Millhopper Veterinary Medical Center Staff- Gainsville Vets:

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Dr. David Menard

Dr. David Menard DVM is the current Chief of Staff at MVMC. He is a graduate of LSU School of Veterinary Medicine class of 1989. In addition to Millhopper Veterinary Medical Center in Gainesville, Dr. Menard is senior partner at Paddock Park Animal Care Center in Ocala, Florida.His special interest is his family, hunting, fishing, boating, skiing, horses, dogs, cats or anything else his son Dylan likes to do.

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Dr. Francesca Griffin

Dr. Griffin DVM, MS joined the MVMC staff in June 2003 after her graduation from the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine. She returned to MVMC after doing an externship with us in 2002. We are excited about the addition of her skills, cheerful personality and talents to our medical staff. Dr. Griffin previously completed an MS in Biomedical Sciences at the University of South Florida College of Medicine. Her areas of interest include internal medicine, neurology and behavioral medicine. Her husband, Chris, is a Network Engineer for NERDC on the University of Florida campus.
They have 3 sons, Aidan, Andrew and Jacob, as well as a cat. Dr. Griffin's hobbies include reading, running and photography

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Dr. Wendy Mandese

Dr. Mandese, a 2002 graduate of the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine, practiced for her first post-graduate year in Orlando at a busy multi-DVM practice. Relocating to Gainesville with her family, she joined the MVMC professional staff on a part-time basis. We welcome her to our group as a very capable and friendly associate veterinarian. Dr. Mandese and her husband, Joey, have two beautiful children, Ally and Tommy. She spends her spare time boating, wake boarding, reading and playing bassoon.

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Dr. Brian Harris

Dr. Brian Harris joined the MVMC practice in 2008 as a graduate of the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine. His interests include internal medicine, cardiology, and neurology. A long-term goal of his is to become board certified in canine and feline practice from the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. Dr. Harris's hobbies include playing the guitar, mountain bilking, and spending time with his cat DeeDee!

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Robin

Robin joined us as a member of our Veterinary Technical staff in 2003 and brought with her a wealth of experience, including 16 years at the Houston Zoo as a zookeeper and 5 years on the nursing staff at Memorial 610 Hospital for Animals in Houston. She is our Technical Floor Manager and Inventory Manager. She is married and has a son, Will.

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Amanda

Amanda moved to Gainesville from Leesburg to finish her schooling. She obtained her AA from LSCC and her BS in Animal Science from UF. Amanda came to us in 2005 with more than 2 years experience at Northgate Animal Clinic and VEC of Central Florida. She lives with her husband and four cats, "Emma", "Sinatra", "Sebastian", and "Ellie". Her responsibilities at MVMC include her technician role and her involvement in management of the practice.

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Emily

Emily recently graduated from Santa Fe College with her Associates of Arts degree.  She is currently completing her major in Animal Science with a minor in Agricultural Business at the University of Florida.  Emily's long-term goal  is to become a successful veterinarian and to educate people about the misrepresented and misinterpreted pitbull breed.  She has 2 pitbulls, 2 jack russel mixes, 1 cat, 2 turtles and a rat.  Emily enjoys saltwater fishing and boating with her fiancee' Ron, scrapbooking and visiting her hometown in North Carolina as often as possible.

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Sabrina

Sabrina grew up in the Pyrenees Mountain area on the border of France and Spain. She has a passion for horseback riding since her parents got her involved with them when she was 5 years old to keep her out of trouble and away from bad influences. She used to compete in jumping competitions when a youngster, but her favorite thing was to go riding through the mountains for periods of days with friends and to sleep in old barns in sleeping bags throughout the countryside. At present, she loves to spend time with her family. She enjoys watching movies in her time off, and taking her dogs for walks with her husband and to play ball with them.

She also has a small collection of cats living at her and her mother's homes. Sabrina is currently studying to one day have the joy of having a career that revolves around animals. Her major interests are animal behavior and nutrition.

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Erika

Erika moved to Gainesville from Miami, FL to attend college. She is currently working towards a degree in Environmental Economics and Policy, and she plans to pursue a doctorate in veterinary medicine. Her special interests are in surgery and large/exotic animals. Erika’s hobbies include horseback riding, reading, ballet, surfing, and knitting. She is also training for her private pilot license, with her father as the flight instructor. She lives with three beautiful dogs, two horses, a Central American red-tail boa, and “Bob” the Leopard tortoise.

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Chris P.

Chris moved to Gainesville from Niceville, FL after separating from the Air force. He completed his associates degree at Okaloosa-Walton Community College and is currently pursuing a degree in Animal Biology from UF. Chris joined the Millhopper team in October 2010 and brought with him 7 years of veterinary experience. He lives with his hyperactive dog “Artax” and a previous MVMC resident "Kool Cat".

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Kenny

Kenny joined our team in March 2011. Kenny was born and raised in Jacksonville and now makes his home in Keystone Heights. He graduated from SFC with an AA in general education and went on to UF where he received a BS in Wildlife Ecology. He has six years of experience working for veterinarians in both Jacksonville and Gainesville. After his 14 year old son, his second love is working with animals and he hopes to do it for many years to come.

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Sandy

Sandy joined our staff in June of 2011. Sandy and her husband, Ralph, own the RS Ranch in Morriston where he raises and trains quarterhorses. The ranch is home to regional and state reined cow horse champions as well as black Angus cattle, Tac & Toe, black lab and austrailian shepherd dogs and Buddy, the cat. Sandy is also an avid gardener, loves flowers, to cook and to ride her horse. Besides her love of animals, she is a people person which makes her a perfect fit in her role here as a Client Services Representative.

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Chris B.

Chris joined the MVMC staff in August 2011. He moved to Gainesville from Vero Beach, Fl where he received his A.A. from Indian River State College. He is currently enrolled at UF where he is majoring in Journalism, while also studying Political Science and International Relations. Chris began working in the veterinary field when he was 19 and now has over 6 years experience. He also has 4 years of experience working in customer service. His outside interests revolve around music, writing, digital media and entertainment, and current events. He has a four-year-old cat named Leanan Sidhe whom he adores.

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Kim

Kim joined our staff in September 2011 with over 17 years experience in the veterinary field. She and her husband Tim, have a small farm in Citra and are involved with greyhound rescue, Therapy Dogs International, Inc., and volunteer at hospitals, nursing homes and mental health facilities with their licensed Therapy Dogs.  In her spare time, Kim enjoys gardening, horseshoes, and watching her greyhounds run on her farm.  Kim volunteered with the Dutchess County S.P.C.A. in Hyde Park, New York training pitbulls for adoption and has obedience trained several different breeds of dogs for companionship and volunteer work as well as conformation training for their Greyhounds, Whippets and Italian Greyhounds.  Kim and her husband started the Pet Therapy program at St. Francis Hospital, as well as Hudson River Psychiatric Center, both in Poughkeepsie, New York.  She recently attended the Chi Institute, in Reddick, Florida to learn more about natural foods and home cooking for pets. Kim attended Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois Central College, where she holds degrees in insurance and computer programming. She and her husband Tim enjoy their church activities, singing in the choir and their singing birds, Baby, Holly and Bingo!  Kim inherited her father's musical talents and has played piano since she was four years old.  She and her husband enjoyed playing in the bell choir, in Illinois, and they have one son, who is married and one granddaughter.

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Alex

Alex joined our staff in December 2011.  She has 3 years experience as both a client services representative and technician.  She moved to the Gainesville area from Jacksonville to continue her education.  She is currently attending classes at Santa Fe College where she is majoring in education.  She enjoys spending time with her roommates and her lovable kitty Natyri.

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Wayne

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Devin the Diva

Devin the Diva came to live with us the summer of 2005. She can usually be found helping out our client services staff (she types, makes an occasional phone call, and keeps your chair warm--if you can get her out of it!) or charming guests at the front door. She's usually just as sweet as she looks, but watch out for her!

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