Dr. Stephanie Spencer
Veterinarian
Dr. Spencer has always loved working with animals and has had pets of all shapes and sizes. She grew up in Connecticut, where her passion for animals blossomed as she was active in horseback riding, pet sitting, and interning at the local zoo. She was never far from a veterinary clinic, volunteering any and all free time to learning about the profession. She received a degree in animal science at the University of Connecticut, during which time she studied abroad in Tanzania. This was a life changing experience, where she studied behavior and population of giraffes and elephants in their natural habitat, as well as immersing herself in the local culture.
Dr. Spencer then moved to Gainesville, where she received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida. During her summers off, she traveled to South Africa to instruct prospective veterinary students about the profession, as well as leading teams of students in anesthetizing and relocating local wildlife to safer locations. She currently practices medicine in New Jersey, where she is most passionate about dentistry and surgery. In her free time, she loves traveling, running, hiking and spending time with her two rescue dogs Madison and Ace. She can’t wait to meet you and care for your furry loved ones!
Dr. Melda Gjokaj
Medical Director
Dr. Melda Gjokaj has joined the Hoboken Vets team as our Medical Director. She has been practicing veterinary medicine since 2005. Dr. Gjokaj completed her rotating internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists. After completing her internship, she continued her work in emergency medicine at AERA but then found her passion in general practice. Dr. Gjokaj loves spending time with her family, her friends, and her beautiful cat Vera.
Dr. Sydney Friedman
Veterinarian
Dr. Sydney Friedman has always had an interest in animals, since she was 4 years old. She was known as the “animal girl” from a young age and would always help her friends by removing the “scary” animals, like snakes and spiders, from the premises. She grew up in northern New Jersey, where she began volunteering at veterinary clinics during her high school years, confirming her love for veterinary medicine. Dr. Friedman received her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the University of Vermont, where she participated in the C.R.E.A.M. program, a for-profit student-run dairy barn. This experience expanded her love of animals from just cats and dogs to animals of all sizes.
Dr. Friedman then moved to the Caribbean island of Grenada to pursue both her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine as well as her Master of Public Health degree from St. George’s University. She became fully immersed in the wildlife, culture, and everything the island had to offer. She completed her final clinical year of veterinary school at the University of Wisconsin. In her free time, she loves to exercise, try new things, and spend time with her friends and family. She is very excited to meet you and your fur babies and begin this new adventure!