Dr. Maria DePunzio, our Medical Director, joined Linda Mar Veterinary Hospital in 2012.  Dr. DePunzio has been a practicing small animal veterinarian in the San Francisco Bay Area since her graduation from the University of California, Davis Veterinary Medical School in 1999. Dr. DePunzio’s emphasis was on canine and feline species in veterinary school where she graduated with honors. She additionally received a prestigious fellowship in large animal medicine and surgery and served as part of the equine clinical instructor team for freshman veterinary students at UC Davis in her junior and senior years.

Dr. DePunzio practices general medicine and surgery primarily for canine and feline species, but is also knowledgeable in rabbit medicine and surgery. She is a recommended rabbit veterinarian by the Alameda House Rabbit Society, an organization devoted to the education of people regarding the health and welfare needs of rabbits, and does her best to serve the needs of other “pocket pets” as well.

In addition to her full-time position as the managing veterinarian at Linda Mar Veterinary Hospital, Dr. DePunzio has served the veterinary community in a variety of other roles. She served as an expert consultant and hospital inspector for the California Veterinary Medical Board, an Adjunct Professor in the Veterinary Technology Program at Foothill - DeAnza College, and she also helps our neighboring veterinary emergency clinics and general practices during veterinarian shortages when her schedule permits.

Devoted to life-long learning, Dr. DePunzio was selected for the 2018-2019 Don Low Fellowship in abdominal ultrasound at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, a competitive educational internship awarded to only one veterinarian each year in California.

Dr. DePunzio came to California to pursue her Bachelor’s degree in the Political Economy of Natural Resources at UC Berkeley. Prior to veterinary school, she had a career as a Senior Energy and Environmental Analyst with the State of California and concurrently earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration at San Francisco State University.

Dr. DePunzio has a variety of personal interests and speaks fluent French. When she is not in the clinic, she spends time with her family and pets, and enjoys gardening and the outdoors. One surprising thing you may not know about Dr. DePunzio is that she enjoys sailing, was a sailing instructor on the SF Bay, and once sailed from San Francisco to Hawaii as part of an eight-person crew.