Dr. Hathaway received her B.S., M.S. and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees at the University of Florida. A proud Florida Gator at heart, she is also grateful to be back home in Pinellas County, where she has been part of the Vet Clinic of Palm Harbor family since 2014. In addition to caring for her patients, Dr. Hathaway is actively involved in organized veterinary medicine through the American Veterinary Medical Association and Pinellas County Veterinary Medical Association. Outside of work, she loves staying active outdoors—whether biking, exploring local parks and trails, or enjoying live music at her favorite local spots. That said, much of her free time is happily spent keeping up with the busy life that comes with raising young kids and all of their activities. Dr. Hathaway and her husband, Donnie, are proud parents of two daughters and share their home with their senior cat, Brie.
Dr. Joseph Turk
Dr. Turk is an “Army brat” who grew up in several countries and a dozen states. After high school he served in the Army, then graduated with a B.A. in Economics, Philosophy, and Religious Studies. He was the director of a college textbook store but decided to quit his job and return to college to study biology after watching a team of doctors treat his very ill Border collie at the veterinary hospital at North Carolina State University. Six years later he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the same institution. When he’s not taking care of his patients, Dr. Turk enjoys sailing and boating in the Florida sun, live music, learning to be a foodie, and traveling. Dr. Turk and his wife share their home with a human kid, two dogs, and two cats.
Dr. Kelsey Bollenback
Dr. Bollenback is a local girl who grew up in the Tarpon Springs area. She received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Central Florida and went on to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Florida. Dr. Bollenback graduated UF with a certificate in Veterinary Business Management and is a Fear Free certified practitioner so she understands the value limiting your pet’s stress while at the vet. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Florida Veterinary Medical Association. In her spare time she enjoys everything outdoors including SCUBA diving, fishing, and riding her horse, “Lance”. She and her husband share their home with their daughter and two rescue pups, “Mark” and "Delta".
Dr. Joe Garcia
Dr. Garcia attended the University of Florida where he obtained a bachelor of science degree, and later earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. As part of his training, Dr. Garcia completed Surgery and Medicine externships at the Animal Medical Center in New York City, Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners in Tampa, Florida and the Animal Coalition of Tampa. Dr.Garcia is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Florida Veterinary Medical Association. He is passionate about sharing information with owners to help ensure their pets live long and healthy lives. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, experiencing new cultures through their food, and spending time with his family. His family includes his wife, who is also a veterinarian, his daughter Bianca, their dog "Gilly", a terrier mix, and two cats "Toby" and "Zoey".
Kris - Hospital Administrator
Kris is a Certified Veterinary Technician with a special interest in surgery and intensive care. She has worked at the University of Illinois Teaching Hospital ICU and University of Wisconsin Veterinary Teaching Hospital Surgical Center. Besides being a CVT, her main duties include over-seeing hospital operations and keeping everything running smoothly. Kris and her family share their house with their Chocolate Labrador "Sam" and three cats "Alex" “Pumpkin” and "Oliver”.
Vanessa was born and raised in Belgium before deciding to continue her education in the U.S. She is fluent is French and English. She has an associate’s degree in sciences and furthered her studies in the pre-vet program at USF. She has volunteered countless hours at Humane Societies and rescues. She has certifications in dentistry, pet nutrition and cold laser therapy. She has been a veterinary nurse at VCPH since 2005, helps train our team in multiple areas of the clinic, and has been our veterinary experience manager for many years. She strives to bring happiness to our patients, our clients and our team every day. She has a soft spot for senior animals and focuses on their comfort. Her son, Logan, is currently in an engineering program at UF while her daughter, Savanna, is following her footsteps at VCPH. Jinx- chihuahua mix, Yin Yang- DSH and Kiwi- love bird are currently her four-legged companions. Outside of work, Vanessa enjoys spending time with family and friends. She loves the beach, kayaking, dancing, festivals, traveling and propagating plants.
Barbara is a proud mother of 3 children and 7 grandchildren. Barbara is also a motivated and result-driven office management professional who really never stops working. Barbara consistently displays dedication and determination in all endeavors and has an earned reputation as an accomplished team player. Originally from Oak Lawn, Illinois Barbara and her late husband Tom moved to the Tampa Bay area in late 2005. Barbara has worked with the Vet Clinic for many years and has seen it quickly grow into a well-respected veterinary organization. When (if) Barbara is not working, you might find her enjoying time on the water or taking wonderful vacations with family and friends.
Technicians
Lyndsey has been with the Vet Clinic since 2015. She has worked in the veterinary field since 2009, earned her degree in Veterinary Technology and certification in 2012, and has particular interest in the areas of surgery, dentistry, and rehabilitation therapy. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, kayaking, cooking, and baking. She shares her home with her husband Ben, Golden Retriever mix "Joey", two cats "Mouse" and "Panda" and they just welcomed their second child!
Danielle is originally from New York and moved to Florida in 2003. She has always had a passion for animals and graduated as a Certified Veterinary Technician in 2014. She is currently enrolled in classes to further her education. She shares her home with her son Jace, her two cats Dallas and Bruce and her dog Brody.
Jessica was born in Chicago, IL and moved to Florida in 2012. She has always loved animals and wanted to work with animals. She graduated from Rockford Career College in 2012 and became a Certified Veterinary Technician shortly after. She lives with her teenage son and six fur babies, two dogs named Drogo and Nevaeh, and four cats named Arya, Yondu, Beep Beep, and Tiger. Her hobbies include crafting, gardening, and doing special effects makeup. She also enjoys spending time outside exploring new places.
Krystal - Nurse
Krystal joined the VCPH team June 2015 and immediately felt at home. Her compassion for animals is what drew her to the veterinary field, and she aspires to further her education in the future. You will find her in all positions of the hospital as she is cross trained in all areas, however she enjoys anesthesia monitoring, nutrition, and client education above all. A native Floridian, she enjoys spending her free time outdoors kayaking the natural springs or biking the local trails. She shares her home with her partner, Joe, her two sons, Emeric and Draxin as well as two felines, Tippy and Leo.
Alex - Veterinary Experience Manager, Nurse
A native Floridian, Alex joined the VCPH team in 2009. She was inspired to join the veterinary field after growing up in home full of animals. She enjoys building meaningful connections with clients and their animal companions. When not at the clinic, she can be found at the beach, fishing, or spending time with her family. Alex shares life with her husband Joey, their four children – Aubrey, Avery, Emma and Delaney- and their furry kids, a golden retriever named “Cato”, an orange kitty “Crouton” and a black cat “Tucker”.
Christine discovered she wanted to work with animals at 10 years old on a trip to Thailand. She graduated with a Vet Assistant Certification from Tarpon Springs High School Vet Science Academy in 2001 and from Santa Fe Community College in 2004 with an AS degree in Zoo Animal Technology. She also worked as a calf caretaker at UF Dairy Research Unit. In the summer of 2004, she interned with Busch Gardens Zoo’s Adventure camp. In her spare time, Christine loves the outdoors, getting together with friends, and volunteering in her community. She also loves being home with her husband Jim, son CJ and daughter JC, and her dogs Feta and Ellie-phant and her cat Spidey-Cat.
Autumn - Nurse
Autumn joined the VCPH team in 2019 after being a student volunteer with us for a year. She is originally from Michigan and came to Florida in 2008. She is a student working on her degree in veterinary technology as well as her technician certification. Her love of animals and medicine inspired her to work toward a career in the veterinary field. In her free time, she enjoys being in nature and going to theme parks. She also loves spending time with her boyfriend Joey, her family and her 5 fur babies Jack, Dixie, Cooper, Dea and Eleanor.
Receptionists
Mary joined the VCPH team February 2012. She has more than 15 years experience in the veterinary industry. Mary loves going to the beach, boating, camping and playing video games. She travels frequently and especially enjoys her annual vacation with her husband Mike. They share their home with their dogs Isis, Brix and their cats Emmet and Eli.
Tiffany, one of our dedicated Client Service Representatives, joined the VCPH team in March 2018. A passionate animal lover, she shares her home with her fiancé, their daughter, and their furry companions—Hemi, a long-haired Chihuahua/Lab mix (yes, you read that right!), along with their three cats: Toby, Biscotti, and Max. On her days off, Tiffany enjoys relaxing poolside and loves taking weekend getaways—or longer adventures—to explore new places. Her favorite vacation destination is Key West.
Stacy
Stacy joined VCPH in 2010 and presently works as a part time receptionist for us. She also works as a flight attendant out of St. Pete/Clearwater. She graduated from USF with a business degree in '09 (Go Bulls!) and currently has one Greyhound named Sunshine. She also loves to foster other retired racers and volunteers with Gold Coast Greyhounds in Clearwater.
