Our caring and compassionate veterinary care team!

Meet the Veterinarians & Team of Coastal Veterinary in Selbyville! We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets!

Please call us at 302-524-8550 to speak to one of our caring veterinary staff members!

Dr. Staruch

Veterinarian

Dr. MaryHelen Staruch graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. Dr. Staruch’s experience is broad and has been focused on companion animals. A more extensive bio is coming soon!

Dr. Richards

Veterinarian

Dr. Renee Richards joined the Coastal Veterinary team in October 2017. After graduating from Shippensburg University in pre-veterinary medicine in 1991 and the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine in 1995, Dr. Richards practiced in Pennsylvania for the next 22 years. For 18 of those years, Dr. Richards was a practice owner. Her special areas of interest include internal medicine and dentistry.
A new resident to Delaware, Dr. Richards is enjoying exploring the beautiful beaches, often with her dogs Lulu, a Welsh Terrier/PBGV mix, and Angus, a Welsh terrier. When not working, Dr. Richards enjoys spending her free time traveling, biking, hiking and running.

Dr. Altares

Veterinarian

Dr. Erin Altares grew up in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area. She attended Elizabethtown College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in pre-veterinary medicine. Dr. Altares then moved south to attend the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville, TN.

Since graduation, she has developed a special interest in soft tissue surgery, urgent care/ emergency medicine, dermatology, and in Fear Free Medicine. Dr. Altares has gone through Fear Free training and it is her goal to keep animals happy and free of fear or anxiety when they visit the veterinary hospital.

Dr. Altares and her cat Toulouse moved to the Lewes, Delaware area in 2019 and her extended family joined them in 2020. Dr. Altares started at Coastal Veterinary in July 2021 and is happy to serve the people and pets in the greater Selbyville area.

In her free time, Dr. Altares enjoys baking and gardening, reading murder mysteries, as well as spending time outdoors hiking.

Dr. Bielecki

Veterinarian

Dr. Emily Bielecki grew up in Cordova, MD. She attended University of Maryland where she received her B.S. in Animal Science, then went on to earn her degree as Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, spending her clinical year at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. She joined the CV team in July 2021. Dr. Bielecki's special interests include preventative medicine, geriatric care, and ophthalmology. She also enjoys her role in representing the veterinarians of Delaware as the state delegate in the American Veterinary Medical Association House of Delegates, helping to vote on association policies and elect leaders within this organization.

Dr. Bielecki lives with her husband, Brian, weimaraners Minerva and Molly, chocolate lab Diesel, and MANY goats, chickens, ducks, turkeys, rabbits, and peafowl on their farm in Georgetown.

Sherie

Senior Veterinary Technician

Sherie began her career in the veterinary field in 2010, and in 2014 she graduated from the Veterinary Technology Program at Delaware Technical and Community College. She is passionate about providing compassionate care for every patient and providing education for all pet owners regarding the health and welfare of their beloved pets. As well as performing her technical duties in patient care, Sherie is also always available to answer client questions and concerns.
Born and raised in Brick, NJ, Sherie moved to Sussex County in 2009. When she is not taking care of patients, Sherie enjoys spending time with friends and family, learning about and completing home improvement projects, and crafting homemade toys for her furry children. Sherie is blessed with a beautiful family including her husband Jim, her three cats Peppy, Rafiki and Evee, her two chinchillas Penelope and Lilly, and an aquarium full of fish.

Bethany

Office Manager

Bethany, is the Office manager & veterinary technician here at Coastal Veterinary. She has over 16 years veterinary technician experience at various other hospitals and has had a management role for 12 years. She started out volunteering for the DNR in Maryland, helping care for and rehab local wildlife, as well as working various kennel jobs. Bethany pursued a job as a technician assistant, where she started acquiring the on the job skills as veterinary technician.

Bethany was born and raised in northern Maryland. After frequently vacationing here, her and her husband decided to move full time to Delaware in June of 2020. At home she enjoys spending time with family (husband and 2 young daughters). They thoroughly enjoy several outdoor activities. Hiking, frequenting the beach and local parks. Bethany and her husband are thrilled to watch their daughters develop a passion for animals. They have a dog (Bob, 15yr), and 2 cats (Revan, 12yr and Arya 8 yr).

Chantal

Veterinary Technician

Chantal has known since her days in high school FFA that veterinary medicine was career for her. While she has been a veterinary technician for four years, her talents do not stop there. Chantal also serves our community as an NREMT and a working member for the Millsboro Fire Department.
Originally from a small town in Pennsylvania, Chantal now calls Selbyville her home. Along with her family pets, Chantal has her own wild, energetic Australian Shepherd named Dancer.

Will

Operations Specialist

Will jumps in to perform whatever duties help give the patients the very best care, while simultaneously giving the clients the best service possible. When moving back to Bethany Beach after a career as an Information Manager at Dover Air Force Base, Will brought his attention to detail, integrity, IT knowledge and his willingness to go above and beyond for client satisfaction to his position with Coastal Veterinary. His passion for animals is evident in every interaction he has with the patients.

Jenna

Licensed Veterinary Technician

After completing the Veterinary Technology Program at Delaware Tech, Jenna went on to pass the national exam, becoming a Licensed Veterinary Technician in 2017. Jenna has always been passionate about caring for all types of animals and she hopes to continue her veterinary education by one day earning her Veterinary Technician Specialty designation.
A Seaford Delaware native, Jenna lives with her family, including her cat Pixie.

Andrew

Veterinary Technician

Drew is one of our highly skilled veterinary technicians with over 12 years experience in the animal profession. He started out as a veterinary assistant, working while getting his degree in Animal Behavior and human Psychology from the University of New England. Drew would love to see himself as a Veterinary doctor someday.

Drew was born and raised in Long Island, New York, and moved to Delaware to enjoy our wonderful beaches and to be closer to family. When he’s not at work, Drew enjoys the great outdoors and photography. He lives here with his family of pets, his 4 wonderful kitties, Icarus, Edelweiss, Jude and one amazing chinchilla named Tudy.

Holly

Veterinary Technician

Holly Hammond has been a Veterinary Technician since 2005. She worked in a 24 hour Emergency Hospital prior to joining the Coastal Veterinary team in 2021. Holly was Fear Free Certified in 2020. Fear Free benefits: Reduce patient anxiety, enhance quality of medicine, and improve Veterinary Team safety.

Holly is a native to Millsboro Area where she and her husband owns and operates a large poultry farm with husband in Millsboro, Delaware. One of Holly’s hobbies include training and competing in Conformation Handling with her K9 companion, Barrett. "Pond Hollow Don't Tread On Me" was born in 2020 and is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever who is just starting his career in Dog Show Conformation.

Holly also rescues kitties, C.J. and Abby, who are 7 year old brother and sister and are now part of their family.
Favorite part of the job: phlebotomy and utilizing in-house diagnostic equipment.
Passion - Caring for pets as if they were my own. Dedicated and have a true passion for animal well-being.
Goal - extending and improving a patient's quality of life.

Gabrielle

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Gabrielle joined Coastal Veterinary 2021. She began her career in the veterinary field in 2009 after graduating from the Veterinary Technology program at Delaware Technical Community College in 2012, where she successfully passed the National exam and became a licensed technician.

Gabrielle has a special interest in dogs, horses, sugar gliders, and aquarium fish. She is a native to Delaware and enjoys spending her time with her family and her pets.

Karla

Veterinary Technician

Bio coming soon

Meagan

Veterinary Technician

Bio coming soon

Liz

Veterinary Technician

Bio coming soon

Colleen

Veterinary Technician

Bio coming soon

Julia

Veterinary Technician

Bio coming soon

Yonya

Veterinary Assistant

Kelsey

Kennel Technician

Bio coming soon

Chloe

Kennel Technician

Bio coming soon

Carley

Kennel Technician

Bio coming soon

Teresa

Client Service Specialist

When Teresa moved to Delaware from Southern New Jersey, she brought several years of veterinary customer service experience to the Coastal Veterinary team. Inspired by the camaraderie, support and dedication of the staff here, she is passionate about providing excellent and compassionate service to every client.
Here in Delaware, Teresa enjoys reading, visiting with her daughter, walking with her new neighbors, caring for her neighbors’ pets and bicycling to the beach with her husband. Besides her husband and daughter, Teresa’s family includes a dog, three adopted cats, two adopted rabbits, a gerbil and a newt who came from her daughter’s class terrarium ecosystem project.

Beth

Client Service Specialist

Beth joined the Coastal Veterinary family early 2021 working at the Front Desk as one of our Client Service Specialists. She has 20+ years in the field of veterinary medicine with skills in both client relations and management. Beth is looking forward to helping clients with their pets.

Beth recently moved here from Glenn Burnie, MD and has enjoyed all the Eastern Shore has to offer. She enjoys spending time at the beach, gardening, traveling and time with the grandchildren. When Beth isn't at work she enjoys the company of her husband and their dog, Lucy and kitty, Nala.

In Memoriam…

On a beautiful afternoon Saturday,  on August 17, 2019, we had said our final farewells.  After surpassing her life expectancy and beating the odds, our sweet little angel “Button” couldn’t continue battling her many medical issues. 

If you had met Button, you know she was the sweetest, most gentle cat you’d ever meet.  When Dr. MaryHelen first opened the hospital, Button was one of our first patients and has remained with us ever since.  Button was an intricate part of our hospital family, as we could not do some of the things we wanted to do, without Button’s help.  When we needed to demonstrate medical techniques for clients, or if a new kitten needed some mothering care, Button was there.  She will forever be missed by her family here.