Our Radiologist

Steve Pokorny

VMD DACVR, Owner

Undergrad: Bowdoin College

VMD: University of Pennsylvania

Residency: University of Tennessee

Steve’s background in both general and emergency practice allows him to work closely with general practitioners to help correlate findings with the overall clinical picture. In his free time, Steve acts as a private taxi service for three children and enjoys biking as well as playing and watching soccer.

Our Sonographers

Maria Moody

DVM, Veterinary Sonographer

Undergrad: Washington State University

DVM: Washington State University

Certificate: Small Animal Ultrasound Imaging, Academy of Veterinary Imaging

Dr. Moody was born and raised in Western Washington. She attended UW for four years, then transferred to WSU where she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in 1993 then went on to attend WSU’s veterinary school, completing her DVM degree in 1998. After veterinary school, she joined a busy small animal practice in Seattle where she practiced general medicine and surgery for 9 years before deciding to focus on radiology. Dr. Moody has been performing CT scans and ultrasound studies and assisting with case management for our radiologists since 2006. She also enjoys teaching ultrasound and serving as a mentor to new sonographers. In her free time, Maria enjoys traveling with her husband and daughter, reading, baking, and spoiling her cats, dogs, and chickens.

Gabrielle Bassin

DVM, Veterinary Sonographer

Undergrad: University of California, Berkeley

DVM: University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine

A California native, Dr. Gabrielle Bassin has an undergraduate degree in biology from UC Berkeley (2002) and a DVM from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine (2009). She worked as an ER doctor in busy specialty referral hospitals for 8 years, did general practice and high volume spay/neuter before joining NWVI in 2020 to focus exclusively on ultrasound and associated case management. After intensive training at NWVI, Gabrielle completed the rigorous months-long soft tissue imaging course at Sound Academy of Veterinary Imaging in Arlington, Texas in 2021. She enjoys big and small adventures with her husband, two turbo-charged human children, sweet bully mutt, and fluffy orange feline.

Crystal Brazle

DVM, Veterinary Sonographer

DVM: University of Missouri

Certificate: Small Animal Ultrasound Imaging, Academy of Veterinary Imaging

Dr. Brazle has spent the past eleven years in both small animal general and emergency practices, during which she completed over 130 hours in continuing education in abdominal ultrasound.  In the fall of 2018, she completed the Small Animal Ultrasound Imaging Soft Tissue Program at the Sound Academy of Veterinary Imaging.  Since that time, we have been working closely with Dr. Brazle to provide interpretations for studies acquired through her own sonography practice on Whidbey Island. Dr. Brazle has also spent time shadowing our radiologists on mobile days, as well as providing outpatient services at our Mountlake Terrace facility.

Misty McNeil

DVM, Veterinary Sonographer

Undergrad: Western Washington University

DVM: Washington State University

Dr. Misty McNeil is a native PNWer born and raised in the Seattle area and so happy to still be able to call the area home! She has spent the last several years practicing emergency medicine at a specialty/referral center in the area as well as practicing in general practice and spay/neuter clinics. She attended undergrad at Western Washington University in Bellingham, obtaining her BA in psychology. She then went on to attend veterinary school at Washington State University. While at WSU she helped to start and became president of the radiology club for students. She has a passion for diagnostic imaging, having seen how critical it is in practice to find answers and form treatment plans. In her downtime she loves spending time with her family (both human and furry), playing in the woods, and adventuring.

Our Staff

  • Julie Irwin

    VMD, Co-Owner

    Undergrad: Cornell University

    VMD: University of Pennsylvania

    Julie currently works part-time as a general practitioner, full-time as the mother of three and helps with the managerial aspects of NWVI. She is an avid early morning rower and in her ‘free time’ also enjoys sailing, cross-country skiing and traveling.

  • Cindy Swanson

    Hospital Manager

    Cindy has been in veterinary medicine for 15+ years gaining experience in general practice, oncology, and specialty emergency in both customer service and assistant roles. She spends her free time with her husband, 2 awesome and adventurous daughters, an old man cat and a very silly puppy. She's a musician and plays flute in a classical group, loves live theater and a good margarita. She enjoys baking, traveling and just hanging out with friends and family. She's also a great storyteller. Be sure to ask her about the fishes.

  • Brandi Ohashi

    Administrative Assistant

    Brandi started her career in vet med in 2012 at a specialty and emergency hospital. She has lived most of her life in the PNW, with a brief period of time on Maui where she met her wonderful husband. Her main role is being mama to their 4 young kiddos who are full of fun and keep them busy. She has an obnoxious black cat named Vader who does his best to run the household. Disneyland and Maui are a few of her favorite places, and she likes rooting for the Seahawks and Mariners. She most enjoys spending quality time with family and friends and traveling, especially to the beach!

  • Melissa, LVT

    Patient Care Coordinator

    Melissa is a Seattle transplant having moved here from California in 2006. She obtained her LVT in 2009 and has worked her entire career in emergency and specialty veterinary medicine. In her free time, she enjoys hanging with her family and cuddling with her kitty at home.

  • Rachel, LVT

    Patient Care Coordinator

    Rachel grew up in Southeast Michigan and moved to Seattle in 2014 after graduating from Michigan State University with her license in veterinary technology. She has worked in both emergency and general care practice before landing herself at NWVI. She spends her free time going on adventures with her husband, son, and their two pups. She also enjoys rock climbing, yoga, spending time with friends, and tasting new foods and brews.

  • Tiffany

    Veterinary Assistant

    Tiffany was born and raised in Arizona. Starting her career out in sales, she missed her childhood doggies and kitties and quickly switched to veterinary medicine to fill that void. She currently has two rescue kitties, Lola and Luna. She spends her free time either hanging out with her kitties or traveling when she can. She also practices horse agility in the desert using cactus trees as obstacles.

  • Kandice

    Veterinary Assistant

    Kandice moved to Washington in 2015 from Oklahoma where she grew up. She worked as a medical assistant and phlebotomist for several years while also studying nursing, but then pursued her dream to work with animals. She spends her free time paddle boarding, cooking, exploring the PNW, and snuggling with her sweet angel baby Isadora.

  • Marissa

    Veterinary Assistant

    Marissa grew up in the Seattle area and has had the pleasure of living in a handful of the surrounding cities. She initially (and finally) got the courage to step foot in the vet field in 2013 as a timid kennel assistant at a wonderful veterinary ER. Little did she know how much this would change her life because before she knew it she was given the opportunity to become a veterinary assistant. She hasn't left the animal industry since and can't imagine ever doing so. She is guilty of being a big time dog person, but loves her fair share of cats, pocket pets, farm animals and all other critters (even wildlife). She loves continuing to learn about not only animal medicine but also animal behavior.

  • Desiree

    Office Assistant

    Desiree was born and raised in South Africa where she worked as a chartered accountant. She moved to the US in 2008 and switched careers to full time mom of twins. Now that the twins are teenagers and not hankering after mom being in their business 24/7, Desiree is very happy to be working part-time at NWVI. In her free time she loves running and hiking with her energetic Boykin Spaniel, Summer.

  • Meatball

    Disgruntled Stand-in

    Wrecker of homes and breaker of bones.