Our Staff
Meet the Hospital Staff
Kristin Reed
Hospital Manager
Kristin is Birch Island's fear-free certified Hospital Manager. She is instrumental in keeping our practice running efficiently while sharing her kindness & humor with both staff and clients. Born and raised in Boston, MA, Kristin moved to Jacksonville in 2004 which is when she found her passion for helping animals as well as their owners. Since then, she has been in the veterinary field in various capacities. Kristin combines her managerial, administrative, customer service and animal care skills together to provide exceptional service to our clients & patients while overseeing daily hospital functions. In addition to her important role as office manager, Kristin has a full family life including a wonderful husband and five beautiful children, two of which are twins! Of course, her family wouldn't be complete without Karma and Cash, the Pitbulls. With what little free time she has, a couple of Kristin's favorite activities are going to the zoo & swimming.
Whitney Thompson
Veterinary Technician
Joining us from Chicago, Whitney’s passion for animals led her to enter the pet healthcare field as a veterinary technician. Having worked in both general practice and specialty arenas, Whitney brings a wealth of experience to our team. She traveled from Illinois to Florida with her two adventurous kitties and all three are enjoying the warmer weather. Reading, hiking, live music and oceanside leisure are Whitney’s activities of choice and she is hoping to someday return to school for Marine and Coastal Biology. Her enthusiasm and capacity for kindness are a perfect Birch Island fit!
Lexi Bastin
Veterinary Technician
Hailing from the Windy City, Lexi is now happily soaking up the sun in Jacksonville. A big nature & animal enthusiast, Lexi has two Pitbull mixes (Blu & Jaxon) and loves to explore the wilds of Florida. She is especially fond of the beach. Lexi is CPR certified and currently enrolled at FSCJ. A car buff, she owns an antique BMW which she cherishes. A bright, adventurous soul, Lexi adores working with our patients and clients in the hospital and we are very happy to have her!
Shana Buttrill
Veterinary Technician
Shana is a Jacksonville native who brings experience and dedication to our practice. Several years of being a vet tech, pet-sitting and having her own animal crew all make Shana well-versed in caring for our patients. Her four-legged family includes Usher a Cairn Terrier and Gatsby & Fat Boy, two kitties. A fan of exotics, Shana used to have many reptilian pets as well. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, going to the beach, outdoor adventures and being with her family which includes a young daughter and fiancé.
Joyce Outing
Veterinary Technician
Originally from Washington DC, Joyce has planted roots in Jacksonville and joined our team in 2021. She brought with her several years of veterinary technician experience as well as a Diploma in Veterinary Assistance from Penn Foster. Joyce has two cats, Jeffurry and Juan Diego as well as two adult human children, a daughter and son. A creative, dedicated, and outgoing part of our team, Joyce enjoys reading, dancing, watching anime, playing video games and incorporating nature into everyday life. She has a bright spirit and a kind heart which is seen in her compassion toward our patients and her coworkers.
Shane Overly
Veterinary Technician
Shane moved to Florida from Michigan and has been taking advantage of the weather through camping, hiking, kayaking and other outdoor activities. With many years of experience working in veterinary hospitals, he has extensive knowledge of emergency medicine, surgery, anesthesia, and overall technician responsibilities. Hardworking and loyal, Shane also has a great sense of humor that is felt throughout our practice. He is very thoughtful and treats both animals and humans with care & compassion including his sweet Pitbull mix, Karli.
Coral Faulkner
Veterinary Receptionist
Like her name implies, Coral is a fun-loving ocean enthusiast who was born & raised in Jacksonville. Her favorite place to visit is the Georgia Aquarium and she spends much of her free time at the beach. Coral names her dad as her “best friend” and she has a home full of fur kids that she adores including dog Henry who is a tripod cancer survivor. In addition to Henry, she has four cats – Evie (also a tripod), Bobbie, Milo & Malibu. Currently enrolled in UNF to pursue a career in Elementary Education, Coral is a patient, kind-hearted addition to our team who loves helping people and their pets.
Caitlyn Johnson
Veterinary Technician
Born in Washington state, Caitlyn embraced becoming a Floridian soon after. She is an experienced vet tech who joined our team after transferring over from another animal hospital. A fur mom to two Pitbulls (Dhingus & Luna) and a kitty (Flower), Caitlyn has turned her love for animals into a career where she can help make their lives better. In addition to having an educational background in computer science from FSCJ, she is passionate about working on cars & building things. Traveling and trying new foods is also one of Caitlyn’s joys. We are grateful to her commitment, compassion and dedication to both our team and our patients.
Laurie McGovern
Social Media & Events Coordinator
You may not see a lot of Laurie in person, but you will certainly hear from her! Joining the Birch Island team while it was still in its planning stages, Laurie quickly took on the role of social media manager as well as an event coordinator. A passion for writing and a background in the veterinary field were the perfect combinations for her to be the go-to person for keeping our Facebook and Instagram pages active & inspired. In addition, she contributes content to the website and participates in community events. Laurie is a friendly face around the office as she comes in routinely for updates on happenings and meets with staff. A former vet tech from Massachusetts, Laurie, and her family moved to Florida in 2017. She met Dr. Dee soon after and was honored to be asked to partake in the Birch Island journey. Sharing a home with four Pitbull mixes, two rabbits, a bunch of fish and two humans (husband and stepson) is an adventure in itself, but Laurie also enjoys travel, wildlife tours, festivals and social meetups with friends. One of the first people on board at Birch Island, she has enjoyed watching it develop and grow. It’s been wonderful for me – I mean “her” – to be part of the team.
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