We’re so pleased to introduce you to the veterinarians of Rye Harrison Veterinary Hospital!
“With compassion and commitment we directly affect the quality of life of our patient, thus supporting the quality of life of our clients.”
Dr. John Pisciotta is one of the nation’s leading experts on exotic pets, a category that includes everything from baby turtles to boa constrictors. At RHVH, more than 50 percent of his patients are exotics, many referrals from other veterinarians, bird clubs, and breeders. Fascinated with exotic pets since his childhood on Long Island, he grew up with a vast variety of them, including snakes, turtles, tortoises, frogs, lizards, birds, ferrets, guinea pigs, mice, rabbits, and other pocket pets. This fascination with animals led to his first job, conducting tours for a local park.
After completing his undergraduate education at Muhlenberg College (Allentown, PA) and graduate studies at Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN), he served an internship at the renowned Animal Medical Center in Manhattan and became an active member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. Having shared quarters with so many different species of animals throughout his life, Dr. Pisciotta feels very comfortable handling, examining, and discussing the proper care of all exotic pets. A major interest of his is educating people about the needs of these very special pets. Because preventative medicine is so important with exotic and other pets, he helps his clients learn as much as possible about their basic care, nutrition, and husbandry. Dr. Pisciotta lives in Croton-on-Hudson with his wife Stephanie, their four children, and an assortment of cats, dogs, birds, and exotic fish.
Dr. Blair Green grew up in Manhattan and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, NY) with a major in Biology and a minor in Ancient Societies. She then attended veterinary school at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she worked as a volunteer in the wildlife clinic caring for sick and injured wild animals and spent her clinical year focusing on cats, dogs, and exotic species. After graduating in 2008, Dr. Green worked as an associate veterinarian at a small animal hospital in New Jersey for two years. She then completed an internship in avian and exotic medicine and surgery at Maryland’s VCA Veterinary Referral Associates, where she received specialized training in birds, reptiles, and small exotic mammals. With an interest in avian/exotics, dentistry, and pathology, Dr. Green joined the practice in 2011. She lives in White Plains with her rabbits Bert and Tess and her cat Polyxena, and enjoys reading, cooking, and walking through New York.
Dr. Susan Sperling grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, Il. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in 2010 from Amherst College and graduated with a Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program Certificate from Bryn Mawr College in 2013. Dr. Sperling went on to earn her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2018. She then completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in Red Bank, New Jersey. Dr. Sperling is Fear Free Level Elite Certified, and her areas of professional interest include surgery, internal medicine, behavior and theriogenology.
Dr. Sperling says the best part of working in the veterinary field is creating a strong foundation to prevent behavioral and health problems in puppies and kittens and helping owners make informed decisions to improve their pet’s well-being.
Dr. Sperling currently shares a home with her two Miniature American Shepherds, Parker and Lucy, who she competes in obedience and agility. In her free time, she enjoys reading and hiking.
Dr. Suzanne Bardari is a seasoned veterinarian who recently joined Rye Harrison Animal Hospital. She obtained her doctorate from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. Dr. Bardari holds RECOVER CPR Certification and is also a certified Fear Free Veterinarian, which enables her to provide compassionate care and minimize fear, anxiety, and stress in pets before and during appointments. Dr. Bardari’s professional interests include preventative care, nutrition, and shelter medicine.
Interestingly, Dr. Bardari didn’t initially start her career in veterinary medicine. It was her admiration for the veterinarians and veterinary technicians who cared for her pets that inspired her to switch paths. In her thirties, she decided to go back to school and embarked on a decade-long journey that involved extensive education, research, volunteer work, shelter involvement, laboratory animal welfare management, and a wide range of experiences in small animal companion care.
Before joining Rye Harrison, Dr. Bardari gained valuable experience working in Manhattan and Rockland County. She currently resides in Westchester County with her husband and two dogs. Outside of work, Dr. Bardari enjoys staying active by running, kayaking, and hiking. She recently completed her 1st marathon in NYC. Additionally, she is an avid baseball and football fan!
Dr. Max Buchen was born and raised in Westchester County, NY. In 2020, he earned his Bachelors degree in Zoology from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. In 2024, Dr. Buchen completed his veterinary training at the Royal Veterinary College in London and became a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. In 2025, Dr. Buchen began practicing in the USA.
Dr. Buchen’s professional interests include pathology, surgery, and exotic animal medicine. In his clinical training, he has spent extended periods of time at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, Staten Island Zoo, Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo. Outside of work, Dr. Buchen enjoys running, hiking and traveling. Dr. Buchen lives with his fiancée, Gabrielle, and their two cats, Puck and Ophelia. Dr. Buchen also maintains a large saltwater coral reef aquarium.
Dr. Julie Yu has known that she wanted to be a veterinarian since she was in second grade. Born and raised in Brooklyn/ Queens, she grew up with a family dog and multiple exotic pets including snakes, hamsters, and fish. Throughout her life, she has always made it a mission to surround herself with as many as she possibly could.
She received her Bachelor’s Degree from CUNY City College of New York with a major in Biology and a minor in Business. During her undergraduate studies, she spent her time working as a veterinary assistant at an animal hospital in Astoria, Queens, as well as, volunteering at various animal shelters, wildlife sanctuaries, and therapeutic riding programs with horses. She then obtained her Doctorate from Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2025. She spent her clinical year focusing on dogs, cats and exotic species. With a particular interest in preventative care, avian/exotic medicine, dentistry, and neurology, Dr. Yu joined the practice in 2025.
Outside of veterinary medicine Dr. Yu enjoys botany, fashion, reading, cooking, staying active by swimming, weight lifting and hiking. On any day, she cherishes any time she can spend with her friends, family and animals.
Dr. Danielle Palatt is a native New Yorker who received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Emory University in 2004. After beginning her career in public relations in Manhattan, she decided to pursue her passion for veterinary medicine and earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from St. George’s University in 2011.
Following graduation, Dr. Palatt completed a one-year rotating internship in Emergency, Surgery, and Internal Medicine at the Veterinary Emergency and Referral Group in Brooklyn. She then went on to practice at Vinegar Hill Veterinary Group in Brooklyn for nine years before relocating to Westchester.
Dr. Palatt now lives in Westchester with her husband, their two daughters, a dog, and two cats. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, playing tennis, and spending time with family and friends.
“We want our clients to experience the joy of the human-companion animal bond. It is our goal to provide the best possible veterinary care to our patients at all times and to make our clients an active part of the treatment team.”
In 1977, Dr. Gary Yarnell graduated from the distinguished New York State School of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University (Ithaca, NY), one of the nation’s most competitive; he was one of the school’s youngest ever graduates. Driven by his passion for the field, he was able to complete his undergraduate studies at Cornell in two-and-a-half years with a Bachelor of Science degree, and was then immediately accepted to its Veterinary College. As the culmination of his lifelong dream, Dr. Yarnell purchased what is now the Rye Harrison Veterinary Hospital from Dr. Howard Harmon in 1980. At the time, the practice consisted of one part-time and one full-time veterinarian, with a support staff of four. Building a reputation as a skilled and caring doctor, Dr. Yarnell was available to his patients and their owners 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Since its very first year, the practice under Dr. Yarnell’s leadership experienced a rapid and sustained growth. Today it employs six veterinarians and a support staff of 28 individuals in a modern, state-of-the-art facility.
Ever since a standard poodle joined his family when he was a young boy growing up on Long Island, Dr. Yarnell had dreamed of becoming a vet. While he excelled academically, he also worked hard during summers and school vacations to acquire real hands-on work experience with animals, including cleaning cages at the local veterinary hospital, mucking out stalls and assisting equine vets at a horse farm, and even walking a pet goat through Central Park as part of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation’s Zoo Mobile. Dr. Yarnell and his wife Laurie, a journalist, have lived in Rye since 1981. They have two children – Nikki, an actor/singer and licensed massage therapist (nikkiyarnell.com and massagebynikkiyarnell.com) and Adam, a Brown University graduate who is serving in the Peace Corps in Panama. Fortunately, Gracie, their yellow Lab, and Chloe, their equally adorable rescue dog from Tennessee, keep their nest from ever feeling empty.
Located off of Exit 19 on I-95 (New England Thruway) between Theodore Fremd Ave and Maple Ave.
Phone: 914-921-2000
If you are experiencing an emergency after hours, please call us at 914-921-2000 and you will be directed to the after hours support.
