Dr. Gostyla’s love of animals was evident early in her childhood. She grew up in a small town in Connecticut, across the street from cows and chickens and down the road from a fantastic frog and snake catching pond. In the neighborhood there was also a nature center where she volunteered feeding baby raccoons, raptors, and other wildlife. As a child, her family had dogs, cats, hamsters and guinea pigs.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Connecticut in 1997. In 2001, Dr. Gostyla was thrilled to be accepted at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and in 2005 she graduated with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and a Certificate in International Veterinary Medicine. During her veterinary education, she spent 6 weeks in Kenya studying parasites in wildlife. Although her medical training is imperative to her success in the veterinary field, her 15 years of experience working as a server at various restaurants, bars and comedy clubs has definitely allowed her to maintain her composure during stressful situations!

Dr. Gostyla has been practicing small animal veterinary medicine in Anne Arundel and Howard counties since 2005. She is Fear Free Certified and is also certified to take Penn-HIP radiographs to determine a pet’s risk of hip dysplasia. She has a special interest in dentistry and other surgeries and cherishes her client/patient relationships!

Dr. Gostyla lives in Annapolis with her son, Wyatt. She currently has 3 rescued pets, Great Dane, Enzo, a mixed breed dog, Mickle Pickle, and a cat, Lily Velvet. She loves to be outside and near the water. She is a certified Maryland Master Naturalist and also volunteers at the National Aquarium.

In her spare time, Dr. Gostyla enjoys cooking, running, paddleboarding, pickleball , and exploring in the woods. She is a huge fan of the Boston Red Sox. However, her favorite sporting team is her son’s ice hockey team, the Bowie Bruins.