Our Veterinary TeamSeven Hills Veterinary Hospital

MADELINE BENJAMIN, DVM

Dr. Madeline Benjamin grew up in Chicago and always has had a love for animals and a fascination with science. After obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Iowa, she continued her education at the University of Illinois, where she received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. During her veterinary studies, Dr. Benjamin spent two years volunteering at the UIUC Wildlife Medical Clinic, where she gained experience working with various wild species.

Dr. Benjamin greatly values the human-animal bond and enjoys partnering with owners to create care plans for their beloved pets. She also is Fear Free certified and strives to make a positive patient experience with each visit.

When not practicing veterinary medicine, she enjoys hiking, traveling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her bearded dragon, Lady.

ALVIN HONG, DVM

Dr. Alvin Hong is a Los Angeles, CA native; growing up, his dad would frequently come home with new animals for them to raise and care for. He graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in Sociology and worked in the online gaming industry for several years before attending veterinary school. Dr. Hong graduated from Kansas State University in 2018 with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and returned to California shortly after, where he began practicing in Ventura County. He joined Seven Hills Veterinary Hospital in early 2022. Dr. Hong enjoys fishing, hiking, and honing his musical skills in his free time.

YUKI OKADA, DVM & PHD

Dr. Yuki Okada was born in Japan and raised in the Bay Area. Dr. Okada completed her BA at UC Berkeley and her DVM at Michigan State University. After practicing Eastern and Western Medicine in Marin for a decade, she became interested in nutrition and research. She returned to her home country to obtain her Ph.D. in veterinary biochemistry from Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University in Tokyo while holding a faculty position as an assistant professor.

When she’s not seeing patients at SHVH, she is completing an American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Nutrition) residency at Veterinary Nutrition Specialty Service (one of the specialty services at Pet Emergency and Specialty Center of Marin in San Rafael: www.vnss.vet; https://pescm.ethosvet.com/nutrition/), which is one of the 7 ACVIM (Nutrition)-approved residency programs in North America.

She has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and textbooks, including the latest co-authorship of a textbook chapter: “Nutrition for the Hospitalized Patient and the Importance of Nutritional Assessment in Critical Care” in Advances In Small Animal Care.

Dr. Okada also lectures for veterinarians in the US and Japan and loves to travel. She has one rescued senior cat and one rescued old dog.

ALAN TOMKINS, DVM

Dr. Alan D. Tomkins-Raney has been practicing companion animal medicine for over 23 years in the Pacific Northwest and the San Francisco Bay Area after earning his DVM from Washington State University in 1992. His breadth of expertise includes all aspects of general practice and the acute needs of pediatric and geriatric animal patients. He has worked mostly in private practice, but he also spent three years in shelter and wildlife rehabilitation medicine, where he worked with exotic species. In addition to being a skilled veterinarian, he has taught biology, natural sciences, and biotechnology classes in Bay Area schools. He is a current member of the Lesbian and Gay Veterinary Medical Association, SFVMA, CVMA, & AVMA. When not practicing veterinary medicine, he enjoys spending time with his family: husband Jim, dogs Mackenzie and Gretchen, and cockatoo Lily.

SUN YU, DVM

I come from a very diverse background. I was born in South Korea, and raised in Canada, where I finished my Bachelor’s degree in Cellular Biology and Genetics at the University of British Columbia, then went to the University of Melbourne in Australia to obtain my DVM degree, now living in the States married to a Chinese family! I have a broad understanding of different cultures of people and animals and would love to share my experience and stories. I have a nine-year-old daughter with whom I share the same compassionate love for cats and a three-year-old son whom I am trying to bring up tri-lingual but inventing his language. I also have two dogs and a cat who enrich my family life. I am particularly interested in acupuncture and want to eventually practice a well-balanced western and eastern medicine. I enjoy all winter sports, traveling, and finding a little hole-in-the-wall place to eat.

RAVI TOLWANI, DVM & PHD

Dr. Ravi Tolwani is an advisor on precision cancer care and longevity care. He has held faculty positions at Stanford University and Rockefeller University and has published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. He is passionate about advancing and innovating veterinary medical care. He has personally incorporated molecular approaches to extending lifespan utilizing the best approaches supported by science. He enjoys spending time on the outdoors trail, running, hiking with the family, and watching their two parakeets, Matcha and Poko, and two cockatiels, Palley and Noe, fly around the house.

Dr. Tolwani completed his DVM from Auburn University, a Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and an MSc degree from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravitolwani/