun fact about Dr. Gonzalez is her background in music; she played the viola from the 5th grade and performed in a string quartet in high school. She is a proud pet parent to two Chihuahua mixes, Mickey and Wera.
Dr. Gonzalez is a fluent Spanish speaker and is passionate about increasing access to care. She is also Fear Free Certified, ensuring a stress-free experience for her patients.