Meet the Doctors

Our Dedicated Group of Professionals

We believe you should expect the very best for your pet. At Gruda Veterinary Hospital, you can have confidence that your pet is receiving the highest quality compassionate veterinary care. Our doctors are highly trained and experienced, and are available to answer your questions about a range of concerns and conditions. Most of all, Gruda Veterinary Hospital’s veterinarians and staff truly care about you and your pet, and want you to have the best experience possible.

Robert A. Gruda

Owner/DVM

Dr. Gruda graduated from Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1990. Dr Gruda was born and raised in Gallup, New Mexico. He attended New Mexico State University for his undergraduate studies from 1983 to 1986.

Immediately following graduation from CSU, he returned to Las Cruces. He practiced there until 1994, when he moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. From 1994 he worked in Santa Fe as an associate veterinarian for a local veterinary practice before opening Gruda Veterinary Hospital in 2001.

Dr. Gruda lives south of Santa Fe with his wife, Treva, and their four boys. When he is not at work he spends most of his time with his boys, two dogs, and one cat. He enjoys the outdoors, including camping, boating, fishing, and golf.

Dr. Gruda enjoys practicing all kinds of veterinary medicine for cats, dogs, and other small animals. He also devotes a significant amount of time on the surgical aspects of the practice.

July 2021 – After 30+ years in the veterinary profession providing excellence in general practice and surgery, Dr. Gruda is steering his focus solely on surgery and oncologic conditions. Being a respected leader in the community, Dr. Gruda recognizes the need to offer his skill and expertise primarily in these areas of veterinary medicine for our community and the surrounding areas. Dr. Gruda understands the stress on a family when a pet is in need of specialize care. He will provide a personalized treatment plan, allowing you to give the best care for your canine and feline family members.

Kimberly A. Freeman

DVM-CVA

Dr. Freeman earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Florida in 1997. She has practiced small and large animal medicine as well as emergency/critical care in New Mexico and Arizona over the last 18 years.

She was afforded the opportunity to study Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture while on the flexible emergency schedule and received her certification in 2006 from the Chi Institute in Florida. Since then she has attended courses in Advanced tongue and pulse diagnosis as well as food therapy through the Chi Institute and is scheduled to be an instructor for the 2016 Basic Mixed Animal Acupuncture course this spring. She has recently earned a Foundations of Herbalism certificate; a nine-month long intensive course in Western Herbs taught by Milagro School of Herbal Medicine. Locally, she engages in a stimulating combination of Eastern and Western practice at Gruda Veterinary Hospital.

She is very interested in internal medicine, pain management, preventative medicine and food therapy using Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Herbalism techniques.

When not practicing veterinary medicine she is hiking, learning crossfit, traveling or making medicine with her sweet puppy Grace.

Lesley Gonzales

DVM

Dr. Lesley Gonzales graduated from Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine after attending New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro for her undergraduate studies. While she grew up in several states including Colorado and Alaska, Dr. Gonzales fell in love with New Mexico after attending NMT where she met her husband, a local rancher.

Dr. Gonzales is particularly focused on all aspects of surgery as well as the challenging internal medicine cases.
She is a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners but loves taking care of all patients coming into the hospital including rabbits, ferrets, and the occasional goat. She enjoys getting to know the people bringing in their critters and strives to provide personalized, quality veterinary care for each and every animal she meets.

Lesley lives outside of Santa Fe with her husband Jason and their two dogs and two cats. During her free time,
she enjoys spending time with her husband and pets, catching up on sleep, reading, and hiking.

Suzanna Jones

DVM-MS

Dr. Jones graduated from Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine following her Master’s degree in microbiology from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico. Her professional interests include preventative health care, abdominal and cardiac ultrasound and internal medicine.

As a native New Mexican, Dr. Jones loves practicing veterinary medicine in the Land of Enchantment. Her interest in veterinary medicine began at a young age when she spent summers with her grandparents on their cattle ranches on the Laguna Pueblo reservation and outside of Portales, New Mexico. Other experiences such as raising Holstein dairy calves on a dairy farm, working for ambulatory dairy veterinarians, and practicing applied microbiology in a veterinary diagnostic laboratory solidified her desire to become a veterinarian. Ever since beginning her veterinary career at Gruda Veterinary Hospital in 2013, she has enjoyed the small animal aspect of her profession.

Dr. Jones enjoys the challenge of veterinary medicine and is honored to have the opportunity to care for every patient and client. She loves calling Santa Fe ‘home’ and lives with her husband Johnny, two wonderful human babies, and her lab/mix Quincy. When she’s not working she enjoys investing, collecting new houseplants/gardening, and being outside as much as possible hiking or jogging.

Joy Alesdatter

DVM-CVA-CAC

Dr. Joy Alesdatter graduated from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994. She has been practicing small animal veterinary medicine in Santa Fe since then.

Dr. Alesdatter enjoys all aspects of Eastern and Western veterinary medicine. In 2005 she completed Acupuncture training and certification at CSU. She continued her education by studying Chinese Herbal therapy under Chinese herbalists, Dr. Gary Allen, DOM, and Dr. Mona Boudreaux, DVM. She then completed all the TCVM herbal courses offered by Dr. Huisheng Xie, DVM & PhD, at the Chi Institute in Florida.

Recently she trained at Parker University in Dallas, TX, as a veterinary chiropractor and was certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association.

When she is not working, Joy loves to spend time with family camping, boating, gardening, and biking.

Lily Brown

DVM-CVA

Dr. Lily recently got married and is now Dr. Brown. Congratulations, Dr. Brown!!

Dr. Brown grew up on a small ranch in Taos, New Mexico. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Morehead State in Kentucky. During her time in Kentucky, she competed as an NCAA Division I soccer player. Following graduation, Dr. Brown spent time in South Africa volunteering for Wildlife Vets. This experience spurred a passion for national and international animal welfare and conservation.

Dr. Brown graduated from Colorado State University with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. During her four years in Veterinary school, Dr. Brown worked as a technician for one of the most elite Equine Sports Medicine groups in the nation. Additionally, she pursued her passion for travel and international work though extensive involvement in a Rural Veterinary Group (RVETS). Through RVETS Dr. Brown had opportunities to work in numerous rural areas in the United States, as well as Mexico, providing medical and surgical care to patients in need.

Dr. Brown enjoys all aspects of Veterinary Medicine, but has special interests in surgery, internal medicine, acupuncture and pain management.

Jillian A. McGregor

DVM

Dr. McGregor recently graduated from Oregon State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine after receiving her Bachelor’s degree from Pacific University. Her interests in veterinary medicine are surgery, acupuncture, cardiology, and preventive health. She studied acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine through the Chi Institute in Florida. Although primarily focused on dogs and cats, she will always be fond of pet chickens and goats.

Dr. McGregor grew up in the Bay Area of California and spent several years in Oregon before moving to New Mexico. As a recent transplant, she is excited to explore all that Santa Fe and Albuquerque have to offer. When she is not working, you can find her relaxing at home with her husband and two small dogs, hiking, doing hot yoga, or at a local brewery.

Melissa Dalton

DVM

Dr. Dalton graduated from Colorado State University after completing her undergraduate studies at the University of New Mexico. Her interest in becoming a veterinarian was sparked at a young age as she grew up surrounded by the many animals her family kept. She has always been particularly interested in the relationship people and animals share.

Born and raised outside of Santa Fe, Dr. Dalton was eager to return to her hometown to serve the local community. Her professional interests include surgery, preventative care and pain management, with an emphasis on the human-animal bond. During her free time, Dr. Dalton enjoys spending time with family and friends, being in the mountains and DIY home renovations.