Our Doctors

Originally from Wisconsin, Dr. Sperka studied zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before veterinary school. She completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2003 from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. She subsequently completed a rotating veterinary internship in 2004 at Sacramento Animal Medical Group (now part of Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center) in Sacramento, California. She worked in several veterinary hospitals in the Sacramento area and spent the final 5 1/2 years in that area at a large 24-hour emergency and general practice facility in Elk Grove, CA. She is particularly fond of surgery, dentistry and medicine. Dr. Sperka lives in Reno with her family (both two and four legged) and enjoys spending time with them. She also enjoys hiking, backpacking, cooking, yoga, nordic skiing and music festivals. Dr. Sperka is thrilled to be joining the team at Sierra Pet Clinic. Dr. Sperka acquired Sierra Pet Clinic in March of 2013.

Dr. Swalander grew up in a small town in New Mexico and began working at the age of eleven as a kennel boy for the local veterinary clinic. He did his undergraduate work in biology and chemistry at New Mexico State University and later received his doctorate in veterinary medicine from Kansas State University. He served his internship with the West Los Angeles Veterinary Medical Group (the second largest private veterinary hospital in the world at the time). After practicing in Southern California for a few years, he and his wife, Larissa, moved to the Tahoe-Truckee area to raise their family. He owned a large referral hospital in the late 1990s and, during his surgical residency there, he trained under the world renowned critical care and surgical expert, Dr. D. T. Crowe. During this time he published papers in peer-reviewed journals on epidural catheterization and the use of surgical lasers. These papers are still cited in veterinary textbooks today. Upon selling that hospital, he practiced at North Lake Veterinary Clinic in Tahoe City for nine years before joining the staff of Sierra Pet Clinic. An avid fly fisher and skier, he has lived in the Truckee area for fifteen years and is deeply involved in the community. He holds a black belt in karate and has officiated AAU karate tournaments in California, Nevada, and Oregon (including the West Coast Junior Olympics). He also coaches football at Truckee High School, and wrestling at Alder Creek Middle School.

Dr. Ferrera received both her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from UC Davis. She completed her internship at California Animal Hospital, Inc. in Los Angeles and went on to practice emergency medicine for several years in the LA area. She returned to her roots in the Bay Area, where she practiced small animal medicine and surgery. She and her husband, Vic, moved to Truckee and she has been with Sierra Pet Clinic since 1996. She loves being her kids’ mom, and enjoys all the activities and beauty that our local area has to offer.

Dr. Garcia always knew he wanted to be a vet and in his early years had a strong interest in herpetology and wildlife. He completed his undergraduate degree in Animal Science at Cornell University and his Veterinary training at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After veterinary school Dr. Garcia completed a rotating internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine after which he moved to Hawaii and began his work as a small animal practitioner on Oahu. After 2 years in HI, Dr. Garcia returned home and began teaching elective surgery at his alma mater Michigan State. After a move to CA in 2004 he studied preventive veterinary medicine and pathology at UC Davis and again returned into private practice in 2009 in the Bay Area. With a desire to expand his knowledge in alternative medicine, Dr. Garcia acquired training in acupuncture at the Chi Institute in FL in 2012. Since then he has been practicing integrative and western medicine as a relief vet throughout CA. His personal interests include DJing, snowboarding, travel, and spending time with his best friend a 14 year pit/lab mix named Freshie.