Our Staff
Meet the Hospital Staff
Julie
Hospital Manager
A lifelong Jacksonville resident, Julie was welcomed into the Birch Island family in July 2024. With almost 20 years of veterinary practice experience, her love for animals and exceptional leadership skills made her an ideal choice to support our staff and clients. Julie is focused on upholding the integrity of our mission to provide compassionate care to all who come through our doors. Her enthusiasm & dedication enable her to fulfill this managerial role with great promise & passion. A wife, mother of two kids and a calico cat, Julie values spending quality time with her family, going to the beach & reading. She is happy to help our clients in any way needed, so don’t hesitate to reach out to her!
Hayley
Senior Veterinary Technician
Although you may not see her all the time, Hayley is an integral part of our hospital team. She has been working with Dr. Dee since we opened our doors in 2018. Hayley finished her (human) nursing degree while maintaining her position at Birch Island and now works full-time as a registered pediatric nurse at Wolfson Children’s Hospital in the Neuroscience Department. Luckily for us, she still makes time to love on our patients and help our staff a couple days a week. Hayley lives in Saint Augustine with her husband Clayton and their Yellow Lab Buck (who is often behind the front desk greeting clients with his golden smile). With over 15 years of veterinary experience including a veterinary dental certification in 2011, Hayely’s gentle & caring demeanor help keep our animal patients feeling safe while providing comfort to their human families. When she has time, Hayley enjoys traveling and watching the Green Bay Packers.
Whitney
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
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
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
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
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.
Caitlyn
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.
Sky
Veterinary Technician
After exploring human medicine as both a Surgical Technician in Orthopedics and a Dental Assistant, Sky knew her heart was truly with animals. As the mom to multiple birds, reptiles, a hamster, cats and dogs, Sky has a special interest in exotic animal care and the experience to back it up. Outside of work, she continues to care for critters as she volunteers with local rescues, both pets & wildlife. Sky is known in her local community as the "go-to" for urgent animal matters and helps whenever she can. In addition, she loves including her boys on her animal adventures and educating them about treating other living creatures with compassion. Sky joined our team in early 2024 and her dedication, love of learning and heartfelt kindness toward both patients (furry, scaled, spiked, slithery and otherwise) and their human counterparts make her a joy to be around and an incredible asset to us all.
Laurie
Social Media & Events Coordinator
You may not see much of Laurie in person, but you will see her contributions in other important ways. Joining the Birch Island team right from the start, Laurie is our Social Media Manager as well as our yearly Anniversary Event Planner. She assists in website content creation as well as attending outside events as our representative. A former vet tech in Boston for over 20 years, Laurie has a deep love for animals and a great respect for professionals in the field. With her own crew of multiple dogs, rabbits, reptiles & fish, Laurie is a big advocate for animal rescue & adoption. Writing, exploring, running her own small business and spending time with family & friends are other passions for her and she loves being part of the Birch Island family.
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