Dr. Oona Vanhatalo was born and raised in Finland. Her love for animals began at a very young age, when she attended a kindergarten that also served as a petting zoo.

Dr. Vanhatalo earned her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from the University of California, Davis. She then worked in translational research at the University of California, San Francisco, before attending the University of Wisconsin— Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, where she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Her professional interests include soft tissue surgery, dentistry, and primary care. 

When Oona isn’t working in the hospital, she enjoys exploring all that the city has to offer, but also seizes every opportunity to travel. She doesn’t have any pets at this moment, but considers her family’s German Shorthair Pointers as her own, and thus, has an utmost soft spot for hunting dogs.