Meet the team
Maria Wright, DVM
Education
Duke University 1998
University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine DVM 2003
Mid Atlantic Equine Medical Center, Ringoes, NJ Equine Internship 2004
Special Interests
Infectious Disease Control
Dentistry
Podiatry
Endocrine Disease Management
Dr. Wright is the founder of Alliance Equine Health Care, and was one of the original founding veterinarians of our predecessor practice, Brandywine Equine Veterinary Associates. She grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota. She started riding at a young age and soon was competing with her Quarter Horse in 4-H and regional western, hunter, and dressage shows. By high school she was competing successfully on the national AQHA circuit, and she achieved numerous high placings at the AQHA Youth World Championship Show and the Quarter Horse Congress. Dr. Wright has experience with a diverse range of equine breeds and disciplines which was gained through traveling around the country with her own horses during her years in college and veterinary school. Some of the highlights were training at an AQHA/NRHA Champion breeding and training facility, boarding at Canadian Equestrian Team member Harold Chopping’s farm in North Carolina, a Saddlebred show horse stable in Ohio, a Champion Morgan Horse breeding and training farm, and interning at a Standardbred racetrack in Ohio.
These days Dr. Wright divides her professional time between directly caring for her patients and working to improve our overall practice’s care of our patients and clients. She spends her down time caring for her own horses. Her other passions include gardening, playing the violin, and singing in a local choir. Her husband Robert, a neuroengineering research scientist, sometimes joins her during after hours emergency veterinary calls. Together they also enjoy hiking, camping, skiing, scuba diving, and rooting for the Duke basketball team!
Melissa Murphy
Client Care Team Lead
Melissa has recently returned to southeastern Pennsylvania, and is thrilled to be returning to the Pennsylvania equine community. She is a highly experienced in veterinary medicine, having spent most of her working career in the small animal veterinary field, and is an experienced veterinary practice manager. Melissa grew up riding horses and earned her degree from Delaware Valley University, where she was highly involved in their equine studies program. Horses are her true passion and she is very excited to be able to focus her veterinary skills to help our equine patients and their owners.
Jennifer Monroe
Client Care and Communications Specialist
Jennifer was born and raised in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She developed a great love for horses when she first started riding at age 6. As time went on she decided to pursue higher education in the equine field and graduated from Delaware Valley University in 2001 with a Bachelors of Science in Equine Business and Management, in addition to an associates degree in Equine Studies. After college, Jennifer started a family. As her children got older she knew she had to get back to her passion with horses. She worked at barns, teaching lessons to students and taking them to local shows. She currently owns a draft cross named Bayleigh who she rides for pleasure. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, going on hikes, and shopping.
Natalie Marks
Veterinary Assistant
Natalie grew up in Chester Springs and received the best Christmas present ever when she was 11 years old- a horse! She rode competitively for 4 years, and then for pleasure after that. She continued to grow her love for and knowledge of horses at Delaware Valley University, where she pursued a degree in Equine Science and Management. She worked at Pickering Valley Feed and Farm for 15 years and appreciated learning different aspects of horse and farm animal care. In her free time, Natalie enjoys going to the gym and competing in bodybuilding events! She also has a small zoo at home, consisting of 2 dogs, 2 cats, 3 rats, 2 chickens, 8 birds, and her 6 year old son, Andrew.
Desiree Stoltzfus
Veterinary Assistant
Desiree grew up in the heart of Chester County horse country, participating with her grandfather in fox hunting with the Cheshire Foxhounds. She worked as an exercise rider in a local steeplechase/fox hunting stable and competed in steeplechases and hunter/jumper events herself during high school. Desiree then set aside her passion for horses for 16 years in order to focus on her family, raising two fantastic kids!
Horses are once again a huge part of Desiree’s life. She and her family currently own two Thoroughbreds and two miniature horses, as well as a menagerie of other animals. She competes in local hunter/jumper competitions with her Thoroughbred, and fun miniature horse shows with her minis. Desiree is also a great humanitarian- her philanthropic activities include volunteering with local aid organizations and frequent mission trips to Guatemala. She joined Alliance Equine in 2013, and her compassionate spirit and love for animals make her a great member of our team!
