Meet Our Staff

Dr. Hempel is a native San Diegan who, after completing his undergraduate studies in Zoology at SDSU, graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. He has proudly practiced veterinary medicine in Lake Elsinore for over 40 years. In 1988, he became co-owner of Mountainview Small Animal Hospital alongside Dr. Thomas Jessup, later taking over as sole owner in 2012.

Early in his career, Dr. Hempel discovered a natural aptitude for surgery. Thanks to his advanced skills, he serves as Mountainview’s primary surgeon. He also brings extensive training and expertise in ultrasound technology to the team, allowing the practice to offer a broader, more sophisticated range of diagnostic care.

Outside the clinic, Dr. Hempel enjoys life with his wife, Monica, an elementary school teacher. They have two grown children, Jenna and Christopher, and a wonderful granddaughter named Tessa. Their home is rounded out by a lively pack of rescue dogs.  When he isn’t deep-sea fishing or playing pickleball, this natural tinkerer loves diving into hands-on projects—from auto and boat mechanics to repairing washing machines and vacuum cleaners.

Dr. Erin McConnell graduated from Humboldt State University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and a minor in Philosophy. In May 2020, she earned her Degree in Veterinary Medicine from Midwestern University in Arizona. While her clinical rotations were originally geared toward mixed animal medicine, she found herself gravitating toward small animals with a special emphasis on Feline Medicine — which happily brought her to Mountainview in July 2020.

Although it’s obvious she loves dogs and cats, Dr. Erin also appreciates nature’s more unique creatures, like the praying mantis and the opossum. She has volunteered for the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife working with bats, and has handled exotic felines at a California conservation center. Her vibrant personal interests include riding motorcycles, playing video games, getting tattoos, and experimenting with hair color and makeup. Always incredibly stylish, the team loves seeing what creative look, pretty scarf, or cool piece of jewelry she has on when she arrives at work.

In 2025, Dr. Erin welcomed a beautiful baby girl to her family! While she has transitioned her schedule to three days per week to enjoy this sweet milestone, she remains fiercely committed to providing exceptional care for her patients.

We are so proud to have Dr. Erin on our team, and we know your pets are in the absolute best hands with her.

Here is a face some of you already know, and others may occasionally see in the future. Dr Melanie Mitchell (Dr Mel) has been our relief veterinarian too far back to remember; and before that she worked here as a kennel attendant and then as a receptionist while going to college before she went off to UC Davis.  We love having Dr Mel here with us and you can be sure your pet will be in good hands when you come in and see Dr Mel. 

Kari was hired at Mountainview in 1989 as a kennel attendant. Over many years, and under the watchful eye of her mentor, Dr. Hempel, she became an exceptional veterinary technician who sat for and passed her CA State Board Exams in 2009. Kari is the glue that holds our hospital together; she is the go-to person when inventory needs ordering, or if medical equipment needs repair or replacing — she is always on it!

In her spare time, Kari is an extremely competitive and skilled softball player, playing on teams that have made it to the World Series of Softball. She also enjoys camping, fishing, and any other outdoorsy activity where she can spend time with her husband and son. 

Jennifer has been with Mountainview since 2003.  After serving four years in the Coast Guard and then working in the veterinary field in Washington, Jennifer moved to CA where we were lucky to have her join our team.  She has been a solid technician from the get go and she takes exceptional care of our patients when she is on duty.  She is married and has one grown son who followed in mom's footsteps by serving in the military.

Ashley joined Mountainview in May 2021, bringing over 16 years of prior experience to our practice. Her deep expertise and extraordinary clinical skill set make her an invaluable asset, particularly in high-pressure medical situations. By adding Ashley's advanced capabilities to our already highly trained technical staff, you can be sure your pet will be in great hands during their visit.

In her off time, Ashley enjoys home improvement -- she’s not afraid to get all up in the plumbing, build a new set of shelves, or add an entire faux-brick wall over the old drywall.

Josue joined the Mountainview team in December 2025, bringing five years of specialized experience from working in a feline-only practice to our team. His superior cat-handling skills quickly earned him the title of our resident 'cat whisperer.' Josue chose to transition to Mountainview to expand his capabilities and master canine medicine, thereby building a well-rounded career in veterinary care. A proud graduate of the California Military Institute, his strong work ethic and natural leadership skills are evident in everything he does.

In his off time, Josue stays moving with a passion for hiking, traveling, surfing, and high-adrenaline sports like skydiving. An avid runner, he co-founded the Lake Elsinore Run Club, bringing that same community-minded energy and dedication to everyone he meets at our practice. Josue lives with three cats and a four year old Husky named Sakira — who, surprisingly, has to stay home from his runs because she just can’t keep up with him.

Amanda joined us in June 2020 as a receptionist, quickly excelling at the front desk thanks to her delightful personality and solid customer service skills. In 2026, when she expressed interest in an open veterinary assistant position, we were delighted to begin training her for the role. Amanda’s diligent studying on her days off has allowed her to learn at an exceptional rate, and we have every reason to believe she will achieve her goal of obtaining an RVT designation. In the meantime, when she’s not in the exam rooms, you can still find her occasionally helping out at the front desk as she permanently transitions into her new role.

Outside of work, Amanda enjoys going to concerts, watching scary movies, and she absolutely LOVES doing makeup — in fact, she even did Dr. Erin’s makeup for her wedding!

Noelle started her career in the veterinary field when she was hired as a receptionist back in 2017. She worked with us while attending school for ultrasound technology, and following her graduation in 2022, she left Mountainview to complete her externship and internship program. After providing periodic relief work for us, Noelle realized how much she missed the veterinary field and officially returned part-time in early 2023.

In 2024, Noelle decided her heart truly belonged in veterinary medicine and transitioned into her permanent, full-time role as our Head Receptionist and Supervisor. Our clients can always look forward to seeing Noelle’s smiling face at the front desk when they arrive. If you have questions or run into a problem that needs sorting out, Noelle will do her absolute best to get everything in order, or she will direct you to the right staff member to resolve any issue you may have.

At home, Noelle's life is joyously chaotic with her two ridiculously adorable and energetic Dachshunds, and one amused leopard gecko overseeing the pandemonium.

Yadira has been a versatile professional in the veterinary field since 2010, gaining extensive experience as both a receptionist and a veterinary assistant. After working with us temporarily in 2016, she accepted a permanent position at the Mountainview reception desk in August 2018. With her exceptionally polite and professional demeanor, Yadira is fully bilingual and provides fluent Spanish communication for our clients.

Guided by a heart completely centered around her loved ones, Yadira works hard to take care of her family. Outside of her busy schedule at the clinic, her world revolves around her adorable little boy — whether they are exploring the great outdoors together or taking a trip down to the beach to enjoy her native San Diego roots.

In April 2025, Aysia officially returned to the Mountainview family! After moving up North in 2020 to focus on being a full-time mom, she is back in the area and taking care of business at the reception desk in her typical jocular fashion. Aysia brings over six years of veterinary receptionist and supervisor experience to her current front-desk position and is always ready to assist our clients with any questions or concerns.

Outside of the clinic, Aysia loves hiking and camping with her son and her big, goofy dog Earl. Her green thumb is evident to everyone in the practice when she brings in stunning, hand-picked wildflower bouquets arranged straight from her home garden.

Elise joined us in January 2019 while she was working towards obtaining her RVT designation.  Since the birth of her baby, she has cut back her hours and is helping out at the front desk a couple of days a week.  You can be assured when you call, Elise's technical knowledge will be helpful in answering your questions and guiding you with any concerns you have with your pet.  In her off time Elise enjoys cuddling her new baby, crafting, and playing with her two dogs, Kylo and Loken.  

Maria joined Mountainview in 2000 and has been taking excellent care of our hospitalized patients and boarders for over 20 years. In fact, only our head RVT, Kari, has been with the practice longer! Even though Maria is a little bitty gal, she can handle the most rambunctious of pets with patience and kindness — and having raised two amazing kids, her 'mommy voice' definitely helps, too.

Maria is also easily one of the best cooks at Mountainview. The staff goes nuts when they know she is making tamales, and don't even get us started on her incredible Pozole!

Ashley N. (or “Little Ash” as we call her) joined our kennel staff in August 2023, coming highly recommended from her time as an Animal Care Technician at Animal Friends of the Valley. Our patients quickly took to her steady, calm demeanor and strong animal handling skills. Her veterinary medical knowledge learned while at the shelter is a major bonus. Clients can be sure that under Ashley’s watchful eye, their pets will receive exceptional care whether they are boarding or hospitalized.

In her off-time Ashley enjoys baking, crochet (with the help of her cats), and hiking with her fiancé.

Jasmine joined Mountainview in 2017, bringing four years of prior kennel experience with her. She is a dedicated and focused veterinary professional who quietly gets to work ensuring the kennel runs smoothly. Jasmine’s peaceful energy works like magic on our patients, instantly putting nervous animals at ease while they are in her care.  Even while focusing on the comfort of the pets, she effortlessly lights up the clinic with her beautiful, multicolored hair. 

Outside of work, Jasmine is passionate about hitting up live concerts, and she remains a wonderful, steady anchor for our kennel team.