Dr. Rian Calugcugan

Medical Director

Dr. Rian Calugcugan (“Dr. Cal”) was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. He has strong family ties to Hawai’i and decided to move to Honolulu to pursue a B.A. in Biology and a B.A. in Philippine Literature and Language at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. After graduation, he stayed on the island to pursuit his veterinary career.  He worked as a veterinary technician at VCA Kaneohe and volunteered in his free time at the Honolulu Zoo Animal Clinic. Dr. Cal left the islands to earn his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Washington State University and graduated in May 2015. Go Cougs! After graduation, he moved to Phoenix and completed a small animal rotating internship in surgery and medicine at VCA Animal and Referral Center of Arizona.  He moved back to the Pacific Northwest to be an ER doctor but decided he missed the sunshine too much and moved back to Phoenix.  He loves being an ER doctor but enjoys general practice as well. His special interests include surgery, emergency & critical care, and wound repair. On his free days, Dr. Cal enjoys playing sand/indoor volleyball, hiking, and photography. He is an adrenaline junkie and loves anything that will get his heart pumping!   He lives with his partner Corey and their four dogs & cat: Kanani, Mia, Kukui, Maui, & Taylor.  

Dr. LaBarge

Veterinarian

Dr. Hannah LaBarge, grew up a proud resident of the northwest suburbs of Chicago, until moving to Arizona to pursue her career in veterinary medicine. She has seamlessly blended her passion for problem-solving and love for animals into a thriving five-year career in the veterinary field. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Materials Science and Engineering and valedictorian of her class at Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. LaBarge uniquely blends her engineering background with her medical expertise, allowing her to tackle complex medical cases with a distinct perspective. When not working, she enjoys pickleball, camping, exploring new restaurants, and delving into fantasy genre books. At home, she cherishes time with her two dogs, Kevin and Leo, and looks forward to adding a cat to her family sometime in the near future. Dr. LaBarge's journey is a remarkable blend of academic excellence, professional dedication, and personal passion for animal care. Desert Ark is thrilled to have her be a part of our tribe!