Our Veterinarians
Dr. Sanam Sean Maniar, DVM
Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and raised in Old Bridge, NJ, Dr. Sanam Sean Maniar attended Rutgers University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. After completing one and a half years of law school at Case Western Reserve University College of Law, he realized his passions were in medicine and walked away from the legal field. Following his departure from CWRU, Dr. Maniar enrolled at The Ohio State University to complete course work in the sciences and pursued a minor in Chemistry. Simulatenously, he began volunteering in the Veterinary Department of Capitol Area Humane Society in Columbus, OH. Shortly after he sought and gained admission to The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. While attaining his veterinary degree he continued to support the shelter community by working at the Capitol Area Humane Society Veterinary Department and as a Humane Investigator for the same organization. He graduated with special recognition bestowed upon him by his classmates and professors for his service to the shelter community. He also received honors for achievements in the Emergency Medicine and Critical Care Department, which remains a professional interest for Dr. Maniar today.
As a co-owner and general practitioner at Rockaway Animal Hospital, Dr. Maniar’s other areas of professional interest aside from Emergency Medicine are Internal Medicine and pain management. Prior to coming to Rockaway, he was employed at Hoboken Animal Hospital, a large family practice in Hoboken, NJ.
During his leisure time, Dr. Maniar enjoys running, training for marathons, and going wine tasting.
The Maniars currently reside with their four kids: Savannah, Sawyer, Sabian and Sonia alongside their four pets: Blue the labrador retriever , Bear the chocolate retriever , Peanut the yorkshire terrir and Sparkle their cat.
Dr. Erin Gannon Maniar, DVM
Born in Queens, NY and raised in Old Bridge, NJ, Dr. Gannon knew from an early age that she wanted to be a veterinarian. She attended Cook College at Rutgers University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. After graduation she moved out to Columbus, Ohio to attend The Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.
After attaining her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Gannon began her career working at Village Gate Animal Hospital and Pet Resort, a Family Practice in Columbus. At this hospital she had the pleasure of working with several rescue groups including Ohio Pug Rescue, Golden Endings Golden Retriever Rescue, Lucky Chin Japanese Chin Rescue, Hand Me Down Dobermans, Cat Welfare, and Pet Promise. After moving back to New Jersey with her husband, she began working as a full-time emergency veterinarian at Harmony Animal Hospital in Harmony, NJ. While she found this work extremely enjoyable, she missed the close bonds that she had made with her regular clientele and with her husband began the search to find a practice they could work at together. Her areas of professional interest include Soft Tissue Surgery, Dermatology, Critical Care, and pain management/hospice care.
Dr. Erin Gannon Maniar is married to Dr. Sanam Sean Maniar, co-owner and a general practitioner at Rockaway Animal Hospital. During her leisure time, Dr. Gannon enjoys drawing, reading novels, hiking, and going wine tasting with her husband.
The Maniars currently reside with their four kids: Savannah, Sawyer, Sabian and Sonia alongside their four pets: Blue the labrador retriever , Bear the chocolate retriever , Peanut the yorkshire terrir and Sparkle their cat.
Dr. Ann Ascot, DVM
Dr. Ann Ascot was born and raised in New Jersey. She graduated with honors at Salisbury University and received her doctorate in veterinary medicine from The Ohio State University. After practicing in Basking Ridge, NJ she moved to Mt Olive and joined the Rockaway Animal Hospital team in 2019.
Her professional interests include preventative medicine, internal medicine, dermatology and management of chronic pain. Dr Ascot states that the most satisfying part of being a veterinarian is helping young pets grow into healthy adults. She treats every patient with tremendous care and compassion as she would her own pets .
Dr. Ascot and her fiance have rescued 2 cats ( Bob and Bruce) and 2 dogs ( Hope and Horton) that they cherish and spoil rotten. In her spare time, Dr. Ascot enjoys skiing hiking, water sports on Lake Hopatcong , board games and playing tennis and intramural soccer alongside her fiance.
Dr. Rachel Kahn, VMD
Having been born in Denville, NJ and raised in Rockaway, NJ, Dr. Rachel Friedberger Kahn is so happy to be serving the community she has known her whole life. Prior to her veterinary career, Dr. Kahn was an accomplished musician. In high school and throughout college she performed at Carnegie Hall a total of 8 times both as soloist and as part of a larger orchestra. She graduated from Montclair State University with two Bachelors of Music degrees, Once in Music Education and one in Flute Performance. The day after graduation, she returned to school to complete a post baccalaureate program for pre-medical sciences at William Paterson University. From there, she gained acceptance to the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Kahn began her veterinary career as a child shadowing a family friends clinic in Virginia. When she became more determined to enter the veterinary field, she sought even more experience, and ended up being a hired kennel assistant at Rockaway Animal Hospital. Over years of work and learning on the job, she moved to being a veterinary technician. Dr. Kahn will forever be grateful to Drs. Maniar and Gannon for their continual support throughout the various stated of her career. Her areas of professional interest include clinical pathology, hospice care, and emergency medicine.Dr. Kahn currently resides in Wharton, NJ with her husband and their two cats, Luna and Toothless. During her leisure time, she loves playing the flute, board game nights, and ( would she even work here if she didn't include this? ) going wine tasting.
Dr. Michael Bednar, DVM
Having been born in Denville and proudly raised in Boonton. Dr. Bednar recieved his Bachelor's Degree from Montclair State University and went to earn his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee Univeristy School Of Veterinary Medicine in 2007.
He brings to Rockaway Animal Hospital his previous diverse experiences,most recently, as an associate veterinarian in Oakland, NJ and East Hartford ,CT. Earlier, Dr. Bednar had the privilege to be the inaugural Director of Animal Medicine at the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation in Bloomfiled, CT and proudly served as a Captain in the United States Army Veterinary Corps. Additionally, Dr. Bednar served nine years in the New Jersey National Guard, including three years active service.
Dr. Bednar has recieved special training in international veterinary medicineand in regenerative stem cell therapy. His proffessional interests include internal medicine, animal reproduction, alternative medicine and herbal medicine. He is a member of the Human Animal Bond Association, the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association, the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs and American MENSA.
He enjoys his free time fishing,hiking,camping and enjoying a smooth glass of bourbon. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Leslie and they are the proud parents of a human son, Michael, Golden Retrievers, Ginger an Brew , their cat, Georgia, and two leopard geckoes, Leo and Britt.
Dr. Bednar integrates his education, diverse background and enthusiasm to provide the best veterinary medicine and philosophy of promoting and serving the human- animal bond and is honored to call this his profession.
Our Management Team
Mrs. Katherine Ortiz, Office Manager
Born in Ecuador and moved to New Jersey at the young age of 5 years old.
Katherine "Kat" grew up loving all animals and was always intrigued in being part of the Veterinary Field. She decided to pursue that passion and started working for Rockaway Animal Hospital in 2014 as a one of our receptionists and volunteering in the kennel department, within record timing she became our Front Desk Manager and has now been our Office Manager for the past six years.
She is fluent in English and Spanish and has her Veterinary Assistant and Bookkeeping Certificate through Penn Foster. She was elected as the 'Trupanion Go To Representative' for Morris County and attended the Seattle conference in 2019. She continues expanding her knowledge in veterinary management as a member of the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association and is currently pursuing her CVPM certification at Patterson Veterinary University. She takes pride in helping facilitate all needs for Rockaway Animal Hospital and is dedicated to continue to help the hospital, it's clients and staff grow and flourish !
Kat currently resides in Dover NJ with her husband Hector, their 2 daughters Ariana and Amaiya, their adopted dogs, Dutch the pitbull and Gomer the frenchie, alongside their bearded dragon, Stewie. During her leisure time she enjoys spending time with her family, going on walks, and you guessed and beer tasting.
Ms. Ashley Graham, Hospital Manager
Ms. Jamie Karp, Floor Supervisor
Mrs. Shanna Flores, Front Desk Manager
Ms. Alyssa Lopez, VA Lead