Dr. Nicholas Oakley BSc, DVM
Medical Director
About Dr. Oakley
Dr. Oakley grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science with a specialization in life sciences in 2012 from the University of Prince Edward Island. He then went on to graduate with distinction, earning his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2016 from the Atlantic Veterinary College, located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
When Dr. Oakley isn’t at the clinic, he is busy exploring all that New Jersey has to offer with his wife, two children and his pug. Dr. Oakley loves to travel, enjoys cooking and hopes to someday have at least 15 pugs.
Dr. Oakley has a strong interest in internal medicine, ultrasonography and emergency medicine. Dr. Oakley is not only passionate about canine and feline medicine, but also enjoys working with some of the other animals less frequently seen at the veterinary clinic. This includes but is not limited to, reptiles, birds, skunks, rabbits, rodents and all the other furry little pocket pets. Dr. Oakley even makes house calls to assist with backyard chicken flocks in the area.
Dr. Christine Newman, DVM
Veterinarian
About Dr. Newman
Dr. Christine Newman knew she wanted to be a veterinarian since she was 11 years old, when her mother suggested it might be a less dangerous alternative to the police detective career she was intending to pursue.
Dr. Newman received her undergraduate degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, in 1984, and her veterinary degree from Purdue in 1987. She returned to New Jersey and worked as an associate veterinarian at a local veterinary hospital after graduation. In 1991, Dr. Newman purchased Harlingen Veterinary Clinic which was originally located in the strip mall one mile north of the present location.
The Belle Mead area was growing rapidly and Harlingen was growing as well. In 1995, the property at the corner of Sunset Road and Route 206 was purchased and the four-year legal odyssey to be allowed to build the clinic began. The clinic moved to its current location in July 2000. The clinic has continued to grow. Several wonderful associates, technicians, and receptionists have joined Dr. Newman and four original staff members. She feels blessed to be part of such a caring staff and the local community that they serve.
When not at the clinic, Dr. Newman is pretty much obsessed with riding her bicycle and particularly with randoneurring, the sport of organized, long-distance cycling. She has completed several 200K, 300K, 400K, 600K, and one 1,000K brevets and finished Paris-Brest-Paris, the 1,200K brevet held in France every four years, in 2011. When she is not pedaling off somewhere, she enjoys hiking with her dogs and spending summer weekends at the Jersey shore with family and friends. Dr. Newman shares her home with Eileen, her partner of more than 25 years, and their current menagerie, which includes Albert and Squirt, the dogs, and Beacon, Earl, Elizabeth, and Diablo, the cats.
Dr. Monica Smetts, VMD
Veterinarian
About Dr. Smetts
Dr. Monica Smetts is originally from coastal New Jersey. Her love of animals and interest in medicine led her down the path of becoming a veterinarian.
Dr. Smetts received her Bachelors in Animal Science from Rutgers University and went on to the University of Pennsylvania to complete her VMD (Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris which is Latin for Veterinary Medical Degree).
Dr. Smetts’ interests include dermatology, preventative medicine, and internal medicine. In her free time, Dr. Smetts loves traveling to different countries, hiking, trying new restaurants, and going to the beach. Dr. Smetts currently resides in Flemington with her husband, their son, their lovable lab mix, Sakura (aka Kora), and their fluffy feline, Boris.
Dr. Keith Schneider, DVM
Veterinarian
About Dr. Schneider
Dr. Schneider is a New Jersey native who received his undergraduate degree at Centenary University in Hackettstown NJ where he Majored in Biology and minored in Mathematics. He then went on to receive his degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Schneider has an extensive background in private, non-profit, and research industries. His personal interests are in diagnostic imaging, surgery, and internal medicine. Outside of work he enjoys spending his free time outdoors, has an interest in traditional archery, and loves playing with his yellow labs Rooster and Jessie.
Dr Rebecca Aguilar, DVM
Veterinarian
About Dr. Aguilar
Dr Iris Schneider, DVM
Veterinarian
About Dr. Schneider
Dr. Iris Schneider joined the Harlingen Veterinary Clinic team in 2023. As a graduate of veterinary medicine from the University of Glasgow and a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, she has a diverse background working in various countries with different species. Although her focus is caring for cats and dogs, she has volunteered in zoos and wildlife preserves in California, completed surgical training programs in India and Thailand, and has rehabilitated retired racehorses in England. She has a strong interest in Neurology, Internal Medicine, and Surgery. She is originally from California, but after spending five years studying abroad she decided to set down roots in New Jersey with her husband. Her personal hobbies include hiking, archery, cooking, travelling, and reading.