Dr. Julia Mykins, DVM

Dr. Mykins joined the VNIOC team in July 2026 as part of the imaging anesthesia team. After receiving her undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech, she received her DVM at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. 

Dr. Mykins worked for three years as an associate veterinarian. “I realized that what I loved most about what I was doing was the anesthesia, pain management and surgery side of things,” she explains. “When I saw the job posting for VNIoC, it sounded like just what I was looking for. My passion has always been quality of life and making sure that the patients are being kept pain-free and fear-free. That's why I love anesthesia: because you get to prioritize making sure your patients are comfortable. My approach to medicine is ‘Is the patient comfortable? Is this the best choice for them? Are we able to do it safely and in a way that's going to get them the best outcome?”

Dr. Mykins and her  husband, a data scientist, married in 2019 and are expecting their first child in January 2027. They have seven animals (“a full zoo!”)–two dogs, three cats and two guinea pigs. The couple loves Broadway shows, traveling and being outdoors, whether hiking, paddleboarding or doing other things on the water. They enjoy living in Maryland since within an hour, they can be in the mountains or on the beach.