Leila Marcucci, DVM, DABVP (Avian) – Owner, Veterinarian
…is an experienced avian veterinarian with a strong special interest in rabbit and rodent (guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters, rats…) medicine. Since joining BABEH in 2005, she has helped to expand this growing area of our practice. In 2014, Dr. Marcucci became the sole owner of Bay Area Bird & Exotics Hospital.
Dr. Marcucci is a 2004 graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois. She is a San Francisco native and in the past has served as the Vice President and Secretary of the SF Veterinary Medical Association.
Current Associations:
Alexus Johnson
Veterinary Assistant
Read Alexus's Bio!
Alexus Johnson is a Veterinary Assistant at Bay Area Bird and Exotics Hospital, where she began working in August 2025. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, she moved to San Francisco in 2018 and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from San Francisco State University. She brings a strong academic background and several years of hands-on experience in the veterinary field.
Alexus began her career in 2019 as a receptionist at a veterinary hospital, where she discovered a passion for more hands-on patient care. She transitioned into a veterinary assistant role in 2020 and has since worked at various hospitals throughout San Francisco. Her experience includes overnight emergency care at a specialty hospital as well as working with exotic animals in an emergency setting. She especially enjoys meeting animals and learning what makes each one unique.
Alexus knew she was in the right profession the first time she helped a pet walk out of the hospital after arriving unable to do so. Moments like that continue to inspire her commitment to animal care and reinforce the impact of her work every day.
Paige N.
Veterinary Assistant
Read Paige's Bio!
Paige N. is a Veterinary Assistant at Bay Area Bird and Exotics Hospital, where she began working in December 2024. Originally from Michigan, she moved to San Francisco in 2024 after earning her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She brings a strong educational foundation and a deep appreciation for animal care to her role.
Paige knew she was in the right profession after experiencing the fulfillment that comes from watching an animal slowly heal and improve over time. Seeing that progress gives her an incredible sense of purpose and continues to inspire her work each day.
Outside of work, Paige enjoys running, gardening, spending time with friends, traveling to new places, and spoiling her pets.
Chelsea Carminito
Veterinary Assistant
Read Chelsea's Bio!
Chelsea joined Bay Area Bird & Exotics Hospital as a Veterinary Assistant in July 2026. She studied biology in college, conducting ecology research with California ground squirrels, before earning her Master’s in Animal Behavior and Welfare, where she studied social cognition in Goffin cockatoos. She then worked for a year at a 24/7 veterinary hospital in Sacramento as an emergency and inpatient veterinary assistant. Chelsea recently earned her PhD in Animal Behavior from the University of Cincinnati and is excited to be back home in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Outside of work, Chelsea enjoys knitting, backpacking, singing, and spending time with her two cockatiels, Limmy and Cleo.
Guin Borstel
Receptionist
Read Guin's Bio!
Guin is a third-generation San Francisco native and lifelong animal lover. After beginning her career in retail management, she became a Registered Veterinary Technician in the early 2000s. She worked in research at UCSF, where she gained her first significant experience with exotic species, before spending several happy years in small animal practice on the Peninsula. After a 25-year career in the beauty industry, Guin is delighted to be back in the veterinary world as a Receptionist at Bay Area Bird & Exotics Hospital.
Guin especially enjoys seeing the wonderful birds, reptiles, and small mammals who visit the hospital and meeting their dedicated owners. She has a particular fondness for rats, which are her favorite species outside of dogs.
Outside of work, Guin’s life revolves around her love of Whippets. Since welcoming her first Whippet in 1989, she has enjoyed racing, lure coursing, and showing. She serves as an officer in both her local and national Whippet associations and is also the Northern California Whippet rescue representative. Guin currently shares her home with three Whippets: Portia, Ava, and George.
Colleen Olson
Receptionist
Read Colleen's Bio!
Colleen Olson is a receptionist at Bay Area Bird and Exotics Hospital, where she began working in June 2025. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical and Veterinary Sciences from the University of New Hampshire. In 2024, she relocated to the Bay Area, bringing with her a lifelong passion for animals and a strong background in veterinary science.
Colleen’s love for animals began at a young age, starting as a hobby through horseback riding and working at a local barn. Over time, this evolved into pet sitting for friends and family, and eventually, into a dedicated career path during her college years. Inspired by her natural connection with animals and the camaraderie she found among her peers, she became committed to contributing to high-quality pet care. Her favorite part of working with animals is discovering each one’s unique personality.
She first realized she was in the right profession while working at her college’s state veterinary diagnostic lab. The opportunity to collaborate with and learn from veterinary professionals confirmed her desire to continue in the field.
Outside of work, Colleen enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, practicing yoga, reading, hiking, and skiing. Her lifelong passion for horses began at age eight, and she spent four years living on a dude ranch in Montana before moving to California. Colleen loves meeting new people, exploring new places, and is always in search of her next adventure.
