San Carlos Animal Hospital

Justin Altman, D.V.M.

I have had a love of animals ever since I was a child. I would sit on the porch of my dad’s house and hang out with the stray cats in the neighborhood. As a child, at friends houses, I was more likely to play with their pets than the other kids in the house. Immediately following high school , after a couple visits, I quickly fell in love with San Diego. I moved here in 1995. I completed my undergraduate degree at San Diego State University where I majored in Biology. I received my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Ross University in 2008, with a year of clinical training at Michigan State University. Since graduating, I have been practicing in small animal clinics as an associate veterinarian alongside Dr. Acosta. My years have been spent getting to know many families in the community as well as their pets and building many strong relationships over the years. I truly value the time I spend with each pet and their people. I have been vegan for many years and can recommend some of my favorite restaurants in San Diego. I share my home with my wife Robin (our Hospital Manager and Registered Veterinary Technician) and James Woods. I am dedicated to strengthening the bond between pets and their families. I am compassionate and have a genuine love of animals that drives me to provide great care and service to my patients.

Stan Kus, D.V.M.

Dr. Stan Kus has been a practicing veterinarian in the San Diego community for 26 years. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from the University of California, Davis, in 1977. He then completed post-graduate studies at U.C. Davis, earning a Master of Science degree in Comparative Anatomy in 1979. Dr. Kus was awarded a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of California, Davis, in 1984. He was the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships during his training, and has several peer-reviewed publications in major veterinary journals.

Laurel Nishida, D.V.M.

I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii which has forever made me intolerant to cold. I received my Bachelors of Science in Biology at the University of Hawaii and my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University. Despite the drastic change in climate, I enjoyed my time in beautiful sunny Colorado. I escaped during winter breaks, though, to thaw out in Hawaii. After living on the mainland, Hawaii seemed too claustrophobic, so after graduating, I moved to San Diego where I’ve settled ever since. After all these years, I still love veterinary medicine with all of it’s challenges and rewards. It’s deeply gratifying when I feel I’ve developed trust and rapport with my clients and patients.

During my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and step Chihuahua, exploring the many cultural events that San Diego has to offer, and trying to stay in shape. My husband and I occasionally dust off the tandem bike and take her for a ride. I am an active member of the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club, a community service organization. Once in a blue moon, I’ve been known to put on my old pair of dancing shoes to indulge my past passion of swing dancing.