Veterinarians

Below are the veterinarians of CARE. To meet other parts of our team, please visit our pages for therapy aides and staff.

Jessica H. Waldman, VMD, CVA, CCRT

While attending veterinary school, Dr. Waldman was the Alumni Representative for four years and volunteered in a program in the Native American Reservations of the Southwest to spay and neuter pets in need. Dr. Waldman completed two additional externships in small animal surgery with board certified veterinary surgeons at the Animal Medical Center in New York and at the Surgical Group for Animals in Los Angeles.

Following graduation, Dr. Waldman completed an additional year of specialty training as an intern at California Animal Hospital in Los Angeles. During this internship year, she worked with board certified surgeons, neurologists, internists, cardiologists, and dentists. Dr. Waldman also published a paper on the topic of critical care in Pulse veterinary publication. Since completion of her internship in July of 2005, Dr. Waldman has enjoyed practicing small animal medicine.

Dr. Waldman completed a certificate program from the Canine Rehabilitation Institute to become a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist. She is also a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist through the Chi Institute. Dr. Waldman enjoys integrating acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine into her practice of pet rehabilitation.

Dr. Waldman is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the California Veterinary Medical Association, the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association and the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. She is licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the states of New York and California. Dr. Waldman is one of the founding members of the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians.

Dr. Waldman speaks at veterinary meetings on the subject of canine rehabilitation and has a special interest in neurological rehabilitation and in preventative physical exercise for all life stages. Dr. Waldman loves to see her patients’ quality of life improve, and she counsels in nutrition utilizing a combination of Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine for the best possible outcome. On the personal side, Dr. Waldman enjoys volleyball, hiking, painting, and spending time with her family. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband Stuart and her three daughters Gemma, Delia, and Blythe.

Justine Ma, DVM, CVA, CCRP

Veterinarian 
Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist 
Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

Dr. Justine Ma earned her Bachelor of Science in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology from UC Davis, where she went on to complete her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. She spent eight years practicing in the Bay Area, first as an Associate Veterinarian in Daly City and Sunnyvale, and Chief of Staff in Mountain View. 

Traditional Chinese Medicine has been part of Dr. Ma’s life since childhood, and she pursued certification in Veterinary Acupuncture at Chi University to bring those principles into her practice. When COVID prompted her to reassess what mattered most, she moved back home to Southern California with her then-boyfriend, now husband (2022), to be closer to family.

That search led her to CARE, drawn by its mission to blend acupuncture, physical therapy, and TCVM for Southern California’s companion animals. Since joining, Dr. Ma has become a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner and is now working toward certification in Animal Hospice and Palliative Care, work closely tied to her focus on senior pets and those recovering from injury or surgery. She also shares insights on aging pets and quality-of-life care on social media (@drjustinema).

Outside the clinic, Dr. Ma stays active through weightlifting, martial arts, and dancing (she was on a competitive salsa team for over ten years) and is a lifelong learner, always with a podcast or book in hand. She and her husband love traveling together, exploring new places and plant-based food along the way, and work on a wide array of creative projects.

Dr. Karen Rabin, DVM, CCRT, CVMA, CAHP, IVCA

Veterinarian
Certified Veterinary Medical Acupuncture (CVMA)
Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT)
Certified Animal Hospice Practitioner (CAHP)
International Veterinary Chiropractic Association

Dr. Karen Rabin spent her early years on the East Coast. After earning her veterinary degree from the University of Florida and completing a one-year Medical and Surgical Internship at the prestigious Animal Medical Center in New York City, Dr. Rabin launched her veterinary career, which now spans more than three decades. She has worked in practices and shelters in Florida, New York City, and Utah before meeting and marrying her husband and moving to beautiful California, which she has called home for 26 years.

Dr. Rabin is a lifelong learner. She trained with Dr. Narda Robinson at Colorado State University and is certified in Veterinary Medical Acupuncture (CVMA). She is a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT) through the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in Missouri and is trained and certified in Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (CAHP). In August 2026, she passed the rigorous International Certification Examination in Veterinary Chiropractic for both canine and equine patients. She has also qualified for certification as a Veterinary Pain Practitioner (CVPP) and will sit for her examination this fall. In addition, she trained in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and acupuncture at Chi University in North Florida.

When asked what she likes most about her job, Dr. Rabin replied: “I love working at CARE, where our shared purpose is to help patients become more comfortable and functional while educating their people about the important role they play in that process. We see transformations every day, and it is both exciting and an honor to work with such a diverse group of patients and their committed caregivers.”

On a personal note, Dr. Rabin has earned a Black Belt in martial arts and taught both Karate and Tai Chi during her college years. Once a passionate runner, she has completed more than 15 full marathons. More recently, she became a Certified Ski and Snowboard Instructor through the Professional Ski Instructors Association and the Canadian Ski and Snowboard Instructors Association. She also loves to write, has published an article in Dogs Naturally Magazine, and is working on a book that is scheduled for publication in the coming months. Stay tuned!