Our Board Of Directors

Lowell L. Novy, D.V.M., President

A graduate from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University in 1960, Dr. Novy designed and opened the present Valley Veterinary Clinic in 1970, which has been continuously accredited by the prestigious American Animal Association for 31 years. He was honored in 1997 as the Simi Valley Businessman of the Year and is an active member of the American Animal Hospital Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the California Veterinary Medical Association, the Ventura – Santa Barbara Veterinary Medical Association and is a Life member of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association.

Diane Bentz, R.V.T., Vice-President

A graduate of Pierce College, Ms. Bentz completed the Veterinary Technical Program, received a degree in Animal Science, and passed the State Board examinations to become a licensed Registered Veterinary Technician.  Following two-and-a-half years working for Ventura County Animal Regulation, Ms. Bentz has spent the past ten years working as a technician at Valley Veterinary Clinic.  She was instrumental in starting the low-cost spay and neuter program with Dr. L. L. Novy in 1998, instituting a monthly “spay day” where low-cost cat spay and neuter services were offered to Simi Valley citizens.  She was selected as the 2004 California Veterinary Medical Association RVT of the Year in Private Practice.

Joyce L. Peters, Chief Financial Officer

Ms. Peters worked for over 30 years in the credit card services industry with broad based experience in sales management, revenue generation and maintenance of client relationships, managing a merchant portfolio with an annual volume of $4 billion.  She managed an operational staff, developing service programs for clients.

Carolyn Herman, Secretary

Ms. Herman has been a Thousand Oaks resident since 1986 and a regular customer to Valley Veterinary Clinic since 1990.   Her career included many years in Los Angeles as Vice President of Human Resources for a large financial organization.  Most recently she retired, for a second time, from an administrative position with an automobile dealership in Thousand Oaks.

Paula Temme

Ms. Temme has been a Simi Valley resident and regular customer of Valley Veterinary Clinic. She had a successful career in show business and then transitioned to teaching dance. She has owned and operated her own dance studio in Simi Valley and Burbank and loves teaching children. Since 2004, she has presented Correct Pet Care classes to over 5,000 students at nineteen elementary schools as well as YMCA after-school groups, Girl Scouts and Camp Keystone's summer program.

Our Veterinarians

Scott Amsel, D.V.M.

Prior to attending veterinary school, Dr. Amsel worked at the Miami Seaquarium, the San Diego Wild Animal Park and Marine World, Africa USA. Dr. Amsel graduated from the University of California at Davis in 1984, followed by a wide variety of fascinating veterinary adventures including work in the Amazon with wild river dolphins, care of wild dolphins in Taiwan, rescue and rehabilitation of Orangutans in Taiwan and Indonesia, development of a wildlife rescue program in Thailand, and a two-year stint as staff veterinarian at the Los Angeles zoo. He has presented papers before the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians as well as publishing original work in various veterinary journals. He worked with Animal Planet as a veterinary consultant, continues to work in his own veterinary practice, and has spent hundreds of hours doing no-cost spay/neuter surgeries for low-income families at Valley Vet Non-Profit for the past year.

Debbie Bitterly, D.V.M.

Dr. Bitterly graduated from the University of California at Davis in 1991. She worked at Valley Veterinary Clinic for over 10 years and has worked at Valley Vet Non-Profit since its inception in 2001. She currently works in the Clinic three days a week doing spay/neuter surgeries and also assists in the operations of Novy Ranches. She has two daughters and two tabby cats.

Lisa Campbell, D.V.M.

Dr. Campbell attended Oregon State University and graduated in 1997. She has worked as a veterinarian for 14 years and currently works in the Clinic one day a week doing spay/neuter surgeries. She is married, has two dogs, two cats and enjoys racing road bikes.