BluePearl Pet Hospital
Maitland, FL
Our Vets

Dr. Sidney Bannister is a resident in our internal medicine service. She is particularly interested in diabetic ketoacidosis, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, and immune-mediated thrombocytopenia.

• Internship, Small Animal Internal Medicine, VCA Animal Specialty Group, Los Angeles, CA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Carolina Veterinary Specialists, Charlotte, NC
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Tuskegee University, AL
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Dr. Bannister loves to go hiking, especially with her two dogs, Dixie and Pyper. She also enjoys cooking and cuddling with her two cats, Raymond and Joey.

Dr. David Birchler is a small animal medicine & surgery intern with a strong interest in dermatology. He is passionate about the human-animal bond and is Fear Free certified.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg
• Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
• Bachelor of Arts, Physics, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA

Dr. Birchler enjoys matching wits with his mischievous beagle mix, Freckles, and playing board games.

Dr. Theresa Blakey is a resident in our neurology service. She has special interests in spinal surgery and managing seizure disorders.

• Internship, Neurology, BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital, Maitland, FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery Auburn University, AL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Outside of work, Dr. Blakey enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter doing outdoor activities, watching movies and making crafts. She has a dog named Chloe and a cat named Luna.

As a board-certified veterinary internist, Dr. Christina Chan is especially interested in endoscopy and gastroenterology.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, University of Memphis, TN

In her spare time, Dr. Chan enjoys reading, hiking and traveling.

Dr. Christina Cramer is professionally interested in soft tissue, emergency and laparoscopic procedures.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons-Small Animal
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, New England Animal Medical Center, West Bridgewater MA
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, New England Animal Medical Center, West Bridgewater MA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, New England Animal Medical Center, West Bridgewater MA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Smith College, Northampton MA

In her spare time, Dr. Cramer enjoys spending time at home with her husband, four dogs and three cats. She also enjoys paddle boarding, playing piano and practicing rugby.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiology
• Residency, Radiology, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville

Dr. Jean Frazho is experienced in all areas of veterinary surgery, and her special interests include cruciate repair, and reconstructive and soft tissue surgeries. She has performed many tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), brachycephalic correction, hernia repair, cancer resection and rectal surgeries.

Dr. Frazho enjoys a team-based approach to veterinary care. She often incorporates physical therapy, internal medicine, radiation oncology and medical oncology services into her care plans to provide less invasive treatment options for patients. She has completed advanced training in laparoscopy, arthroscopy and oral surgery.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons-SA
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, Affiliated Veterinary Specialists, Maitland, FL
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, Affiliated Veterinary Specialists, Maitland, FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Garden State Veterinary Specialists, Tinton Falls, NJ
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Frazho appreciates the wonderful city of Orlando and nearby beaches. Her cat named Patty wakes her up for breakfast just before the alarm clock is set to ring.

Dr. Jennifer Freeman has over a decade of experience practicing traditional Chinese veterinary medicine. She integrates acupuncture and herbals with physical rehabilitation, internal medicine and oncology treatment plans to promote the best outcomes for her patients. She is particularly interested in geriatric medicine and giving senior pets and their owners more quality time together.

• Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist, Canine Rehabilitation Institute, Coral Springs, FL
• Certified Veterinary Chinese Herbalist, Chi Institute of Chinese Medicine, Reddick, FL
• Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Chi Institute of Chinese Medicine, Reddick, FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Bachelor of Science, Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville

Dr. Freeman spends a lot of her free time with her horse, Caesar. She and Caesar have competed in dressage for over nine years. She also has two dogs, Luna, a Brittany and Ziva, a pit bull.

Dr. Teresa Goodson treats cancer in pets with improving quality of life as her primary goal. She uses conventional chemotherapy, immunotherapy, metronomic chemotherapy and palliative measures to ensure her patients have as many good days as possible. She is particularly interested in lymphoma, mast cell tumor, hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma and melanoma cases.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Affiliated Veterinary Specialists, Maitland, FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Outside of work, Dr. Goodson enjoys reading, traveling and gardening. Her Pomeranian, Birdie Rose, rules her house and her heart.

As an experienced veterinary neurologist, Dr. Kara Knight has trained many interns and residents. Her special interests in neurology are meningitis, encephalitis and seizures. She also enjoys neurosurgery cases that involve IVDD, fractures and luxations. A fun fact about Dr. Knight? She’s performed spinal surgery on several otters.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology)
• Residency, Neurology, Affiliated Veterinary Specialists, Maitland, FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Maitland, FL
• Clinical Rotation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Wildlife Management, The Ohio State University, Columbus

In her spare time, Dr. Knight enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with her Australian shepherd, Cutter, and cat, Hondo.

Dr. Kristin Olsen’s special interests include infectious and immune-mediated diseases, as well as feline medicine.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Affiliated Veterinary Specialists, Maitland, FL
• Internship, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Affiliated Veterinary Specialists, Maitland, FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Affiliated Veterinary Specialists, Maitland, FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville

As a resident in our internal medicine service, Dr. Karina Payerhin is interested in GI disease, immune-mediated diseases, and chronic kidney disease.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Coral Springs Animal Hospital, FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg
• Bachelor of Arts, Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville

In her spare time, Dr. Payerhin enjoys kayaking, sailing, attending concerts, dancing, and traveling. She has two cats named Maya and Juni.

Dr. Mariana Quina’s professional interests include surgical oncology and wound management. She specializes in soft tissue surgery.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons-SA
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, Affiliated Veterinary Specialists, Maitland FL
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, Affiliated Veterinary Specialists, Maitland FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Angell Medical Center, Boston MA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, Medford MA
• Bachelor of Arts, Mathematics, Wellesley College, MA

Dr. Quina and her husband share their home with a dog and two cats. Outside of work, she enjoys running, photography and scuba diving.

Publications & Articles

Dr. Brittany Sanders is an intern in our surgery service. She is particularly interested in soft tissue surgical procedures such as reconstructive flaps.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital, Cary, NC
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Dr. Sanders has a pit bull, Renly, and enjoys rock wall climbing, running, cooking, and hiking.

As a resident in our surgery service, Dr. Jackson Sanders is particularly interested in orthopedic disease, including fractures, arthritis, minimally invasive surgery, and total joint replacement.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Georgia, Athens

Dr. Sanders loves spending time with his fiancée and their dogs and cats. When he’s not at the hospital, he enjoys camping, hiking, reading, or playing sports – especially golf and disc golf.

Dr. Pamela Smyth has many years of experience performing upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy and bronchoscopy procedures. She is particularly interested in GI diseases, immune-mediated diseases and endoscopies.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Affiliated Veterinary Specialists, Maitland FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Clinic, PA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Pennsylvania State University, State College

In her spare time, Dr. Smyth enjoys traveling, running and finding moments of peace and quiet. She likes spending time with the two- and four-legged members of her home, which include two children, a cranky geriatric Italian greyhound, the “world’s best” Florida brown dog, a cantankerous tabby cat and a one-eyed cat.

Dr. Tara Starek is interested in all aspects of emergency medicine, but finds Addison’s disease and diabetic ketoacidosis particularly gratifying to treat.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Angell Animal Medical Center, Boston, MA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando

Dr. Starek is a foodie and loves to explore fun restaurants. Her pets include her chihuahua mix, Nugget, and cats, Peter and Piper.

Dr. Amy Stark is dedicated to helping clients understand the medical and surgical interventions available for their pets’ specific conditions, so they can make informed decisions.
As a clinician in the neurology department, Dr. Stark is particularly interested in the role of physical therapy in maximizing postoperative recovery for patients with spinal cord injuries. She also enjoys cases involving the management of seizures or inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) disease.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology)
• Residency, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• Internship, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Affiliated Veterinary Specialists, Maitland, FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
• Bachelor of Science, Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Outside of work, Dr. Stark and her wife enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking. They have a corgi, Harrison, and a domestic longhaired cat, Madison.

Publications & Articles

Dr. Teiko Takedai is a resident in our surgical service. She is particularly interested in orthopedic, emergency soft tissue and minimally invasive procedures.

• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital, Maitland, FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Long Island Veterinary Specialists, Plainview, NY
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, The Animal Medical Center, New York City, NY
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Missouri, Columbia

Outside of work, Dr. Takedai enjoys spending time with family and friends and exploring new Florida parks and restaurants.

Dr. Cheryl Tano has over 20 years of experience in veterinary surgery and she primarily performs orthopedic procedures. She also serves on the board of directors of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society. Her special interests include TPLO and TTA surgeries for cranial cruciate ligament disease, arthroscopy and fracture repair.

• Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist, Canine Rehabilitation Institute, Wellington, FL
• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
• Residency, Veterinary Surgery, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
• Doctor of Veterinary Science, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Trenton State College, NJ

Dr. Tano and her wife, who is also a veterinarian, have four dogs. She is passionate about running and has completed several full and half marathons, as well as Ironman and shorter distance triathlons.

Dr. Jenny Taylor is a resident in our internal medicine service. She is most interested in minimally invasive procedures and advanced imaging, including ultrasound.

• Internship, Small Animal Internal Medicine, BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital, Maitland, FL
• Internship, Small Animal Internal Medicine, VCA Veterinary Care Animal Hospital and Referral Center, Albuquerque, NM
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA Veterinary Care Animal Hospital and Referral Center, Albuquerque, NM
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens
• Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Dr. Taylor enjoys cooking and baking, reading, theater and improv, ballroom and Latin dancing and spending time with her cats, Oscar the Grouch and Felix, who have moved with her across the country many times.

Dr. Katelyn Walraven finds minimally invasive procedures including laparoscopic gastropexy, liver biopsies and cholecystectomies the most gratifying to perform. She is also interested in managing trauma causes and fracture repair.

• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Services, Rochester, NY
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Services, Rochester, NY
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, Veterinary Specialty Hospital, San Diego, CA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, The Animal Medical Center, New York, NY
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, The College of New Jersey, Ewing

Dr. Walraven enjoys kayaking and paddle boarding and is looking forward to getting SCUBA certified. At home, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two cats, chihuahua and chiweenie.

Dr. Sara Wilkes is a resident in our internal medicine service. Her clinical interests include acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) and Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Denison University, Granville, OH

Dr. Wilkes enjoys watching movies with her cat, Gabby, and exploring the great outdoors.

Publications & Articles