Meet Our Team

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Lynae Shubin joined La Cumbre Animal Hospital in fall 2026, drawn to veterinary medicine by a lifelong attachment to animals and a love of science that she never quite let go. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science at UC Davis, with a minor in wildlife conservation biology, and stayed on to complete her DVM at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

Her path there was anything but ordinary. As an undergraduate, she volunteered with the Sacramento Zoo and the California Raptor Center, and interned at the Marine Mammal Center, where she helped care for seals and sea lions and took part in their releases. During veterinary school, she conducted research abroad — studying influenza and antimicrobial resistance in seal populations in Ireland, and, the summer before, examining dolphin tissue for toxoplasma at a veterinary school in New Zealand. That breadth of experience shaped a doctor who is curious by instinct and comfortable with the unfamiliar.

Fear Free certified since 2019, certified at Level 2, Dr. Shubin is committed to recognizing the earliest signs of anxiety in her patients and addressing them before they escalate — an approach shared by every veterinarian at La Cumbre. She enjoys the variety of general practice, where no two days look alike. Outside the hospital, she can be found traveling, hiking and camping, cooking and baking, and taking horseback riding lessons — a childhood ambition she finally made time for. She shares her home with her husband and her cats.

Veterinarian

Dr. Olken is an East Coast native who made her way gradually west over the past decade. She grew up in Rochester, NY and Hanover, NH, and earned her undergraduate degree at Skidmore College, majoring in theater and political science. After a stint as a paralegal and a serious look at law school, she changed direction, completed her veterinary prerequisites, and graduated with honors from Colorado State University. She began her career in Los Angeles before moving with her family to Santa Barbara and joining La Cumbre Animal Hospital in 2025.

Her practice is built around comprehensive primary care at every life stage, from first puppy visit through senior years. She is Fear Free certified, with training in techniques that reduce stress and anxiety during veterinary visits, and she sees patients five days a week — a schedule she keeps deliberately, so that families see the same familiar face at each visit.

Outside the hospital, Dr. Olken has spent time volunteering with the Street Dog Coalition, providing veterinary care to the pets of people experiencing homelessness. At home, she has a senior pit bull mix named Lou, who has still not entirely forgiven her for no longer being an only child.

Veterinarian

Dr. Uta deHaas knew she wanted to be a veterinarian long before she knew she’d end up practicing on the California coast. Born and raised in Germany, she moved to Indianapolis as a teenager, earned her BS in Biology from Marian College, and completed her DVM at Purdue University. She spent many years at a 24-hour veterinary hospital near Chicago — the kind of work that teaches a doctor to stay calm and think clearly no matter what comes through the door. In 2021, she finally said goodbye to Midwest winters and joined the team at La Cumbre Animal Hospital.

Dr. deHaas cares for patients at every life stage, from first kitten visit through the senior years, and she is Fear Free certified, with training in techniques that keep pets calm and comfortable during their visits. She practices full time, so she is here when your furry family members need her. An active member of the Santa Barbara-Ventura Veterinary Medical Association, she is continually researching the latest treatment protocols and bringing what she learns back to the hospital — her patients benefit from medicine that keeps pace with the field.

As for trading Chicago for the coast, she has taken full advantage: Dr. deHaas is an open water swimmer, and you’re as likely to find her in the Pacific on a weekend morning as anywhere else in Santa Barbara.

Veterinarian

Dr. Donna Alonso grew up in Southern California, in an apartment above a medical clinic where her grandparents practiced as physicians and surgeons. Medicine was in the air from the start; it was her love of animals that pointed her toward veterinary practice. She earned her Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from UC Davis in 2003.

Her special interests are geriatric medicine, surgery, and acupuncture. She completed veterinary acupuncture and food energy therapy coursework with Dr. Huisheng Xie, a third-generation practitioner of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, at the Chi Institute in Florida, and she continues to expand her work in alternative modalities that keep pets happy, healthy, and balanced. Dr. Alonso has a particular appreciation for the human-animal bond and a deep patience with the hard questions that come up in caring for senior pets. She is Fear Free certified, with training in techniques that reduce stress during veterinary visits.

At home, she is dog-mom to two rescues: Taylor, a Schnauzer mix from the humane society, and Coco, a spicy Chihuahua mix. Off the clock, she dances, drums, practices yoga and capoeira, sails, travels, and gravitates toward anything to do with the ocean.

Veterinarian

Dr. Kuesis grew up in Los Angeles in a home full of dogs, cats, horses, chickens, and kids. Her bond with animals started early, as did her dream of becoming a veterinarian. She earned her BS from UC Berkeley and then received her DVM from UC Davis in 1993.

Her path to Santa Barbara began in Chicago, at a busy 24-hour emergency and referral practice where she worked until 2001. She was fortunate to learn there from specialists in medicine, surgery, dentistry, and critical care, and that training gave her both breadth and depth as a clinician. She draws on it every day, whether she is working through a complex diagnosis, performing surgery, or caring for a pet’s teeth. It shapes her thorough, thoughtful approach to every patient, from a routine wellness visit to a more challenging case.
Dr. Kuesis came to LCAH in 2005 and became a partner in 2012.

Since then, she has built her career and her roots in Santa Barbara, caring
for the pets of this community and the people who love them. Many clients rely on her, and they know her as a veterinarian who listens, explains things clearly, and treats each pet as family.

Compassion is at the center of her practice. Dr. Kuesis is Fear Free Certified, so visits are calm and comfortable for even the most anxious pets. She is also skilled in surgery and advanced dentistry. She is dedicated to caring for patients through every stage of life, from the first puppy or kitten visit to the senior years, and to helping families through medical challenges
with honesty and kindness.

At home, Dr. Kuesis shares her life with her husband, fellow veterinarian Dr. Bruce Kuesis of Mission Equine Associates, along with their dog, cats, fish, and horses. Her three adult children have all chosen careers in the health sciences, and her son is a veterinarian. When she’s not at work, you’ll find her at Masters swimming, riding her horses, mountain biking, or exploring the Sierras!

Veterinarian & Practice Owner

Dr. Beverly Holmes joined La Cumbre Animal Hospital in 2004 and became an owner in 2012. She earned her veterinary degree through the joint Washington State–Oregon State program and completed an intensive internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. Her work focuses on patient longevity, with advanced training in dental care and oral surgery.

She is Fear-Free Certified and Cat-Friendly Certified through the AAFP — in practice, a slower exam, fewer restraints, and treats deployed liberally. She is a past president of the Santa Barbara–Ventura Veterinary Medical Association and has served on the education committee of the American Animal Hospital Association. Her volunteer work centers on Mission Rabies, which takes her to subtropical regions where vaccination campaigns protect animals and people alike.

With both children off at college, the household is run by two cats, Queen Mizu and Isadora, who keep the family’s rescue dogs — tiny Poppy and Great Dane Sushi Pebbles — firmly in their place. Otherwise, she’s out adventuring on land or by sea.