Meet Our Team
Dr. Margaret Valentino
DVM, MPH, CVA, CVFT
Dr. Valentino was born and raised on Long Island. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of Delaware with a bachelors degree in animal science, pre-vet concentration. During college, Dr. Valentino joined the US Army Reserves as a Civil Affairs Specialist and was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait for just over six months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom. While in the desert, she completed her application interviews to vet school via satellite phone and began her veterinary education at the University of Minnesota soon after being released from active duty. Having an interest in public health, and particularly infectious disease and population medicine, Dr. Valentino worked concurrently on a masters degree in public health while in veterinary school, completing it one year after she earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota in 2007. Having accepted the Health Professions Scholarship from the US Army to help pay for veterinary school, Dr. Valentino started her active duty service obligation as a military veterinarian at Fort McPherson, in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2008.
Between graduating from veterinary school and starting as a Veterinary Corps Captain, Dr. Valentino completed a year-long internship at Long Island Veterinary Specialists where she developed a passion for high quality medicine. Having met her husband in Georgia during her time at Fort McPherson, Dr. Valentino stayed in the Atlanta area, working at a variety of small animal clinics, balancing life with two small children. Looking for more options to help aging patients, she became interested in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine to help heal and bring better quality of life, particularly when western medicines do not seem quite enough. She finished her course work for a Certification in Veterinary Acupuncture in 2018 at the Chi Institute in Florida and is constantly continuing to advance her understanding of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and western medicine to help more animals live happier, healthier lives for longer. She moved back to the Northeast a few years ago to be closer to her parents, and is looking forward to continue practicing veterinary medicine with an integrated approach that uses the best of both eastern and western medicine. In her spare time, Dr. Valentino enjoys taking day trips with her kids, especially to the beach, and walking their dog Max around the neighborhood. Aside from Mr. Max and human children, Dr. Valentino shares life with two guinea pigs, an orphaned sparrow, and an assortment of little fish.
Melissa Coratelli
Veterinary Technician
Melissa has been in the veterinary field for over 20 years with some emergency/critical care experience but returned to general practice. Her favorite is large breed dogs and spicy cats! She currently lives with her human child Patrick, Charles the kitty, and Bentley the dog.
Kathleen Navarro
Technician Assistant
Kathleen is new to vet med and to Connecticut.
After living in California for 8 years, Kathleen is excited to return to the East Coast and the New England area. Kathleen lives with her husband, 2 human children, their dog, 2 kittens and turtle.
Elaine Horowitz, CVT
Hospital Manager, Receptionist
Elaine joined Pond Point Animal Hospital in August 2005. Previously, she worked in Cromwell, CT at a four doctor AAHA animal hospital, which she managed for 11 years. She has an Associate’s degree in animal science and earned her certification in the late 1980s. In the early 1990s, she took a year long leave of absence to go and work on Grand Cayman Island, where she had an opportunity to work with veterinarians from all over the United States. In her time off she enjoys golf, scuba diving, and tailgating at Giants games with her husband. Also, she enjoys designing websites and creating computer animation. She’s pictured here with her rescue pup, Ripple.
Gail Rosenthal
Receptionist
Gail joined Pond Point Animal Hospital in 2024 with an extensive background in Customer Service. A Milford native, she has always had a love of animals and currently shares her home with a Puggle and a Bearded Dragon.
