Erica O'Donnell

Erica O’Donnell, DVM, Diplomate DACVECC, is a board-certified critical care specialist at Veterinary Medical And Surgical Group–OC (VMSG-OC) in Orange County.

Dr. Erica O’Donnell graduated from UCLA in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Minor in Political Science. While at UCLA, she completed a one-and-a-half-year internship at the UCLA Medical Center. She was the recipient of the UCLA Senior of the Year award and Chancellor’s award upon graduation. Prior to this, at age 16, she completed a one-year pre-medical biology course at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA.

In 2012, Dr. O’Donnell graduated from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, where she double-tracked in small animal/equine medicine and obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). At UC Davis, she received the Walber-Malinois Scholarship Award (outstanding achievement in companion animal internal medicine) and the Theadora Peigh Memorial Scholarship Award (outstanding academic achievement).

Following graduation from veterinary school, she completed a one-year rotating internship at Veterinary Medical and Surgical Group in Ventura, CA and a one year surgical internship at Veterinary Orthopedic Sports Medicine Group in Annapolis Junction, Maryland. She then moved to Surrey, England and worked at Fitzpatrick Referrals, first as an intern and then as clinical services coordinator and research assistant. During this time, she became a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (MRCVS). After two years at this progressive orthopedic and neurologic specialty center in the UK, Dr. O’Donnell returned to her native Southern California to complete an emergency and critical care (ECC) residency at Veterinary Specialty Hospital Sorrento Valley.

She was appointed Clinical Assistant Professor of Veterinary Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences in 2019. In 2020, Dr. O’Donnell was accepted as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (DACVECC). That same year, she established an emergency and critical care service at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital North County. After two and a half years there, Dr. O’Donnell joined the VMSG family in Orange County where she is currently working as a full-time criticalist.