Dr. Carly Gerhardt earned both her undergraduate degree and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University, where she developed a strong interest in emergency and critical care medicine. After graduation, she moved to California’s Central Coast at the encouragement of her brother, who convinced her to trade Michigan winters for beach days. She later practiced at a large multispecialty hospital in Los Angeles before returning to the Central Coast to be closer to her fiancé, whose family has been ranching in Paso Robles for five generations.
As a small animal emergency veterinarian, Dr. Gerhardt is passionate about the collaborative environment of specialty hospitals. She is an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society. Her professional philosophy centers on evidence-based medicine, teamwork, and shared decision-making with families to ensure every pet receives the best possible care.
Outside the hospital, Dr. Gerhardt enjoys camping, beach walks, horseback riding, working on the family ranch, and restoring her 1970 Jeep CJ5. She and her fiancé share their home with two dogs—Ollie, a pittie and Labrador mix, and Hershel, a Great Dane mix—along with a cat named NoNo.
Dr. Gerhardt is proud to join Cerro Alto Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital and looks forward to serving families as part of the region’s first specialty and emergency clinic.