Diplomate American College of Veterinary Dermatology

Dr. Griffin is a graduate of Cornell University and completed his residency at UC Davis in 1980. Dr. Griffin is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD), has served on the Board of Directors and examination committee for the ACVD and was the President of the ACVD in 1999/2000. He also served as president of the American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology and of the Western States Veterinary Conference. Dr. Griffin is the founder and co-owner of the Animal Dermatology Clinic.

Dr. Griffin is a frequent lecturer and clinical instructor of veterinary dermatology in this country and abroad. He has published many articles and books on small animal skin disease, including co-author of Muller and Kirks Small Animal Dermatology 5th and 6th editions and co editor of Current Veterinary Dermatology, The Science and Art of Therapy. Dr. Griffin received the ACVD Award for Excellence for outstanding contributions in veterinary dermatology in 2001.

Animal Dermatology Clinic

Diplomate American College of Veterinary Dermatology

Dr. Heide Newton graduated in the top 10% of her class from the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000. After graduation she worked as a general practitioner in small animal veterinary practices in Arizona and Texas. In 2003, she joined the Animal Dermatology Clinic and completed a residency, becoming a board certified Diplomate in veterinary dermatology with the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD) in 2006. Since then, Dr. Newton has been enjoying practicing veterinary dermatology and currently sees patients in San Diego, Murrieta, and Carlsbad. She also lectures periodically for local general practitioners, published a book chapter and articles in veterinary journals, and lectured for the North American Veterinary Dermatology Forum (NAVDF) 2010 Resident Education Forum for veterinary dermatology residents.

Before turning her focus to veterinary medicine, Dr. Newton graduated summa cum laude from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in 1988 and then continued there to earn a Juris Doctor with honors from the College of Law in 1991. During law school she adopted a puppy from a local humane society who opened her eyes to the joys of sharing her life with pets. After working for a couple of years as an attorney, she decided to redirect her career path to veterinary medicine. She greatly enjoys her work as a veterinary dermatologist, especially her interactions with clients and their beloved pets. She and her husband currently have a large pet family, including 3 adopted dogs (Emma, Otis, and Heidi – Heidi came as an adult with her name), 1 cat (Monty), 5 chinchillas (Fivel, Mama, and their children Magellan, Michael, and Marjorie), 2 birds (Lucy and Linus), and 2 tortoises (Cuff and Link). In her spare time, she enjoys gardening and hiking.