Meet Our Doctors


Dr. Nicoleta Popescu in a white lab coat with a stethescope around her neck.

Dr. Nicoleta Popescu

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Nicoleta Popescu with a tiny black and white kitty who puts his paw on her nose. Dr. Nicoleta Popescu sitting on the floor, smiling and hugging a large black Newfoundland dog.

Dr. Nicoleta Popescu was born in Romania into a family of teachers. She inherited her great love of animals from her father who taught veterinary medicine for 50 years and the love of teaching from her mother who taught children to read and write for 40 years. So very naturally, after completing veterinary school Dr. Popescu continued to work in the same University teaching veterinary students microscopic anatomy.

In 1997, Dr. Popescu met her husband Sorin and settled permanently in the United States. She worked as a veterinary technician, completed an additional year of veterinary school at University of Columbia Missouri, and then furthered her knowledge and skills through an internship at Animal Specialty Group in Glendale. Following the veterinary internship, Dr. Popescu worked relief at 15 different hospitals around Los Angeles and volunteered at multiple spay and neuter clinics. Finally she settled into a long-term position in La Crescenta at a prestigious animal hospital where she worked for 9 years as a dedicated full-time veterinarian.

It has always been Dr. Popescu's dream to have her own practice and when Dr. Duane Erickson decided to retire in April 2011, she got just that opportunity here at Nordhoff. Dr. Popescu brings more than a mastery of modern veterinary medicine to Chatsworth and the surrounding communities; she cares for the residents and their furry families a great deal! She is a compassionate communicator and a consummate animal lover.

When not taking care of our pets, Dr. Popescu likes to spend time with her husband, their daughter, and their tuxedo cat Sam and standard poodle Daisy. She also greatly enjoys cooking and loves to work outdoors around the garden at her home nearby.


Dr. Lucy Cohen hugs a gray and white cat and smiles at the camera.

Dr. Lucy Cohen

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Cohen was born in San Francisco and raised in Woodland Hills. She started working in various veterinary practices at the age of sixteen, and worked as an assistant horse trainer until entering veterinary school.

After graduating from the Atlantic veterinary college on Prince Edward Island, Canada, she decided to never again live where the ocean can freeze solid. Instead, she moved to Coos Bay, Oregon where she treated dogs and cats on both a preventative and urgent care basis. Deciding that Oregon was still too cold, she decided to pack up and move back home where “freezing weather” actually means sixty degrees and cloudy.

Dr. Cohen has a strong interest in geriatric medicine, ophthalmology, internal medicine, soft tissue surgery and acupuncture. She is certified to perform acupuncture by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS). In her spare time, Dr Cohen enjoys hiking, swimming in the ocean and practicing Shotokan Karate.

Contact Us

21624 Nordhoff St
Chatsworth, CA 91311
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Our Hours

Mon - Fri - 8:00 - 6:00
Sat - 8:00 - 4:00
Sun - Closed

Appointment Policy

To allow ample time for all patients and scheduled surgical procedures, we operate by appointment only.

If we do not have the capability to treat your pet in a timely manner we may refer you to a local emergency hospital.

Payment Policy

We require full payment at the time that services are rendered. For your convenience, we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, cash, and CareCredit.

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After Hours

ACCESS Vets
(818) 887-2262
20051 Ventura Blvd
Woodland Hills, CA 91364

Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center
(805) 492-2436
2967 N Moorpark Rd
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360