BluePearl Pet Hospital
Tampa, FL

Dr. Samantha Aumann completed her internship and residency at the BluePearl Tampa hospital. Her clinical interests include emergency and critical care medicine and feline medicine and surgery.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
• Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of Georgia, Athens

Dr. Aumann likes to backpack, hike, kayak and watch movies with her husband. They have three cats: Zelda, Gypsy and Cricket.

Dr. Barbara Avalos Cavero is particularly interested in treating gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, endocrine disorders, toxicities and feline urinary tract diseases.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Virginia Beach VA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
• Bachelor of Science, Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan

In her spare time, Dr. Avalos Cavero enjoys exercising at the gym, salsa dancing, painting and traveling. She loves to spoil her dog, Koko Puff.

Dr. Terri Baldwin finds restoring vision through cataract removal surgery particularly rewarding. She also enjoys repairing eye injuries to save an eye, and diagnosing systemic disease by evaluating the eyes and helping to save an animal’s life.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists
• Master of Science, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Residency, Comparative Ophthalmology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN

Dr. Baldwin and her husband have two children, one of whom has autism, so she stays active as an autism advocate. She enjoys playing in the hand bell choir at her church, swimming, needlepoint and playing Sudoku. The family has four dogs and five cats.

Dr. Tony Blanco joined BluePearl to extend his formal training in veterinary medicine through a one-year specialty internship.

• Internship, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego, CA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital, Tampa FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station

Dr. Blanco spends time outside kayaking, cycling and playing tennis. He also enjoys horror shows or movies, cooking, and listening to music. Leia is his miniature Australian Shepherd who befriends everyone and gets all the attention.

Dr. Helga Bleyaert has extensive experience and specialized training in minimally invasive surgical procedures such as arthroscopy and laparoscopy. She also has completed specialized training in total hip replacement, Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy procedure for anterior cruciate ligament tears, as well as numerous other orthopedic and soft tissue procedures.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
• Residency, Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Marion DuPont Equine Center, Leesburg VA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Dr. Bleyaert enjoys horseback riding, boating and woodworking in her garage.

Dr. Maxie Bowen is a resident in our critical care service. Her particular interests include neonatal and pediatric medicine, wound management and trauma.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Georgia, Athens
• Bachelor of Arts, International Affairs, University of Georgia, Athens

Some of Dr. Bowen’s favorite pastimes include running, baking and crafting. She has four dogs and three cats.

Dr. Amanda Burke is a small animal medicine and surgery intern. Prior to vet school, she was a zookeeper and worked with many different species to include giraffes, ostriches, zebras, gazelles and red river hogs.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, AL
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh

Dr. Burke and her girlfriend keep a miniature zoo at home including dogs, cats, fish, snakes and a crested gecko.

Dr. Rebecca Cassidy brings her talents to our emergency medicine service. Her interests include avian and exotics, neurology and endocrine disorders.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital, Tampa FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg FL

Dr. Cassidy enjoys painting and drawing. She has three dogs, a leopard gecko and a snake.

Dr. Dana Clark is an emergency clinician. Her interests include zoo, exotic, and wildlife species and nutritional management.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital, Tampa FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Bachelor of Science, Zoology, Michigan State University, East Lansing

Dr. Clark and her husband share their home with a pit bull, five cats, a rabbit and a turtle. In her free time, Dr. Clark enjoys opportunities to observe wildlife and spend time outdoors.

Dr. Lauren Cochran’s research experience includes boxer colitis, pancreatitis, and nutritional management (including effects of esophageal feeding tube placement) in cats with chronic kidney disease. Her primary clinical interests include gastroenterology, renal and lower urinary tract disease and immune-mediated disease.

• Residency, Internal Medicine, Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego, CA
• Internship, Internal Medicine, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, AL
• Bachelor of Science, Agriculture, Biological Science & Animal Science, University of Georgia, Athens

Dr. Cochran enjoys riding horses, as well as traveling, hiking, biking, kayaking and cheering on Georgia and Auburn. Her mixed breed dog is named Tater.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Coral Springs Animal Hospital, FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, Grenada, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Alabama, Birmingham

Dr. Coyle manages a large caseload of pets with cancer, with the goal of extending their lives while providing a good quality of life.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology)
• Residency, Oncology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Internship, Oncology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Florida Veterinary Specialists, Tampa
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Bachelor of Science, Auburn University, Auburn AL

Dr. Coyle loves her all-orange family: a golden retriever named Murphy and two cats, Aubie and Ellie. She loves college football and is an avid Auburn fan.

Dr. Nadine Cross finds all aspects of emergency medicine rewarding. She especially enjoys working with feline patients.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville
• Bachelor of Science, Elmira College, NY
• Associate of Applied Science, Veterinary Technology, Alfred State College, NY

Dr. Cross admits her life is run by two very special tabby cats and a big fluffy mixed-breed dog. She enjoys spending her free time outdoors.

Dr. Trysta Dionne is a resident in our internal medicine service. Her clinical interests include endocrine disorders, renal disease and gastrointestinal diseases.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station

Dr. Dionne enjoys working out and going to the beach. She has a dog named Benson.

Dr. Dugger enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca NY
• Masters of Science, University of New Hampshire, Durham
• Bachelor of Arts, Graceland University, Lamoni IA

Dr. Dugger’s hobbies include spending time with her pugs, sailing and photography.

Dr. Sloane Everett is a resident in our cardiology service.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Missouri, Columbia
• Bachelor of Arts, Classics, University of Missouri, Columbia

Dr. Everett likes to cook, travel and spend time with friends. Her cat is named McLemore.

Dr. John Gicking enjoys all aspects of critical care medicine and can often be found training others and presenting continuing education to the veterinary community.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
• Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Bachelor of Science, University of South Florida, Tampa

Dr. Gicking enjoys K9 sports, including agility and obedience. He also spends time outdoors, scuba diving, and participating in competitive chili cooking.

Dr. Wendy Gwin enjoys all aspects of diagnostic imaging.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiology
• Residency, Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, University of Georgia, Athens
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Affiliated Veterinary Specialists, Maitland FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn AL

Dr. Gwin’s family includes four dogs named Pup, Dino, Siman and Jake. Her interests include exercising, music and art.

Dr. Chelsea Gyure enjoys the variety of cases, challenges, and fast-paced, organized chaos that is emergency veterinary medicine. She finds neurologic and toxicity cases to be particularly gratifying.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Coral Springs Animal Hospital, FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame IN

Dr. Gyure enjoys all types of outdoor exercise, traveling, singing in the shower, coloring, Netflix, cleaning, shopping and all things Disney. Her Dutch mix rabbit Beatrix is named after Beatrix Potter.

As a veterinary criticalist and cardiology resident, Dr. Bradley Harris is particularly interested in congestive heart failure, pericardial effusion, respiratory disorders, sepsis and coagulation disorders. He has pioneered pilot studies using a novel bedside viscoelastic coagulation monitors to better assess patients’ coagulation statuses in real time.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
• Residency, Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care, BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital, Tampa FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Tulsa, OK

Outside of work, Dr. Harris enjoys spending time with his young child. He likes to participate in outdoor activities like running, hiking, hunting and coaching youth cross country and track. He also watches baseball and cheers on the St. Louis Cardinals.

Dr. Peter Helmer came to BluePearl with almost 20 years of experience in both small animal and avian and exotics medicine. He lectures at national conferences on topics such as avian orthopedics, radiology and physical exam. His special interests include senior pet care, especially long-lived birds, orthopedics, surgery and treatment of rabbit and rodent dental disease. Dr. Helmer treats birds of all types, including backyard poultry; non-venomous reptiles; amphibians; and small non-domestic mammals such as rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, sugar gliders, hamsters and rats.

• Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Avian Practice)
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Ontario

Dr. Helmer’s home is filled with the kind of a menagerie of animals you might expect from an avian specialist: there is mixed breed dog Red, Shih Tzu Fergie, and cat Boots, plus a Derbyan parakeet named Big Bird and a yellow-naped Amazon parrot, Sonny, who is almost as old as Dr. Helmer is. His favorite pastimes include kayaking, fishing, growing orchids, cooking and enjoying fine wine.

Dr. Kelsey Human knew from the start of her veterinary career that she wanted to be a surgeon and finds it particularly gratifying. She has a strong interest in orthopedic and soft tissue procedures, postoperative pain management and physical rehabilitation.

• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital, Tampa FL
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, New York City
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, New York City
• Clinical Rotation, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, St Matthews University, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Dr. Human enjoys activities with her husband, especially training at the gym, rollerblading, watching documentaries and movies. Her relaxation time includes gardening and sewing. The family has two Bengal cats, Bonsai and Koi, and a wonderful tripod cat named Bento.

Dr. Anthony Ishak enjoys all aspects of cardiology and internal medicine.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology)
• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
• Residency, Internal Medicine, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• Master of Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Bachelor of Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville

Dr. Ishak’s family includes two dogs named Stanley and Pumba, and two cats named Ramses and Siptah.

Dr. Meghan Johnson is a resident in our critical care service. Her particular clinical interests include liver diseases, sepsis and trauma.

• Internship, Emergency & Critical Care, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA SouthPaws Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Center, Fairfax VA
• Certification in Veterinary Acupuncture, Chi Institute, Reddick, FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville
• Bachelor of Arts, Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley

Dr. Johnson enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and their two mutts. Her favorite pastimes include kayaking and exploring the city looking for quality caffeinated beverages and curry.

Dr. Megan Johnson's particular clinical interests include feline medicine, urethral obstructions, renal failure, trauma and shock.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, Tinton Falls NJ
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia PA

A diehard sports fan, Dr. Johnson’s favorite teams are the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Mets. Favorite activities include biking, running and working out on her elliptical. She and her husband have three cats: grumpy Siamese mix Caleb and two naughty orange kitties, William Alexander and JT.

Dr. Curtis Kane enjoys all aspects of oncology.

• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn AL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, Boston MA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville

Dr. Kane enjoys spending time with his family, which includes four dogs. He is also a soccer fanatic.

Dr. Tara Keaney is an emergency clinician. She is particularly interested in the role of ultrasound in an emergency setting.

• Clinical Rotation, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Stony Brook University, NY

The proud mom of rescued pup Zahra, Dr. Keaney is a fitness advocate and enjoys travel and going to the beach.

Dr. Michelle Kenig is a dedicated clinician and is especially interested in surgery and emergency & critical care.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital, Tampa FL
• Clinical Rotation, Tufts University, North Grafton MA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies

Dr. Kenig likes the outdoors, especially hiking or going to the beach. Other favorite pastimes include cooking, exploring new cities and cheering on the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team.

Dr. Kelly Kezer’s clinical interests include lymphoma, osteosarcoma and histiocytic sarcoma, and she is excited about new treatment options, to include targeted and combination therapy and immunotherapy.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology)
• Residency, Medical Oncology, Tufts University, North Grafton MA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Bachelor of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
• Bachelor of Arts, Economics, Haverford College, PA

Dr. Kezer enjoys traveling, cooking and hiking with her dogs – a golden retriever named Charlie and Eddie, a Labrador.

After veterinary school, Dr. Michael Kimura worked in his native Japan as a family veterinarian for two years. He enjoys all aspects of neurology.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology)
• Residency, Neurology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• Internship, Neurology, Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center, Dallas TX
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery University of Georgia, Athens
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• Bachelor of Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins

Dr. Kimura enjoys fresh water fly-fishing, hiking, camping, tennis and cooking Japanese cuisine.

Dr. Danielle Lang is an emergency clinician. In addition to small animals, she is interested in zoo and exotic animals. Her clinical interests include internal medicine, emergency care and integrative medicine.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital, Tampa FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus
• Bachelor of Science, Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Bachelor of Arts, Spanish, University of Florida, Gainesville

In her free time, Dr. Lang enjoys being hiking, biking, traveling, and painting.

Dr. Melinda Larson is especially interested in endocrine diseases, as well as abdominal ultrasonography and endoscopic procedures such as gastroduodenoscopy, cystoscopy and rhinoscopy.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
• Residency, Internal Medicine, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
• Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Dr. Larson enjoys running, reading or spending time with her Labrador retriever and two cats. She also enjoys traveling to Arkansas to visit her family.

Dr. Sylvia Lee sees surgeons as “fixers,” and the types of surgical cases she especially likes to “fix” include advanced orthopedics, oncology and regenerative medicine for chronic osteoarthritis. She also finds minimally invasive surgery gratifying.

• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Internship, Surgery, Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center, TX
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Physiology and Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego

Dr. Lee's favorite pastimes include trail running and cooking (but not baking). She has two animal companions, boxer mix Bailey and cat Slinky.

Dr. Andy Leung likes trauma cases and wound care. He also finds diabetic ketoacidosis cases rewarding.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Carolina Veterinary Specialists, Charlotte NC
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh

Dr. Leung’s favorite pastimes include traveling, recreational sports, and playing music and attending concerts.

Fond of all aspects of emergency medicine, Dr. Melanie Madsen is particularly interested in clinical pharmacology.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty & Emergency Hospitals, Tampa FL
• Clinical Rotation, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, University of Tampa, FL

Dr. Madsen enjoys meditation and watching documentaries. She has a Great Pyrenees named Bear and a Maine coon cat named Waylan.

Dr. Mears has been with BluePearl, and its predecessor, Florida Veterinary Specialists, since 1997.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee AL
• Bachelor of Science, Stanford University, Stanford CA

Erick enjoys spending time with his family and Bosco, the family cat.

Dr. Rachel Melvin is a surgical intern. She enjoys zoo and exotics medicine, surgery, and treating wounds and abscesses.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital, Tampa FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Dr. Melvin taught herself to crochet, braid paracord and sew surgery caps. She has two cats, Smudge and Ouija.

Dr. Laison Nguyen is a resident in our ophthalmology service.

• Internship, Ophthalmology, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos

A fan of the outdoors, Dr. Nguyen can often be found playing soccer or ultimate Frisbee. He has a German shepherd named Junior.

An experienced clinician, Dr. Thao Nguyen finds emergency medicine especially gratifying. Her particular areas of interest are toxicology, wound care and treating trauma cases.

• Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland
• Bachelor of Science, Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville

In her free time, Dr. Nguyen enjoys traveling, exploring the outdoors and rock climbing. She has two dogs: Rua (her "Irish souvenir" from living in Dublin) and Archie (a mutt who is half-amazing and half-terrific).

Dr. Nicholas Olson is a specialty intern with our surgery department. He is especially interested in fracture repair, arthroscopy, and cranial cruciate ligament disease.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital, Tampa FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Bachelor of Science, Sport Management, University of Florida, Gainesville

Dr. Olson enjoys camping and cheering on the Florida Gators with his wife and son. Their furry family members include two cats, two dogs and a horse.

Dr. Tessa Phillips is a resident in our surgery service. Her particular clinical interests include all soft tissue procedures, minimally invasive techniques (arthroscopy/laparoscopy) and wound and skin reconstruction.

• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, Veterinary Specialty Centre, Buffalo Grove, IL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Southfield MI
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Dr. Phillips' hobbies include cycling, hiking, traveling, motorcycles and playing guitar.

Dr. Mallika Prabhakar is a resident with our internal medicine service. She particularly enjoys the management of gastrointestinal (GI) disease.

• Internship, Small Animal Internal Medicine, BluePearl Specialty & Emergency Pet Hospital, Tampa FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton MA
• Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham

Dr. Prabhakar has a kitten named Chikki, who loves playing, cuddling and eating treats.

Dr. Alejandra Príncipe Martínez is a resident in our internal medicine service. She particularly enjoys treating gastrointestinal and endocrine disorders.

• Internship, Small Animal Internal Medicine, BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital, Tampa FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Clinical Rotation, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg VA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN

Dr. Príncipe Martínez considers the water her happy place, enjoying the beach, scuba diving and snorkeling. She also likes to hike and play video games. Carmelo is her island cat from Grenada.

Dr. Michael Reems has particular interest in both surgical oncology, including cancer removal and reconstruction, and minimally invasive surgery arthroscopy, laparoscopy, and thoracoscopy. He has performed urinary bladder stone, lung lobe tumor, adrenal gland/mass, cryptorchid retained testicle, and gall bladder removals minimally invasively, in addition to prophylactic gastropexy fixation of stomach for prevention of gastric-dilatation volvulus and laparoscopic liver biopsy. He has also completed specialized training in circular external skeletal fixation fracture repair, and tibial tuberosity advancement TTA and tibial plateau leveling osteotomy TPLO procedures for anterior cruciate ligament tears.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
• Residency, Surgery, Flint Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• Master of Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• Internship, Surgery, Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists, Houston TX
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Animal Medical Center, New York City
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Bachelor of Science, Davidson College, North Carolina

Dr. Reems volunteers examinations and surgical treatments for service dogs. He enjoys spending time with his wife, a criticalist at BluePearl, cat Fat Bobby, and dogs, Emma and Maggie. His favorite pastimes include saltwater fishing, mountain biking, and fly fishing.

Dr. Miryam Seems enjoys all aspects of emergency and critical care.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
• Residency, Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, Florida Veterinary Specialists, Tampa FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg VA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Bachelor of Science, University of Florida, Gainesville

Dr. Reems’ family includes cats named Fat Bobby and Sagan as well as a dog named Emma.

Dr. Sherrie Satmary is an emergency & critical care resident.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital, Tampa FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of Florida, Gainesville

Passionate about going to the gym, Dr. Satmary also likes outdoor activities with her dog Jack, like hiking, fishing and horseback riding.

Dr. Simone Schechtmann is a resident in our ophthalmology service. She particularly enjoys treating diseases of the eyelids, cornea and sclera, which is the white part of the eye.

• Internship, Ophthalmology, BluePearl Specialty & Emergency Pet Hospital, Tampa Bay FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa Bay FL
• Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland
• Bachelor of Arts, International Studies, Boston College, MA

Dr. Schechtmann loves playing tennis, barre method classes, current events, watching films and going to music events. She has a dog named Jameson.

Dr. Kali Sherman enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine, especially treating toxicology cases and wound management.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital, Tampa FL
• Clinical Rotation, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Animal-Dairy-Poultry Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

Away from the hospital, Dr. Sherman’s favorite pastimes include photography and time with her beagle.

Dr. Heather Siemon is a resident in our surgery service. Her clinical interests include total hip arthroplasty, fracture repair and neurosurgery.

• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, San Antonio TX
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA Animal Specialty Group, Los Angeles CA
• Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
• Bachelor of Arts, University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Siemon and her husband have a dachshund named Nico and a dachshund mix, Lulu. Her favorite pastimes include traveling, cooking and photography.

Before coming to BluePearl, Dr. Alan Spier was an assistant professor at the University of Missouri in Columbia. He enjoys all aspects of cardiology.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology)
• Residency, Cardiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus
• Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, Columbus
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Bachelor of Science, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Bachelor of Science, University of Texas, Austin

An avid — and vocal — Green Bay Packer fan, Dr. Spier enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.

Dr. Steven Tutela enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Garden State Veterinary Specialists NJ
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Bachelor of Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick NJ

Dr. Tutela enjoys lifting weights and the endless outdoor activities found in Florida, although he admits to missing family and friends back in New Jersey.

Dr. Eric van Eerde’s particular interests include hand-on modalities such as ultrasound, as well as building relationships with referring veterinarians through telemedicine. He also enjoys working with a variety of animals and feels fortunate to have been able to take images of a number of species at the local zoo during his residency.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiology
• Residency, Diagnostic Imaging, Iowa State University, Ames
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of Florida, Gainesville

Dr. van Eerde enjoys travel, woodworking and Florida Gator sports. He and his wife have two sons, and a number of pets: miniature schnauzer Daisy, Florida brown dog Demodexter, Havanese Boo, and a green-cheeked conure bird named Kiwi.

Dr. Clarence Williams is part of our emergency medicine training program for clinicians.

• Clinical Rotation, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Veterinary Technology, Mercy College, NY

Dr. Laura Wilson loves to work closely with pet owners to determine the underlying condition(s) affecting their pet and creating the best treatment plan for both the pet and owner. Her particular clinical interests include auto-immune conditions, ear infections and surgery.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Dermatology
• Residency, Dermatology, Animal Dermatology Clinic, Tustin CA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Florida Veterinary Specialists, Tampa
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, William & Mary, Williamsburg VA

Dr. Wilson enjoys riding mountain and road bikes and taking on DIY projects. She even overhauled a 1914 house in California. Dog walks and paddle boarding are two other favorite pastimes.

Dr. Jessica Yousif has been an ER doctor her entire career and thrives in the fast-paced environment. She is a mentor for new doctors in BluePearl’s EmERge emergency medicine training program, as well as for interns.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Monroe Veterinary Associates, Rochester NY
• Clinical Rotation, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Ecology, Iowa State University, Ames

Dr. Yousif’s hobbies include playing and coaching soccer, kayaking and crafting. She and her significant other have two dogs, a cat and a snake.

Dr. Nadine Znajda enjoys all aspects of dermatology.

• Residency, Dermatology, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Canada
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

In addition to spending time with friends and family, like so many of us in the veterinary world, Dr. Znajda enjoys her many pets.

Melissa cites the wide range – and often unexpected nature – of cases in emergency and critical care as the best part of her work. “I find it extremely exciting, not knowing what is going to walk through the door,” she says.

Karen enjoys interventional procedures to correct defects that cause congenital heart diseases. She also enjoys helping patients with acquired heart disease live longer and more comfortably. Her family includes a pug, Chihuahua and four cats, and she loves traveling and watching her son play baseball.