An Integrative Approach to Equine Health Care
Our Team
Lisa Atckison, DVM
Dr. Atckison grew up in Southern California. She credits her Dad for getting her into horses and together they spent many weekends trail riding. In addition to pleasure riding, Lisa spent many years riding and showing Hunters until she left home for college. Taking a break from riding to focus on studies and her career she now enjoys riding with her husband, Jim, whether it's riding at home, trail or working cattle with friends.
Dr. Atckison completed her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1997 and her DVM from the University of California, Davis in 2001. After graduation, she completed a medical and surgical internship at Peninsula Equine and continued as an associate veterinarian until moving back to Southern California where she worked with David Wheat DVM. She moved to the Napa Valley in 2005 working alongside Dr. Claudia Sonder at NVVH. In 2010, Dr. Atckison started her own practice in Sonoma.
Dr. Atckison became certified in Acupuncture in 2007 and in animal Chiropractic in 2010 through the IVCA. She uses an integrative approach to wellness to provide comprehensive care to her patients and enjoys being an integral part of your horse’s heath and success both at home and in the show arena.
Dr. Atckison has a strong interest in Sports Medicine, Lameness and Imaging. She is an active ISELP (International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology) member and has attended various other sports medicine meetings over the years with some of the nation's most distinguished clinicians and lectures.
When Lisa is not working she enjoys spending time with her husband Jim, and their herd at home, dog Tucker and cats. She is an avid gardener and loves to cook.
Yana Sorokurs, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Sorokurs aka "Dr. Yana" was born in Moscow, Russia and immigrated to California in 1993. She grew up in Palo Alto riding hunters and received her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science with an equine emphasis. She rode on the hunter/jumper and dressage equestrian teams at Davis. After receiving her DVM degree from Cornell University she completed an internship at Tufts Cumming School of Veterinary Medicine Large Animal Medicine Department and Massachusetts Equine Clinic. During veterinary school she participated in Rural Area Veterinary Services (RAVS), which provides crucial veterinary services to equids on Native American reservations, where she developed an interest in soft tissue surgery and dentistry.
Yana joined Sonoma Equine in 2016 and greatly enjoys living in Sonoma County. In her free time she likes to hike with her husband and her dog Nymeria or read a good book with her cat Lucy in her lap.
Dr. Russ Sakai graduated from the University of California, Davis in 2013. Upon completing his DVM, Dr. Sakai pursued an equine ambulatory internship at Colorado State University. From there, he returned to UC Davis for a residency in Equine Lameness and Surgery. His research interests as a resident included surgical treatment of joint disease and surgical site infection. After completing his residency in 2017, Dr. Sakai practiced as an associate surgeon in Reno, Nevada until joining Petaluma Equine in 2020. He has been a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons since 2018.
Russ Sakai, DVM, DACVS-LA
Surgeon
Emma Goodman
Veterinary Assistant
Kendra Relyea
Veterinary Assistant
