By 2024, the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic and a wave of corporate consolidation of veterinary practices resulted in there being only one 24/7 emergency veterinary hospital left serving New Mexico and parts of southern Colorado. This critical gap in emergency care exposed an urgent need for more accessible services in the region and left the community scrambling to find care for their pets.
In response, Drs. Julia Donnelly, Nicole Chamney, and Sonja Sims joined forces to establish Mosaic Animal Emergency & Specialty in Santa Fe. With two of the three born and raised in New Mexico, and all three having dedicated over a decade to serving the local community, they were well-equipped to provide the high-quality emergency and critical care services that the region desperately required.
They acquired a 16,000-square-foot building at 2001 Vivigen Way—the site of a former emergency veterinary hospital that closed at the start of the pandemic—and have transformed it into a sophisticated ICU, isolation wards, onsite diagnostic imaging, lab and pharmacy, overnight and multi-day hospitalization capacity, and even a patient kitchen to accommodate special diets. Mosaic Animal Emergency & Specialty opened its doors in August 2024, just 85 days after purchasing the building—a testament to the team’s ability to make things happen fast.
Mosaic Animal is transforming the veterinary care experience. For example, pet patients are placed in specialized CASCO enclosures instead of traditional cages, giving them a calmer, quieter environment during hospitalization. In addition, the entire staff is currently undergoing rigorous training in techniques to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets in the hopes of earning national certification – the first of its kind in New Mexico.
Mosaic Animal prides itself on recruiting high-level, meticulously trained team members to care for our patients. Our board-certified critical care specialist heads up our Emergency and Critical Care department and we are actively recruiting other specialists to join the team at Mosaic Animal. The hospital also offers telemedicine consults, leveraging technology to provide convenient local access to advanced specialty expertise.
It all underscores where Mosaic Animal’s priorities lie. As an independent, locally-owned practice, our focus is squarely on meeting the needs of our community—not those of shareholders. We are here to serve pets, their parents, the referring veterinarian community, and our staff.
A third-generation Santa Fe local, Dr. Julia Donnelly possesses a deep commitment to the community of Northern New Mexico. After graduating from high school at the age of 15, she pursued a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of New Mexico. Following graduation, she accepted a full-time research associate position at the university and published two peer-reviewed journal papers. Dr. Donnelly’s educational journey continued at Colorado State University, where she pursued a master’s degree in biomedical sciences and then a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2013. After graduation, she excelled as the lead veterinarian at a busy urgent care hospital in Colorado before returning to New Mexico to be closer to family. In 2019, she started her own thriving veterinary relief practice, which provided services to 22 stand-alone veterinary hospitals throughout New Mexico. Having seen the effects of the veterinary shortage in her community first-hand, in 2024 she co-founded Mosaic Animal Emergency and Specialty with her two partners.
Dr. Donnelly shares her life with her amazing husband Dave and their pitbull Prudence. She is an avid beekeeper and river rafter, and volunteers with several local non-profit organizations.
Originally hailing from Canada, Dr. Chamney first embarked on her medical journey as a Registered Nurse, graduating from the University of Saskatchewan, College of Nursing. After graduation, she dedicated a significant portion of her nursing career to Pediatric Emergency and Intensive Care and fell in love with the practice of Emergency medicine. Her passion for knowledge, and an interest in alternative healing methods, then moved her to pursue a three-year Master of Science degree in Oriental Medicine at Southwest Acupuncture College in New Mexico. Wishing to combine her love of medicine, alternative therapies, and animals, Dr. Chamney then went on to earn both a DVM and an MBA in 2014 from Colorado State University. Following graduation, she completed two post-graduate internships focusing on Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine before moving back to New Mexico to work as a full-time small animal emergency veterinarian. Having developed strong ties to New Mexico, Dr. Chamney co-founded Mosaic Animal Emergency and Specialty in 2024 with her partners to address the critical shortage of emergency care in Northern New Mexico.
Outside of work, Dr. Chamney is an avid runner and marathoner, and lives with her partner Kim, five cats, and a pitbull named Luna.
Dr. Sonja Sims also hails from the high deserts of Northern New Mexico and presently calls the sleepy village of Los Ranchos home. Originally drawn to the culinary arts, her interest in food pushed her to venture west to attend the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. Prior to enrollment, a call from home to care for her ailing Grandfather resulted in an abrupt life change. Embracing this new direction, Dr. Sims moved back home to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from the University of New Mexico. A lifelong animal advocate and lover, armed with a continued interest in health and healing, she followed her passion to Colorado State University, where she graduated with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2012. Dr. Sims has been working as a full-time emergency veterinarian in New Mexico. After partnering with the Veterinary Care Foundation for the past 7 years, Dr. Sims is wildly excited to co-found Mosaic SAVES, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. The mission of this project is to remove the financial barriers that limit life-saving emergency care to the community of New Mexico.
In her spare time, Dr. Sims enjoys gardening, cooking, exploring new destinations, and spending time with her husband, three beloved children, three cats, three dogs, and Mr. Bingsley, their rescue African Grey.
Dr. Christa Bernhard grew up in Ohio and attended Xavier University, earning her BS in Biology before graduating from Colorado State University with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. She went on to complete a small animal rotating internship at BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Tampa, FL, followed by a three-year residency in Emergency and Critical Care at the University of Missouri, where she also earned a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences.
Dr. Bernhard’s clinical interests include respiratory disease, mechanical ventilation, and shock management. In addition to caring for four-legged patients, she is also a Registered Respiratory Therapist with a specialty in Adult Critical Care. Outside of work, Dr. Bernhard enjoys camping and hiking with her dog, Styx, and cheering on Xavier basketball.
Sarah has been in the veterinary field since 2012, bringing a wealth of hands-on experience and a strong foundation in leadership. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership and achieved her Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM) designation in 2024. Guided by outstanding mentors, Sarah has honed her skills in veterinary management and is passionate about Mosaic’s “2.0” approach to veterinary medicine—supporting both the community and the team.
A New Mexico resident since 2022, Sarah has also lived across the U.S. and in Germany. Beyond her professional life, she is dedicated to rescuing, training, and rehabilitating mustang horses. At home, she shares life with two Border Collies, two Australian Cattle Dogs, and six mustangs, reflecting her deep commitment to animals.
Gaby has worked in veterinary medicine since 2013, gaining experience as both a veterinary assistant and a receptionist. She also spent nearly a decade as a dog trainer, building expertise in behavior and training. At home, she cares for three dogs—Boston Terriers Arlo and Remington, and a Pit Bull named Arizona—along with two snakes and a box turtle.
Outside of work, Gaby enjoys outdoor adventures, photography, hot air ballooning, and traveling with friends and family. She is especially passionate about contributing to Mosaic SAVES and making a lasting impact on the animal community.
Rebecca grew up in Madison, WI, and later moved to Colorado to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. She earned her AS in Veterinary Technology from Front Range Community College in Fort Collins in 2002 and went on to achieve her Veterinary Technician Specialist certification in Emergency and Critical Care (VTS–ECC) in 2006.
She spent several years at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in the Critical Care Unit, where she ultimately served as head technician. During her time at CSU, Rebecca played a key role in training countless veterinary students, technicians, interns, and other trainees—work that further fueled her passion for mentorship and education.
In 2023, Rebecca relocated to New Mexico and helped launch Mosaic in 2024 as the hospital’s Technician Training Coordinator. With a deep passion for emergency and critical care, she is proud to guide and inspire the next generation of veterinary technicians in this essential and rapidly growing field.
Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys time with her husky/shepherd mixes and her Frenchie, along with paddle boarding, hiking, and tending to her ever-growing collection of houseplants.
After earning her undergraduate degree in Psychology from New Mexico Tech, Shea shifted paths to pursue her childhood dream of working with animals. She graduated from Central New Mexico Community College’s Veterinary Technician program and has been a registered veterinary technician in New Mexico for over a decade, with extensive experience in small animal and emergency practices.
Shea is especially passionate about patient advocacy and client education, particularly in diabetes care, long-term medical management, and hospice. When she’s not working, Shea enjoys hiking and training with her two energetic herding dogs, Finn and Rhubarb.
Hannah began their veterinary career in 2000 with a veterinary assistant course and soon realized their calling was in animal care rather than human medicine. They earned a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Medical Technology from Wilson College in 2005, quickly becoming credentialed on the East Coast. Over the years, Hannah has worked in roles ranging from equestrian stable hand to assistant zookeeper, but emergency and critical care nursing has always been their passion.
Dedicated to growth and leadership, Hannah is currently pursuing a certificate in Positive Veterinary Leadership. Outside of work, they enjoy hiking in the New Mexico sun with their dog, living sustainably as a vegan, and growing organic food.
Originally from Ohio, Dave moved to New Mexico at age eight and later earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Mexico. After moving to Colorado with his wife, Dr. Donnelly, he pursued a Master’s in Engineering with a focus on material science at Colorado State University.
Dave’s career has spanned aerospace engineering and entrepreneurship, including founding his own company dedicated to high-performance automotive engineering for race cars. A true “maker” at heart, he enjoys woodworking, 3D printing, and a variety of hands-on projects in his workshop. At Mosaic, Dave ensures the seamless operation of facilities and highly specialized medical equipment, keeping everything running smoothly for the medical team.