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Our Team
 

Melissa Vanhouc-Clark, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia and Analgesia)

Melissa Vanhouc-Clark, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia and Analgesia)

Lead Anesthesia Technician

Melissa is one of our knowledgeable and talented certified veterinary technicians! With a passion for anesthesia and analgesia, Melissa focuses much of her time making sure pets stay comfortable and safe while under anesthesia for various surgeries. She plans on continuing her education in this field, eventually planning to become a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Anesthesia and Analgesia as well as a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner. Melissa has 10 pets of her own - 7 cats and 3 dogs! When she is not in the clinic or hanging with her pets, Melissa can be found Jeeping, camping, gardening, cooking, or reading.

Aaron Huggins, CVT, Lead Surgical Technician

Aaron Huggins, CVT

Lead Surgical Technician

Aaron is one of our Surgical Veterinary Technicians! His primary goal is always to help the pets we see feel better and to continue learning and growing in the fields of surgery and anesthesia. His family is his motivation, and he believes patient care, customer service, and teamwork are all among the most important parts of our job here at the Veterinary Surgicenter.

Dez Muir, CVT

Desiree Muir, CVT

ECC Veterinary Technician

Dez received her BA from Temple University in 2005, and became a Certified Veterinary Technician at Harcum College in 2008. Currently, she has 2 Labrador mixes and one Red-footed Tortoise.  Dez's professional interests are  anesthesia and analgesia of all species, and Florida wildlife and zoo medicine. Her personal mission is encouraging people to drink more water.  She and her husband own a local gym, so much of her free time is spent there with him, when they are not hanging out together with their pets.  

Dawn Smith, CVT

Dawn Smith, CVT

Surgical Veterinary Technician

Dawn became a Certified Veterinary Technician through St Pete College after graduating from UF with a Bachelors in Animal Science.  She has a Brussels Griffon named Sprout, and six cats- Koi, Dinner, Lilly, Ahi, Cheeto, and Mango. Her professional interests are in Orthopedic Surgery and Dentistry. In her spare time, she loves scuba diving, (especially cave/cavern diving), kayaking, going to the beach, biking, sailing, and working out.

Kelli Willis, Vet Tech

Kelli Willis

Veterinary Technician

Bio Coming!

Makenna Owens, Veterinary Assistant

Makenna Owens

Veterinary Assistant

Makenna's work at CCVS is helping her prepare for application to Vet School,but she is also very interested in Fear-Free medicine, radiology, and internal medicine.  She has a hermit crab named Nike, and in her spare time, enjoys  doing wildlife photography at Sweetwater Wetlands Park.

Lauran Capolon, CVT, Surgical Anesthesia Technician

Lauran Capolon, CVT

Lead Surgical Anesthesia Technician

Lauran is one of the caring and passionate Certified Surgical Veterinary Technicians that cares for your pets. Her passion is pain management, and it shows in the way she both teaches anesthesia and monitors patient pain and safety in the hospital. She has 3 Bachelor’s degrees in Equine Science, a certificate in Veterinary Technology, and plans to become a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner in the future. Lauran has 4 pets at home - 2 horses named Boomhauer and Slim Willie, and 2 cats named Neener and Nobuyuki Wakabyashi. When not at work here at the Veterinary Surgicenter, she can be found getting out in nature through farm & horse work, trail running, mountain biking, and climbing waterfalls.

Ashley Joyce, CVT, ECC Veterinary Technician

Ashley Joyce, CVT

ECC Veterinary Technician

Ashley has been a Certified Veterinary Technician since 2013, and very soon is pursuing a specialty licensure in her field. She has special interests in Neonatal intensive care, envenomation, and upper airway disease.  When she is not at CCVS, she enjoys spending time with her pets, Boone (a 4 year old black English lab), Spud (a 6month old bulldog mix rescue) and Snook (a 9 year old dsh cat, foster failure).  She also enjoys working out and is often found on the water so she can fish- as much as possible.

Britt Douglass

Britt Douglass, CVT

Oncology Veterinary Technician

Britt, whose primary interest is in medical oncology, has previous experience in emergency medicine and has worked in the veterinary field since 2008.  When she's not helping 'kick cancer's butt', she enjoys yoga, reading, and hanging out with her two cats, Persephone and Hades and a terrier mix, Lowla.

Tyler Bickford, Veterinary Technician

Tyler Bickford

Surgical Veterinary Technician

Tyler is one of our Surgical Veterinary Technicians here! With a Bachelor’s in Animal Science and a minor in Zoology from the UF.  He is preparing to go to Vet School to become a veterinarian of ‘exotics’.  He has 25 pets ranging from dogs and cats to rodents, reptiles, and birds! When Tyler is not hard at work here at the hospital, he can be found hanging out with his family and pets.

Jeffrey Young, Veterinary Technician

Jeffrey Young

Veterinary Technician

Jeffrey has worked in the veterinary field since 2017 caring for everything from small animals, to exotics, to large animals. His personal pets include many fish and his cats, Allistar and Nala. Jeffrey obtained his bachelors in animal biology from UF and is currently in the process of becoming a Certified Veterinary Technician.  

Vet Specialists in Alachua County

THIS COULD BE YOU

Veterinary Assistant

If you won't settle until you find the right place for your personality and skill set, and you are interested in a position at CCVS, check out our Career Page!

Jenn Harder, CCVS Hospital Manager

Jenn Harder

Hospital Manager

Jenn's positivity, experience, and high energy helps our team function during the busy days at CCVS.  She has worked her way up in the Veterinary Industry since 2008, both on the product/industry supply side, as well as most recently, the clinical side, as a Practice Manager at an emergency care facility.  Jenn has a Bachelors of Science in Biology from the University of Florida and is a Fear-Free Certified Professional. Jenn's professional interests include feline medicine and animal behavior. In her spare time, she enjoys really anything outdoors, including paddle boarding and gardening, and prides herself as an avid reader.

Taylor Sparks, Client Service Representative

Taylor Sparks

Customer Service Representative

Taylor is one of our helpful Client Service Representatives. She is motivated every day to be a part of caring for the pets that visit, as if they were her own. She loves welcoming every client and pet into the hospital and ensures their comfort during the visit. She has a huge passion for animals, and plans to use this passion to continue her career in the veterinary field. Taylor has 2 rescue cattle dogs mixes named Jax and Fig. In her free time, Taylor loves taking them on long walks along trails and training them. She is also very close with her family, and loves to spend time with them and their pets.

Tatiana Lencinas

Tatiana Lencinas

Customer Service Representative

Bio Coming!

Makayla Vasquez, Lead Client Service Representative

Makayla Vasquez

Lead Customer Service Representative

Makayla kindly and efficiently handles the administrative part of our client care for everyone that visits.  Her calming, positive attitude is welcoming and appreciated by everyone.  She has 5 pets at home - 2 dogs and 3 cats - and enjoys camping and boating with her family.

Samantha Smith

Samantha Smith

Customer Service Representative

Bio Coming!

CCVS Administrative Staff
CCVS Technical Staff
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