Clinicians
VETERINARIAN
Robin Bell, BVSc, MVSc, DipVetClinStud, DECVS, DACVSMR
Dr. Bell graduated from the University of Sydney. He is a registered European specialist in equine surgery and Board Certified with the American College of Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. His special interests include the treatment of tendon injuries with stem cells, clinical applications of MR and CT in equine practice, and the early diagnosis of musculoskeletal injuries in equine athletes. Dr. Bell is also a keen competitor in show jumping.
Veterinarian
Michael Davison, DVM
Dr. Davison is an enthusiastic veterinarian with 13 years of private practice clinical experience. He acquired his BS from Michigan State University and DVM from Mississippi State University. He enjoys spending time on his farm with his beautiful wife, horses, dogs and cats. He identifies as a perpetual lower level adult amateur eventer. Dr. Davison is very excited to join and collaborate with the UF WEC team.
Veterinarian
Todd Holbrook, DVM, DACVIM, DACVSMR
Dr. Holbrook graduated from the University of Georgia. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Holbrook has a special interest in cardiology, respiratory disease and sports medicine.
VETERINARIAN
Andrew Howe, DVM
Dr. Howe graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. He has 23 years of small animal experience, with an emphasis on preventive medicine and surgery. He enjoys backpacking, bicycling and kayaking with his beautiful wife. Dr. Howe is a lifelong resident of Ocala. His other hobbies include playing music, especially guitar, on his handcrafted electronics and amplifiers, and spending time with his greyhound child, Sammie.
Veterinarian
Taralyn McCarrel, DVM, DACVS
Dr. McCarrel graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. She is Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Dr. McCarrel has a special interest in regenerative therapies, tendon and ligament injuries, cartilage repair and osteoarthritis and upper airway evaluation of performance horses.
Veterinarian
Alison Morton, DVM, DACVS, DACVSMR
Dr. Morton is the medical director of the UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center. She is a clinical associate professor at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Morton has a special interest in equine lameness, rehabilitation and diagnostic imaging.
Veterinarian, Small Animal Service Chief
Dennis Oyer, DVM
Dr. Oyer graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He completed an internship at the Institute of Trauma, Emergency and Critical Care in Milwaukee, WI. Dr. Oyer has 27 years of experience as a small animal general practitioner. He enjoys spending time with his dog, Winston, and riding cutting horses. Dr. Oyer is excited and blessed to be a part of the team for UF at WEC.
Veterinarian
Caryn Plummer, DVM, DACVO
Dr. Plummer graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a professor at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. Dr. Plummer has a special interest in corneal wound healing, canine glaucoma and equine recurrent uveitis. She enjoys most things outdoors with her husband and derives joy from her flock of silly chickens.
VeterinarIAN
Erin Porter, DVM, DACVR, DACVR-EDI
Dr. Porter graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a clinical associate professor at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology. She became certified in equine diagnostic imaging by the American College of Veterinary Radiology in 2021. Dr. Porter has a special interest in equine orthopedic imaging and small animal ultrasonography.
Veterinarian
Jennifer Taintor, DVM, MS, DACVIM, DACVSMR
Dr. Taintor graduated from Auburn University and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Taintor has a special interest in equine lameness, gastroenterology and infectious disease.
Veterinarian
Brittany Street, DVM
Dr. Street graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. She was born and raised in Ocala, and moved back after school because she loved the area. Dr. Street has practiced in North Central Florida for the last seven years. She loves the outdoors, hiking, canoeing, camping, and spending time with her two dogs and two cats.
Staff
John Crowell
John previously served as the Kentucky Horse Park’s Executive Director and has been involved with the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation since 2010. John is a lifelong eventer, having competed through the Intermediate level. John’s also a lifelong motorcyclist. His dog Eris means the world to him and John looks forward to the opportunity of working with you all.
Assistant Practice Manager – Small Animal
Meghan McInturf
Meghan is the assistant practice manager for small animal services at the UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center. She has more than 10 years of experience working in mixed species general, specialty and emergency practices. She has internship experience working with wildlife rehabilitation/conservation and the US Mission to the UN with a focus on international animal health, zoonosis, and food security. In her free time, Meghan enjoys traveling, scuba diving, yoga, and photography. She has three shepherds: a Dutch shepherd, a German shepherd and a Belgian Malinois. She is so excited to join the UF team at the WEC!
Equine Veterinary Technician
Eliza Cappello, CVT
Eliza is a Certified Veterinary Technician at the UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center. Eliza has five years combined experience in small and large animal general and emergency care. Outside of the hospital, Eliza enjoys training in hunter jumpers and eventing, along with riding her TB/APHA horse, Piper. Eliza’s other interests are in the circus arts, where she specializes in aerial silks and lyra. Eliza is very excited to have joined the UF team at WEC!
Small Animal Veterinary Assistant
Jessica Coleman
Small Animal Veterinary Assistant
Victoria Fox
SMALL ANIMAL Veterinary Technician
Kaitlin Fresneda
Kaitlin is a small animal veterinary technician at the UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center. She has worked the last six years with small animals here in Ocala. In her free time, Kaitlin loves spending time with her five pets and her family. She can’t wait to be a part of an amazing team and hospital!
SMALL ANIMAL Veterinary Technician
Melissa Hawkins
Melissa is a small animal veterinary technician at the UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center. She has six years of experience working in mixed species general and emergency practices. Outside of the hospital, Melissa enjoys spending time with family, kayaking, and going on adventures with her pups, Duke and Ajax, who are both 10 and living that “senior” life. Melissa is excited for this new chapter with UF at WEC and ready to learn new things daily.
Equine Veterinary Technician
Kathryn Heiss
Equine Veterinary Assistant
Jaclyn Hooker
Jaclyn is an equine veterinary assistant at the UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center. She previously worked for the UF Large Animal Hospital in the equine research program. She is pursuing a degree in equine studies at the University of Florida. In her free time, Jaclyn enjoys spending time with her dog, Ollie, and her cat, Gizmo. She also enjoys reading and running cross country. Jaclyn has lived in Ocala her entire life and is excited to be a part of the UF WEC animal hospital team!
small animal Veterinary Technician
Amber Humphreys
Amber is a small animal and equine technician at the UF Veterinary Hospital at WEC. She has about seven years of experience working mostly in private practices. Her opportunity here at WEC has guided her in the direction of working in ophthalmology, which she is super excited about! Outside of the hospital, she enjoys her horses, her dog and any outdoor activities such as fishing and four-wheeling with her friends and family. She is stoked about being able to work at this world-class facility and broaden her knowledge!
Equine Veterinary Technician
Kaila Jarvis
Kai is an equine veterinary technician at the UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center. She has eight years of experience working with sport horses and travelling the world with them. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys spending her time with her dogs Lux and Tink, visiting new places, and listening to music. Kai is very excited to be a part of the UF team at WEC!
Small Animal Veterinary Technician
David Lopez
small Animal Veterinary Technician
Emma Maliff
Emma is a Veterinary Technician at UF Veterinary Hospital at the World Equestrian Center. She has experience working in small and large animal medicine. Outside of the clinic she enjoys Eventing with her OTTB, Martini, and working with her mustang, Nuka. Emma’s other interests include reading, hiking with her two dogs, and photography. She is very excited to be a part of the UF team!
Equine Veterinary Technician
Ashton McCage
Small animal Veterinary Technician
Briana “Laila” Mendoza
Laila is a small animal veterinary technician at the UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center. She has a year and a half of experience working with small animals and plans to expand her knowledge by earning credentialing in different specialties. She has five pups that she enjoys her free time with, along with reading, listening to music and going on road trips with the family. Laila is excited to learn more and to be a part of the WEC UF small animal family.
Veterinary Assistant
Bentley Nicholson
Bentley is a veterinary assistant at the UF Veterinary Hospital at the World Equestrian Center. She is pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine and is excited to learn and grow with her coworkers. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family and working with her two horses and two dogs. Bentley is excited to be a part of the UF team at WEC!
Veterinary Technician
Beverly Nolin, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia)
Beverly is a Certified Veterinary Technician and Veterinary Technician Specialist in Anesthesia and Analgesia. She previously worked at the UF Veterinary Hospitals in Gainesville for the past 15 years. She has been practicing anesthesia on small and large animals for the past 12 years. Apart from being a technician, Bev enjoys family time, beach time, kayaking and cheering for her husband’s softball team.
Equine Veterinary Assistant
Meredith O’Connell
Meredith is an equine veterinary assistant at the UF Veterinary Hospital at the World Equestrian Center. She graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Equine Science and Management. She previously worked as a trail guide on Daufuskie Island, SC leading beach and oceanfront trail rides, but has always been interested in equine rehabilitation and therapeutic modalities. In her free time, she enjoys trying new restaurants and exploring state parks.
Small Animal Veterinary Technician
Megan Pavelko
Megan is a small animal veterinary technician at the UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center. She has 8 years of technician experience in small animal medicine and is looking forward to learning and experiencing new things here! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and 7 animals, exploring her new home state of Florida, and going to the theme parks as much as she can.
Equine Veterinary Technician
Lauren Penland
Lauren is an equine veterinary technician at the UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center. Her experience is primarily in equine sports medicine and general practice. Outside of the hospital, she spends most of her time training with her WB x Paint Horse Deco and hanging out with her goldendoodle, Juno. Lauren can’t wait to be a part of this team and take part in the startup of this amazing new hospital branch!
Small Animal Veterinary Technician
Santiago Rodriguez
VETERINARY ASSISTANT
Amelia “Amy” Yarbrough
Amy is a veterinary assistant for both small animal and equine at the UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center. She has worked as a small animal veterinary technician for 2 years and has 2 years of experience in equine therapy. When she is not in class at UF or working at the clinic, she enjoys riding and competing her Paso Fino horses, traveling with her family, and spending time with her 3 dogs. Amy is extremely excited to join the equine and small animal veterinary team here at WEC!
Overnight Staff
Overnight veterinary technician
JoVonni Bellot
JoVonni is both a small animal and equine technician at the UF Veterinary Hospital at the World Equestrian Center. She has two years of experience working in the veterinary field and three years of experience working with horses. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys riding horses, playing with her two Cane Corsos, Zeus and Kai, and expanding her experience in photography. JoVonni is eager to learn as much as she can and is going into vet school soon!
Overnight Veterinary technician
Thais Eisenbrown
overnight veterinary technician
Sage Sonnier
Sage is an overnight small animal and equine veterinary technician at the UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian center. She has three years of experience working with small animals. She has had horses her whole life and showed horses for 15 years. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys spending time with her dog and horses, going on the boat, and traveling. Sage is so excited to be a part of the team and cannot wait to expand her skills.
Overnight veterinary technician
Heidi Stibitz
overnight veterinary assistant
Karolina Wignall
Karolina is a small animal and equine veterinary assistant at the UF Veterinary Hospital at the World Equestrian Center. She graduated with a degree in equine exercise and physiology from College of Central Florida in 2020 after coming out of retirement to start a third career in the equine world. She has four years of experience working with horses. Outside of the hospital she enjoys working with her border collies Sydney and Riley in agility, taking riding lessons, enjoying life with two Quarter Horses she recently acquired and traveling with her husband Bill.
Client Services
Client Services Representative
Emily Cooke
Client Services Representative
Jae Engleman
Jae is the client services representative at the UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center. She has worked in the customer service industry most of her life. Jae grew up in a family-owned boarding kennel and has been involved with horses and dogs all her life. She is a member of the POAC and Stride Dressage and has done obedience and agility with her dogs. Jae enjoys spending time with her husband, taking long walks with their puppy, Izzy, performing Western Dressage with her POA pony, Chloe, and playing with natural horsemanship. She is super excited about joining the WEC team!
client services representative
Bonnie Gundrum
Bonnie is the client services representative at the UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center. She has recently relocated from Wisconsin and has been involved with horses, dogs and cats all her life. She has a background in breeding, raising and training paint quarter horses on her ranch in Montana. She has also participated in obedience, field trials, breed shows and agility with her dogs. In her spare time, Bonnie enjoys spending time with her donkeys, Woodie and Axle, and hiking with her three dogs; Bella the Newfoundland mix, Mojo the long-haired Weimaraner and Finn the Catahoula Leopard dog. Bonnie is really excited to be part of this team and working with the WEC veterinary team.
Client Services Representative
Pamela Klein, RVT
Pam is the client services representative at the UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center. She is a Registered Veterinary Technician from Central Nebraska. She previously worked at the UF Large Animal Hospital in Gainesville. Pam moved to Florida from central Nebraska in 2019 to be closer to her racing thoroughbreds. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys spending time with her dog, Riley, going to Shadybrook Farm to watch her younger horses grow and train, going to Gulfstream Park to watch her horses race and fishing at her family’s resort in northern Canada.
Client Services Representative
Lori Lee
Lori is the client services representative at the UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center. She has more than 16 years experience as an equine veterinary technician and more than 30 years experience managing a Paso Fino Horse Farm in Ocala. She also has a background in breeding, training, showing and sales. In her spare time, Lori enjoys spending time with her horses, donkey and one cat on the farm. Lori is happy to be part of this team and working with everyone here.
