Our Team

Dr. Samuel Rivera

Utah Veterinary Hospital was founded in 2015, is owned and operated by our veterinarian, Samuel Rivera, BS, DVM, GPC (SAS), PgC (SAS). Dr. Rivera was born in Durango, México, and grew up in Riverside, California. He attended the University of California, Davis, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Animal Science, with an emphasis in Captive and Companion Animals, in 2004. He then attended veterinary school at Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, and graduated with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree in 2009. Most recently, Dr. Rivera successfully earned a General Practitioner Certificate in Small Animal Surgery [GPC (SAS)] from the International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies, in 2025. Concurrently, Dr. Rivera completed a Post-Graduate Certificate program in Small Animal Surgery, and was awarded his PgC (SAS) certificate in March, 2026, from Harper Adams University. Dr. Rivera has a well-rounded résumé with over 17 years of experience with small and exotic animals in corporate and private hospitals, high- and low-cost clinics, animal shelter medicine, relief veterinary care, and private practice ownership. Now, he has settled down to provide the best quality veterinary medicine and surgery at Utah Veterinary Hospital, in American Fork, UT.

Currently, Dr. Samuel Rivera practices exotic animal medicine, small animal endoscopy, and orthopedic surgeries, in addition to his extensive small animal medical and surgical offerings. He has additional training in the following advanced areas: Proper Dental Prophylaxis and Surgical Dental Extractions (2008, 2010); Ophthalmology Corrective Surgical Procedures (2010); General Soft Tissue and Respiratory Corrective Surgery (2010, 2011); Canine & Feline Endocrine Diseases (2013-2014, 2019); Fracture Repair in Toy Breed Dogs & Cats (2018); Principles of Fracture Repair (2019); SOP for Fracture Repair, MMP Progression of TTA Procedure for Canine Cruciate Repair, and RidgeStop Patellar Luxation Repair Technique (2019). Recently Dr. Rivera started training on advanced ultrasonography and endoscopy and will be finished with his courses in September of 2027. In the near future, Dr. Rivera will be training in TPLO orthopedic surgery for correction of cranial cruciate ligament disease, ultrasonography, and endoscopy to broaden his medical and surgical skills.

Dr. Samuel Rivera is married to his wife, Elizabeth Jean, and is father to Samuel James, Sadie Jayne, and Sawyer Jack. He has his companion dog, a yellow lab named Sally. He enjoys veterinary medicine, wellness and preventative medicine, and veterinary surgery, with a strong interest and experience in wound care management and orthopedic surgery. His hobbies include exercise, fishing, snowboarding, Koi pond care, and spending time with his family. He is also a big LAKERS fan, and loves watching the Olympics and World Cup sports (fútbol and basketball). Dr. Rivera and his family are planning and preparing to rescue and adopt a Utah Desert Tortoise from the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources, to join their family soon!