Animal Health and Welfare Team
Barb Linnehan
DVM
Director of Animal Health & Welfare
Jenny Meegan
DVM, DACZM
Senior Veterinarian
Abby McClain
DVM, MPH
Veterinarian and Medical Records Office Supervisor
Kyle Ross
DVM, MPH, DACVPM – Veterinarian
Veronica Cendejas
Hospital Manager
Jammy Eichman
RVT, Lead Veterinary Technician and Clinical Operations Coordinator
Erin Brodie
RVT, Senior Veterinary Technician and Laboratory Specialist
Jennifer Kane
Senior Operational Site Technician
Melinda Martens
Veterinary Technician
Katie Hodges
Senior Operational Site Technician
Risa Daniels
Records Research Associate
Lisa Clowers
Software Engineer
Chris Hammell
Senior Analyst
Joy Middleton
Veterinary Technician (Relief)
Dr. Barb Linnehan is the Director of Animal Health & Welfare, leading the veterinary and medical records teams. Barb has worked for the NMMF as a clinical veterinarian since 2017, caring for the Navy’s dolphins and sea lions. Her marine mammal medicine experience includes transports, field operations, and advanced technique development. She has participated in the NMMF’s wild dolphin conservation work and assisted with the health assessment of dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Barb’s particular research interests include marine mammal cardiology, the microbiome, and neurology. Prior to joining the NMMF, Barb completed a small animal internship at MSPCA-Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston, MA, and a post-doctoral fellowship at the Vancouver Aquarium in Vancouver, BC, Canada. She received her B.S. from Cornell University and her D.V.M. and Certificate in Aquatic Animal Health from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Jenny Meegan is a Senior clinical veterinarian with the National Marine Mammal Foundation providing veterinary care for the Navy’s Marine Mammal Program and has been with the program for over 9 years.
Previously Dr. Meegan completed an Aquatic Animal Medicine Residency at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and is a Diplomate of the College of Zoological Medicine, specializing in Aquatic Medicine. Prior to the residency she worked at Mystic Aquarium as both a clinical veterinary intern and as a post doctoral fellow researching marine mammal brucellosis.
Kyle attended veterinary school at Tufts Cumming’s School of Veterinary Medicine in Boston, MA and graduated with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and Masters in Public Health (MPH) in 2015. Upon graduating veterinary school, Kyle commissioned in the US Army Veterinary Corps and completed initial training at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) outside of Seattle. Upon completion of this program, Kyle stayed at JBLM as Branch Chief, providing veterinary care to military working dogs and service member’s pets as well as providing public health expertise to the installation. During this time Kyle also provided relief veterinary work to the Navy’s marine mammals at Naval Base Bangor. Following his time in Washington, Kyle moved to San Diego where he has supported the Navy Marine Mammal program as a clinical veterinarian since 2018. He became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine in 2019 and has special interest in public health and occupational health and safety.
Jammy Eichman received her Bachelor’s Degree in psychology and criminology from Sonoma State University in 2012. She joined the National Marine Mammal Foundation in 2015. Jammy worked over 10 years in a specialty and emergency veterinary hospital, PetCare Veterinary Hospital in northern California, where she worked in a variety of departments developing her skills as a veterinary technician. She is passionate about working with the veterinary staff to provide advance care for marine mammals. Jammy enjoys participating in our outreach events to help educate students and members of the public about marine mammals care and conservation.
Joy has been in the veterinary field for nine years. Her career began after obtaining her Masters of Professional Science in Marine Mammal Science at the University of Miami. She went on to work in the veterinary clinic at Dolphins Plus in Key Largo, FL for four years. Yearning to improve and diversify her skills, she made the move across the country and worked in the veterinary clinic at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, CA. While there, she became a registered veterinary technician and worked with a variety of animals for four years. Realizing she also enjoys small animal medicine, she made the move to San Diego to work at a small animal clinic to further her skill set. She is excited to be a part of the National Marine Mammal Foundation. When she is not at work, she enjoys hanging out at the beach, exploring, and game nights with friends.
