Meet Our Veterinary Team
Meet the veterinarian and team of Holmdel Veterinary Clinic. We're pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets!
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Get to Know Our Team!
Building strong relationships with our furry patients and their parents is important to us! We hope you'll take the time to scroll down and get to know us because we're looking forward to getting to know you.
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Meet the Doctors and Staff
Luciano Sturla, DVM
Dr. Sturla, born and raised on a farm in the scenic province of Turin, Italy, brings a lifetime of veterinary expertise to Holmdel Veterinary Clinic. After earning his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Turin, he owned and operated a private practice in Italy. His journey brought him to the U.S., where he spent over two decades mastering emergency medicine and surgery. In 2015, he took the helm of Holmdel Veterinary Clinic. Dr. Sturla is passionate about the human-animal bond, is a fan of The Grateful Dead, and shares his life with his wife, two sons and two cats. Plus, he never says no to a biscotti cookie!
Nadia Azam, VMD
Dr. Azam is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and brings more than 12 years of outstanding veterinary experience to our practice.
Before pursuing her veterinary degree, Dr. Azam earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and completed a Post-Baccalaureate Pre- Medical Program at University of California, Berkeley. She then relocated to Philadelphia to follow her passion for veterinary medicine.
After earning her VMD, Dr. Azam worked in both general practice and emergency hospitals throughout Pennsylvania and served as a relief veterinarian in New Jersey. Her professional interests include internal medicine, preventive care, surgery, and integrative medicine.
In her spare time, Dr. Azam enjoys hiking, practicing yoga, and spending time with her family and her three mischievous cats.
Sandra, Business Manager/Assistant Practice Manager
Sandra has always found the medical field fascinating. Her love and passion for the field increased tenfold in 2015 when she and her husband Dr. Sturla decided to take ownership of Holmdel Veterinary Clinic and embark on an exciting and rewarding experience. Sandra is the mother of two sons, Matteo and Gianluca. Her spare time is spent with her family, including her and Dr. Sturla’s 4 legged ‘kids” a Scottish Terrier named Kelly and two cats Briciola and Felix.
Kristal, Lead Veterinary Technician
Meet Kristal!
Kristal has been proudly working in the veterinary field for over 10 years, and her passion for animals has only grown stronger with time. A dedicated technician with a big heart and even bigger energy, she loves learning, growing, and watching veterinary medicine evolve every day.
When she’s not caring for patients at the clinic, Kristal is a full-time mom to a wonderful little girl and a part-time (okay… full-time) “crazy cat lady” with six fur babies, a bunch of fish, and a turtle named Leo — yes, her house is basically a small zoo!
Kristal’s love for animals started early and never slowed down. Whether it’s comforting nervous pets, helping sick ones heal, or getting excited over every new puppy and kitten she meets (which she considers a major job perk!), she brings compassion, enthusiasm, and positivity into everything she does.
If you hear laughter in the treatment area or see someone instantly bonding with your pet — that’s probably Kristal.
Jason, Veterinary Technician
Jason has been working in the veterinary field for over 3 years. During that time, he's developed a strong passion for animal health care. His professional interests include surgery, biopsies and animal behavior. He enjoys working in the veterinary field because it allows him to make a meaningful difference in the lives of animals and the people who love them. Every day presents new challenges and learning opportunities, which keeps the work both rewarding and fulfilling. Outside of work, he enjoys music, movies and spending time with family.
Gianluca "Luca", Veterinary Technician
Luca has always had a love for animals, and pets have been a big part of his life for as long as he can remember. That lifelong connection naturally led him to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.
Luca graduated from Delaware Valley University in May 2025 with a degree in Small Animal Science and a minor in Large Animal Science. During his time at DelVal, he discovered just how much he enjoys being a veterinary technician. He especially loves the hands-on aspect of the job, working closely with patients, and the opportunity to continually learn something new. His inquisitive nature and passion for understanding why things happen make veterinary medicine a perfect fit for him.
Luca is excited to take the next big step in his journey and will be beginning veterinary school at University College Dublin in the fall of 2026. While he’ll be heading overseas to pursue his veterinary degree, he isn’t saying goodbye to Holmdel Veterinary Clinic! Luca will continue to have a foot in the door and be part of our team whenever he’s home.
When he’s not caring for patients or studying, Luca enjoys spending time with family, friends, and, of course, the four-legged members of the family. He also has a special passion for vintage cars and loves getting his hands dirty rebuilding and working on motors. Whether he’s figuring out how something works under the hood or caring for a patient in the treatment room, Luca’s curiosity and love of hands-on learning are always at the heart of what he does.
We’re excited to watch Luca take this next big step toward becoming a veterinarian and are incredibly proud that he’ll always remain part of the Holmdel Veterinary Clinic family!
Araceli, Veterinary Technician
With eight years of experience as a veterinary technician in a busy animal hospital, I’ve had the chance to grow my skills in emergency medicine, surgery, dentistry, and routine wellness care. I love being part of a team that helps pets feel their best and enjoy making a difference in the lives of both animals and their families. One of my favorite parts of veterinary medicine is getting to know each pet’s unique personality and building relationships with the people who love them.
When I’m not at the clinic, you’ll most likely find me spending time with my own little crew—two cats, one dog, and my little human! We love getting outside, going for walks, visiting the park, and enjoying plenty of family adventures together. Animals have always been a huge part of my life, and I feel incredibly lucky to have a career where I get to care for them every day!
Dominique, Veterinary Technician
I’m currently an undergraduate student at Delaware Valley University studying Small Animal Science and Equine Science, with plans to continue my education in veterinary medicine, entering my senior year. I’ve been working in the veterinary field for over a year, and I genuinely love every minute of it! I’m always excited to learn something new, meet a new patient, and be part of helping animals feel their best.
Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to gain experience in general practice, emergency medicine, exotic animal medicine, and working alongside behavioral specialists.
I’ve always had a huge love for animals of all shapes, sizes, and personalities. Whether they have four legs, feathers, scales, or anything in between, I enjoy getting to know them and helping them feel comfortable and cared for. My goal is to continue learning and gaining experience so that one day I can become a veterinarian and make a positive difference in the lives of as many animals as possible.
When I’m not at school or at the clinic, you can usually find me spending time with my family and my own pets, reading a good book, or enjoying the outdoors. I’m so excited to be part of the team and look forward to meeting all of our wonderful patients and their families!
Julia, Lead Veterinary Receptionist
Julia is the friendly face you'll see at the front desk of Holmdel Veterinary Clinic. With 7 years of experience in veterinary customer service, she loves getting to know clients and their pets, making sure each visit is a positive one. Her pittie Herbo and cat Pumpkin are her world, and outside of work, she enjoys Pilates, walks with her dog, video games, reading, and spending time with her loved ones!
Merissa, Veterinary Receptionist
With 25 years of experience in the veterinary field, Merissa brings a lifelong passion for animals - especially dogs - to everything she does. A self-proclaimed dog lover, she'll happily stop whatever she's doing if she hears a leash jingle!
At home, she absolutely adore her rescue shepherd mix May, and spends her free time with her 2 children, Adam and Mia.
They love painting, having art contests together and scrabble nights.