Rock Creek Home Vet is dedicated to providing comprehensive and compassionate care to dogs and cats. As part of this commitment, both our doctors and our technicians have completed the Fear Free Certification program for veterinarians. This course has provided us with techniques to help reduce stress and anxiety for pets during veterinary visits. Both Dr. Tanouye and Dr. Kimberly have also completed Dr. Sophia Yin’s Low Stress Handling Course
Daphne Tanouye, VMD Owner/Veterinarian
Dr. Daphne Tanouye ( Daphne Downs ) grew up outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Women’s Studies from Smith College, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. After graduation, she lived in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire for one year. In the spring of 2005, she decided to move back to the city and headed to DC. For six years, she worked at Kindness Animal Hospital in Wheaton, MD.
In March 2012, Dr. Tanouye opened Rock Creek Home Vet. She loves seeing patients in a more relaxed environment and having the time to provide more individualized and personal care to both pets and their owners.
Dr. Tanouye is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Independent Veterinary Practitioners Association, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, the Feline Veterinary Medical Association, and the Veterinary Information Network. She is accredited by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and has special interests in preventative healthcare, dermatology, internal medicine, and the human-animal bond. Dr. Tanouye has completed the Fear Free Elite Certification and is working on becoming a certified Cat Friendly Veterinarian.
Dr. Tanouye lives in Maryland with her husband, Alex; their two sons; four sweet dogs: three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels: Calvin, Penny, and Gerald, and a Spinone Italiano named Lila; two cats named Kramer and Little Timmy (he’s British); and one Crested Gecko named Archeology Milton.
Emily Kimberly, VMD Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Kimberly grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. She graduated from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in 2003 and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. She spent one year doing emergency work in Arizona, then returned to the East Coast and has been in private practice since.
Dr. Kimberly is a member of the AVMA, is USDA Accredited, and has completed the Fear-Free Certification Program for Veterinarians. She enjoys preventative care and internal medicine cases, and the variety of different things you see and do in general practice. When she is not at work, she likes to explore DC and Maryland with her husband and 3 boys, and to practice yoga. She has a golden retriever mix and 2 cats at home.
Tara Wade began her veterinary career in 2012 in her home state of Maryland with an internship at a general practice animal hospital. Over the past decade, she has gained extensive experience working in private veterinary practices, combining her skills in both animal care and administrative support. Tara is Fear-Free Certified and is passionate about creating positive, low-stress experiences for patients and their owners. She finds the mobile veterinary experience particularly rewarding, as it allows for more personal, stress-reducing interactions and deeper client relationships.
Tara earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Resources at the University of Maryland Global Campus in 2025, graduating summa cum laude! She continues to grow professionally and aspires to expand her responsibilities within Rock Creek Home Vet.
Tara grew up surrounded by animals- including turtles, fish, hamsters, hermit crabs, chickens, cats, and dogs (not all at once)! Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her Mimi (grandmother), Tyler (boyfriend), and friends (both two-legged and four), hiking, traveling, paddleboarding, and exploring the great outdoors. She completed 30 national parks by the age of 30 in 2024, and is now working toward her bucket list goal of visiting all 63 U.S. National Parks before turning 63.
Alejandra UmanzorVeterinary Technician
Alejandra is a University of Maryland graduate with a degree in Animal Sciences. She became interested in veterinary medicine during her senior year of high school where she had the opportunity to intern at a small, general practice animal hospital where she met Tara. She was hired there following the end of her internship, and was with them for 7 years. During her last year with them, she branched out into emergency medicine and has since been working as an ER technician. When Tara reached out saying she needed help at RCHV, Ale did not hesitate to help and has enjoyed every appointment since! It is a nice “break” from the hustle and bustle of emergency medicine to ride around in the treat van and assist Drs. Tanouye and Kimberly in providing a low stress experience for the animals we see.
When she is not at either of her two jobs, Ale is relaxing with her very large family and her Havanese mix, Rambo. She loves exploring new restaurants with her husband and friends, and going to concerts for her favorite artists.
