Our Veterinarian

Owner, Veterinarian

Dr. Lucille Otero had all sorts of pets while growing up, including dogs, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, hamsters, lizards, and even a raccoon. For her, animal care has always been a part of life! A career spent bettering the lives of not only pets, but their loving owners, simply made sense. Now, Dr. Otero is the proud owner and operator of her very own animal hospital: Galena Animal Medical Clinic.

Dr. Otero earned a Bachelor’s degree in business administration and worked in personnel management for attorneys for a time before deciding to transition toward her true passion: veterinary medicine. She first began working in the field in 1992, gaining hands-on experience in a variety of exciting ways: she volunteered at the Baltimore National Aquarium, working with rain forest animals and the Marine Animal Rescue Program, and also worked in research at the National Institute of Mental Health to produce transgenic mice.

Dr. Otero worked as a Veterinary Technician for several animal hospitals, even helping to design and build a clinic from the ground up, before returning to school to earn her veterinary credentials. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Maryland, then headed to Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in May of 2001 with her Doctorate.

After working for several wonderful veterinarians that helped her develop her particular brand of care, Dr. Otero decided to branch out on her own. She founded and opened her own clinic in October of 2005, and she’s been serving pets and animal parents in that capacity ever since. Dr. Otero continues to be amazed by her skilled and compassionate team members here at Galena Animal Medical Clinic, who keep everything running smoothly day in and day out, and she looks forward to welcoming even more wonderful pet owners to the clinic in the years ahead.