Our History

Dr. Dave was born in Sharon, Pennsylvania. He has known since elementary school that he wanted to become a veterinarian. After graduating in 1985 from Sharon Senior High School, home of the Sharon Tigers, he attended the Pennsylvania State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Biological Sciences in 1989. The next four years were spent in Philadelphia, PA, at The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. He graduated from Penn in 1993 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. He has worked at several different veterinary hospitals within Pennsylvania, including Clark, Mechanicsburg, Stroudsburg, Allentown, and Towanda before finally settling in Williamsport.

His professional interests include canine and feline internal medicine, surgery, and dentistry. He is married to Dr. Stephanie Sikora Daverio, who he met while attending Penn Veterinary School, and they have two wonderfully magical children. Other members of the Daverio Family include five dogs, two cats, a turtle, a tortoise, and several fish. He wants the record clear: he is only responsible for the adoption of TWO of the five dogs, but he loves them all. Outside of work, Dr. Dave enjoys reading, racquet sports, ultimate frisbee, frisbee golf, running, basketball, cycling, Martial Arts (TaeKwonDo, Hapkido, and Kumdo) and competitive pistol shooting. He enjoys playing Dungeons and Dragons with his friends. He believes in the existence of Bigfoot, which earns him endless teasing here at the office.

Dr. Stephanie’s family moved to Williamsport in 1982, when her father, Peter J. Sikora, VMD, purchased the practice that is now Williamsport West Veterinary Hospital. She has worked her way up through the ranks since WWVH’s beginnings — from performing various odd jobs like scraping ivy off the building in the sweltering summer heat, to kennel attendant, janitor, veterinary assistant/receptionist — learning as many skills as she could. Watching and helping her father in practice, she knew this was what she was meant to do. Branching out, she developed an appreciation for reptiles while working during summers through her college years at Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland.

After graduating from the Williamsport Area High School in 1986, she went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology at Bucknell University in 1990. She attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, where she met her future husband, Dave. She earned her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1994. Dr. Stephanie has worked at various busy practices in Pennsylvania, including Allentown, Stroudsburg, and Towanda, gaining valuable experiences before she and Dr. Dave returned to Williamsport to join her father in practice at WWVH in 1998. She has a special interest in the prevention of behavioral problems in puppies and kittens and enjoys working with various exotic species. Except tarantulas. She says she draws the line at big, hairy spiders.

Writing the column “Creature Comforts” for the Sun Gazette since 2004, raising two children with her husband, and (barely) controlling the chaos of a household with five dogs, two cats, a tortoise, turtle, and assorted fish keeps her mighty busy. She sings with the St. Boniface Contemporary Ensemble and with the Williamsport Chamber Choir and has served as secretary of the WCCO board for the past several years. She enjoys bicycling, swimming, walking the dogs, and cooking, though there are days she’s seriously content to sit in a chair under a pile of dogs and cats, sipping something warm, and reading a good book.

Bridget started volunteering at WWVH in 2000 while she was studying veterinary technology at Alfred State College in New York. After graduating with her degree and obtaining her license, she became a full-time employee and can’t imagine working anywhere else. We can’t imagine WWVH without her.

In her spare time, she loves traveling and spending time with her husband, Kyle, their daughter, Sarah, and two dogs, Hannah and Ainslee. Bridget and Kyle went to bat for their beloved Ainslee when she was diagnosed with a serious heart arrhythmia in late 2016 and took her to Cornell University Hospital for Animals where she had a pacemaker implanted. We are happy to report that Ainslee has been back to her spunky, Jack Russell self ever since.

Sue is our consummate competitor. At 19 years old, she broke her neck in a car accident, yet just four months later, she won a national equestrian jumping championship. She graduated from Southern Seminary Junior College with an Associate in Science and Stable Management. She also earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. At 32 years old, she was the North American Sport Karate Association female fighter of the year. In the past two decades, Sue has become a master dog trainer. She is one of the top breeders of Pyrenean Shepherd dogs in the world, and her dogs have won many awards including Best of Breed at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. She and Pree have been on national television!

Sue has had very interesting and varied life experiences. She has been a racehorse jockey, riverboat casino cocktail waitress, restaurant manager, karate instructor, and live plant specialist. We’re glad she’s settled down and chosen to work with us — her canine behavior expertise has made her an indispensable member of our team. Also, the plants in the waiting room have never looked better, thanks to Sue’s ministrations.

Kirsten began working with us in the fall of 2014. As a veterinary assistant, she enjoys working with small mammals and exotics. When she’s not working, she likes to spend time with her own pets that include two dogs, two cats, three rabbits, and an assortment of fish, snails, and hermit crabs. Kirsten is currently studying through Penn Foster to become a Veterinary Technician.

Uriah is a Loyalsock High School student. He began as a volunteer at Williamsport West in 2017 and now works as a kennel attendant.

Sydney joined the WWVH team this year as a Williamsport High School senior. She has been a long-standing, devoted volunteer at the SPCA, and her profound love for the veterinary profession has led her to pursue a career as a licensed veterinary technician. Sydney will be beginning her studies at the collegiate level in the fall of 2019.

Natalie joined the WWVH team while attending St. John Neumann Regional Academy high school. After graduating with honors as the salutatorian of her class, she has gone on to attend Pennsylvania State University full time, majoring in Veterinary and Biomedical Science. While we see much less of her now, we are always happy when she is able to come and help out on one of her breaks from school.