Get to Know Our Team of Exotic Pet Professionals in Philadelphia, PA

Team With Bird

Susan J. Tyson

VMD, MS, DABVP (Avian Practice)

Veterinarian

Dr. Tyson is a board-certified avian specialist, exotic veterinarian, and founder of the practice, the first and only veterinary clinic in the city of Philadelphia that serves exotics exclusively. She earned her veterinary medical degree from University of Pennsylvania.

She is passionate about providing exceptional medical care for her patients and creating a rich and rewarding work experience for her staff, the people who make that care possible.

She brings advanced clinical expertise, precision, and curiosity to her work, with a practical, empathetic approach that clients and colleagues deeply value. She has dedicated her career to advancing exotic animal medicine while building thoughtful, sustainable veterinary teams and systems. She believes that excellent medicine and a healthy workplace culture are inseparable.

Dr. Tyson is the mother of two energetic children who keep her grounded, curious, and laughing. Balancing family life with the demands of veterinary medicine has shaped her leadership style—empathetic, flexible, and rooted in real life. They share their home with a lively mix of feathered and scaled family members, keeping animals at the center of their every day. She finds balance through exercise, time with family and friends, and staying connected to nature and water, while drawing inspiration from the creativity and rhythm of the city.

Jessica Basseches

DVM, DACVR

Veterinarian

Dr. Basseches started out in the humanities and soon realized her heart belonged to animals and medicine. She changed course and earned her Veterinary degree from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a private practice internship in Florida, followed by a residency in radiology at the University of Georgia. She worked as a staff radiologist at Angell Animal Medical Center (MSPCA) in Boston for five years before traveling to the southern hemisphere as a locum radiologist to work with a diverse range of species in varied and fascinating environments.

When she returned to the United States, she moved to the Philadelphia area and worked at the Center for Animal Referral and Emergency Services (CARES) for over seven years. She also has her own independent radiology practice, Lucid Veterinary Imaging, providing radiology and ultrasound services to exotic and small animal hospitals in the area. She finds exotic radiology beautiful and grooves on the many facets of diagnostic imaging. She participates in almost all of the cases in the hospital which makes her a critical part of patient care.

Dr. Basseches loves being outdoors as much as possible and in almost any capacity (an antidote to days spent in the dark in radiology). She enjoys teaching and learning, frolicking with her dogs and partner, running and hiking, critical thinking, resisting oppression, science fiction and creative vegetarian cooking of the bounty from her garden.

Hussein Hameleh

VMD

Veterinarian

Dr. Hameleh (they/them) is from Atlanta, Georgia. They moved to Philadelphia for veterinary school.

They are passionate about providing a spectrum of care for pets and their owners, including pediatric/perinatal medicine and geriatric medicine.

Outside of the office, they enjoy making ceramics, watching turtles at the pond, and taking the train to Atlantic City for a day at the beach.

Nurses & Support Staff

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Goblin

Mascot

Goblin is a green-cheeked amazon parrot. Goblin has minimal formal education but lots of on-the-job experience, including: Supervising the human staff members,  Babysitting Doc T and the little humans at home,  Owning countless pets at home (including 2 turtles, 1 snake, 1 quail, 2 cats, 2 cockatiels, and 3 tarantulas).  Goblin is 22 years young (as of 2026) and enjoys greeting new friends, taking strolls along the fireplace, foraging for snacks, riding with Doc T…

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Alexis

Head Nurse, Surgery, Training and Inventory

Originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Alexis brings a wealth of knowledge to her role as Head Veterinary Nurse. With years of experience working exclusively in exotic animal medicine, she has become a trusted expert in the care of birds, reptiles, small mammals, and more. She regularly attends exotic veterinary conferences and has become a lecturer herself. Her passion for education and mentorship continues to elevate the standard of exotic animal care in the wider veterinary community.

Ren

Veterinary Nurse

Swapping textile engineering and graphic design tools for a stethoscope and stopwatch, Ren changed her attention to veterinary medicine at the end of 2018 to work for a feline-specific practice. She joined team Avian and Exotic Philly Vet at the start of 2024 to broaden her technician skills and expand her purview to exotics. She is especially keen on proper handling and husbandry and hopes one day to work with large exotics in wildlife conservation.

Evan

Surgery Nurse & Equipment Manager

After spending years cutting and coloring hair, Evan decided to pursue his lifelong passion for animals in 2022.He started his veterinary career as an assistant at a cat and dog practice in northern Virginia and joined AEPV after moving to Philadelphia. Outside of work, he enjoys playingmusic, drawing, and traveling!

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Herbie

Veterinary Nurse

Herbie brings a diverse background and a deep passion for exotic animal medicine to the team. She began herveterinary career as an assistant in Emergency and Oncology before spending five years in a fear-free certified dog and cat practice, where she developed her skills as a veterinary technician. Today, she is proud to have achieved her career goal of working exclusively with exotic animals.

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Sierrarose

Veterinary Assistant

From a young age, programs like Animal Planet and Zoboomafoo sparked her fascination with wildlife. Growing up with an array of pets including dogs, cats, hermit crabs, hamsters, fish, mice, and lizards, she gained extensive experience in caring for both domestic and exotic animals.

Toni

Client Services Representative

Toni started a career in animal husbandry in 2012, and she earned her Greenhand Future Farmers of America degree in 2016.  Toni gained experience working at farms, shelters, labs, hospitals and ERs. She brings care and compassion to her role and, as a Philadelphia native, extensive knowledge of resources in the city. She enjoys traveling, animating, and spending time with her cats, Jaspurrr & Purrrsephone.