Shelter Medical Care Staff (Manhattan)

Dr. Shian Simms joined the Bideawee family in October of 2014 as the Vice President of Veterinary Medicine.

Inspired by her childhood pug, Rick, she was determined to become a veterinarian and care for animals in need. In 1995, she moved from Singapore to the United States to pursue her veterinary medicine degree, and graduated from Purdue University in 2001.

Upon graduation, Shian moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and completed an internship at Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital with a focus on emergency medicine and critical care. Over the next 12 years, she spent her time in referral hospitals and emergency clinics in the Bay Area as an emergency clinician. In 2008, she joined the San Francisco SPCA as their staff ER veterinarian. She loves working with shelter animals as well as helping family pets feel better.

In 2013, Shian relocated to New York City with her cat, P. She was most recently the medical director at a private practice on the Upper East Side. When not at work, she enjoys playing tennis, running, fostering kittens, going to the opera, and exploring New York City.

Ricardo has been a licensed Veterinary Technician at the Bideawee Animal Hospital since 2008.

He graduated from LaGuardia Community College with an associate’s degree in Applied Animal Science.

He has always had a love for, and an interest in animals, and he feels fortunate to be able to work with them on a daily basis.

Unfortunately, he lives with someone that is allergic so he can’t have his own pets right now but he’s grateful for the ability to get his animal fix at Bideawee.

Susan has been the Client Care Supervisor at the Bideawee Animal Hospital since June of 2008. She is a graduate of CUNY, Brooklyn College, with dual majors in English and Speech.

She has had a successful career in human resources management spanning over 25 years in manufacturing and non-profit environments. Although none of her professional experience was in animal welfare, she made up for it in her personal life through her own pets, pet clubs, and by working temporarily with her local vet.

As for her decision to work with animals, she literally woke up one day and decided that it was time to indulge her inner child’s lifelong desire. She was the girl who loved all sorts of creatures, from fiddler crabs, to snakes, birds, dogs and cats, and who grew into the woman you’d pass on the street, kneeling on the ground in corporate business attire, petting every dog in her path.

The decision came directly from her heart. Professionally, she’s continually looking to expand her knowledge of veterinary medicine and frequently takes advantage of continuing education opportunities.

Mark Esquilin has been a Veterinary Assistant at the Animal Hospitals at Bideawee in Manhattan since August 2013.

Since he was a child he knew he loved animals and all it took was one trip to the Bronx Zoo to solidify his career path. He began his career in animal care part-time at Bideawee and took the valuable lessons he learned with him to another practice to care for avian and exotic animals. He never forgot Bideawee and, months later, when he was given the opportunity to join the team again full time, he happily accepted. His goal at Bideawee is to bring joy and laughter to the clients, their pets and the Bideawee team. The best part of his job is being able to put a client at ease by making their pet comfortable and happy.

Dr. Mark Landesman received his undergraduate degree from SUNY at Buffalo, and his veterinary degree from the Université de Liège Veterinary Faculty in Brussels, Belgium. After graduation, he practiced mostly in the humane area, spending several years at the Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital of the ASPCA and, North Shore Animal League, interspersed in his career were several positions in private practice, including emergency medicine as well as being a private practice owner for 12 years. His veterinary areas of special interest include oncology, gastroenterology, surgery, and emergency and critical care. Dr. Landesman lives in Manhattan with his rescues Zack, a lab-terrier mix and Zack’s best buddy Rocky a domestic short haired cat. In his spare time he enjoys running, swimming, biking, going to the gym and taking advantage of the wonderful cultural offerings of the big city. In the winter, he is a devoted ski bunny spending his down time at his Upstate Catskills cabin.

Hadiyah Lewis has been a veterinary assistant at the Animal Hospitals at Bideawee in Manhattan since May 2015.

Hadiyah knew she wanted to help animals ever since the age of 4, when her family brought home their first cat. Years later, she began volunteering at the ASPCA and that's where her journey with animals began. Adopting her own dog at 21, she realized that pet ownership is a huge responsibility, and she wanted to share the lessons she had learned, and help other pet parents navigate their lives with their pets. Her long term goal is to become a veterinarian just like the amazing veterinarians she sees in action each day.

Ezra has been a Veterinary Assistant at the Animal Hospitals at Bideawee in Westhampton since March of 2014.

Since the age 4, Ezra has had a passion for animals. He brings this passion to his job every day, and it’s clear when you witness him caring for the dogs and cats at the animal hospital. Whether they are Bideawee’s own animals, or belong to the animal hospital clients, Ezra goes out of his way to get to know them and make their stay at Bideawee the best it can be. Prior to coming to Bideawee, Ezra studied at LaGuardia Community College to gain practical and professional knowledge to complement his animal skills. He looks forward to meeting your four-legged loved ones in the future.

Karin has been the Head Veterinary Technician at Bideawee since 2008. She wanted to work with animals from a young age and became a licensed Veterinary Technician in 1994, after graduating from LaGuardia Community College’s Veterinary Technology Program.

Before Bideawee, she worked at the Forest Hills Cat Hospital in Queens for and at Ultravet Diagnostics (24-hour Emergency). When she’s not at home with her five cats or at Bideawee, she enjoys staying active with a aerobics classes and she loves reading about the history of thoroughbred race horses.

Michael has been the Manager of the Bideawee Animal Hospital since 2007.

He attended Montclair State University as a double major in computer science and mathematics.

After college, he entered the computer industry and realized very soon that it wasn’t right for him. Shortly afterwards he began working at a dog boarding facility and thus began his career in the world of animal rescue/sheltering.

Prior to working at Bideawee, he managed the business office at Animal Care and Control and throughout his career, he’s worked with many rescue groups in a variety of ways including TNR, public spay/neuter and training. He has always been an animal advocate, having pets his entire life: cats, dogs, rabbits, fish, birds, lizards and turtles.

His grandfather had a farm, and many of the things he saw there ignited a passion in him to rescue and care for animals. When he’s not doing what he loves at Bideawee, he enjoys programming, web design, graphic design, computer repair, reading, guitar and music and last, but certainly not least; parenthood.

His pets have always been, and continue to be, his best friends.

Christina has been a Veterinary Technician at the Animal Hospitals at Bideawee in Manhattan since July 2013.

From an early age, family members had always known she would work with animals. She started in the field as a veterinary assistant, traveling all over NYC with a mobile vaccination clinic. As her interests and passion grew in the veterinary field, Christina decided to pursue her vet tech license. She has worked at hospitals across New York, and is passionate about working in private practice as well as shelter medicine here at Bideawee.

Dr. Patrice Whittington has been a veterinarian at the Animal Hospitals at Bideawee in Manhattan since March 2013.

Dr. Patrice A. Whittington graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri--Columbia in 1981, after completing undergraduate studies at the University of Missouri—Kansas City. She worked as a companion animal veterinarian, as an associate, and then owned a practice as a partner for 17 years, where she served as manager and practitioner. She then went on to own her own hospital for 12 years, and in 2011, she completed a Masters in Public Health at Columbia University. Throughout her career, she has been involved in rescue and shelter animal medicine and appreciates Bideawee’s commitment to both private clients and shelter animals. In her free time she enjoys her children and her own pets.