Dr. Dutton was born and raised in Tampa, FL. He earned his Bachelor of Science in zoology from Auburn University in 2010. His education continued at Ross University where he earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and he completed his clinical and surgical year at the University of Florida. While pursuing his doctorate, Dr. Dutton conducted research on the prevalence of salmonella in leatherback sea turtles. He presented his findings at the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine conference and his research was published in the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine in 2013. Over the years Dr. Dutton has also spent a great deal of time volunteering at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center. While there he assisted in the care of the wild bird population.
Dr. Dutton returned to Tampa and joined Tampa Bay Vets group in 2014. His professional interests include ultrasound, endoscopy, oncology, internal medicine and exotic animal medicine. He possesses certifications in endoscopy from the University of Georgia and Ultrasound from the NAVC institute.
Dr. Dutton’s wife, Holly, is also a veterinarian. Together they have three children (Pierce, Luke, and Adeline). In his spare time Dr. Dutton is an avid outdoorsman, who enjoys fishing, scuba diving, and surfing with his family.
Dr. Rivera is one of the newest members to our awesome team of Veterinarians. She attended St. George’s University College of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Florida for her clinical year. She lives here in Tampa, FL with many of her family members in the area as well.
Dr. Rivera shares her home with her 12-year-old Rat Terrier named Tyler – He is her heart dog and means the world to her. She believes that there is such a close bond between people and their pets. The bond with her dog is no different and she would do anything for him.
Dr. Rivera has worked in the Veterinary field for 11+ years – most of which she has gained her experience as a Certified Veterinary Technician before attaining her DVM.
She is especially interested in Dermatology and is a big advocate for mental health in the Veterinary industry.
Always having lots of pets that she has cared for from a very young age, her love for animals has paved the way to her career as a Veterinarian. She loves this career and all of its challenges, and wouldn’t have it any other way.
She acts as an advocate for each and every one of her patients, every single visit. She always wants the best for her furry friends and their pet parents.
Dr. Cristen Nichols earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and Lincoln Memorial University. She has had an interest and passion for medicine her whole life, and at an early age she knew she wanted to be able to give a voice to animals in need through her passion for medicine.
Dr. Nichols does her very best to make each client and patient feel as comfortable as possible, knowing that everyone faces different challenges from day to day.
She shares her home with her dog Tutsi and two cats Piper and Timothy. Tutsi is her “soul dog” who she has had for over ten years. She doesn’t have any human kids, so her pets are all her babies.
Dr. Nichols is very interested in conservation, zoo medicine, and non-human primates ,who she would one day love to volunteer as a conservation vet for.
Dr. Lindsay McLean earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Florida, graduating with certifications in both Shelter Animal Medicine and Business Management. She was also awarded the “Angel Dogs Scholarship” for her passion relating to the human-animal bond. There, she spent much of her time as the president of a student-run veterinary clinic which provided free veterinary care for families living with medical disabilities. Also, while in school, she elected to take extracurricular coursework to learn traditional Chinese medical acupuncture.
Prior to veterinary school, Dr. McLean graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from the University of Central Florida. Before deciding to join the veterinary field, Dr. McLean explored her passion for advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves. She worked in an Alzheimer’s unit of a nursing home, in a psychiatrist’s office, and as an operations analyst for a human hospital. It was sitting in her office at the hospital where she decided that she should combine her love for both people and animals and become a veterinarian.
Dr. McLean grew up in both Brandon, FL and St. Augustine, FL. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time exploring nature with her husband who is a high school biology and astronomy teacher. Together they have 2 dogs, Ernie and Lemon, a cat, Leeloo, and an Alexandrine parakeet, Juno.
Pets are a physical representation of unconditional love. It is important for the health and wellbeing of both people and pets to have one another. The human-animal bond is unparalleled and one of the most beautiful aspects of life.
Dr. McLean is Fear-Free Certified and is passionate about reducing fear and anxiety associated with veterinary appointments. Her goal is to provide a gold-standard of care for her patients through partnership with their owners.
In the words of philosopher Seneca the Younger Dr. McLean believes that “Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness”. She strives to live by this mantra in both her personal life and her professional life.
Her professional interests include preventive medicine, internal medicine, dermatology, acupuncture, and avian/exotic medicine.
Dr. Norden is one of our new Associate Veterinarians here at Cheval Animal Hospital. She has a lot of experience with cats and was previously at our Cat Doctors location. She is originally from Hilliard, Florida. She joined our team because she loved our client-focused care and the quality of medicine practiced. She loves pets and enjoys being around other pet lovers.
Dr. Norden received a Biology degree at Berry College in Rome, Georgia and graduated from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is also Fear-Free certified.
In her free-time she enjoys cooking for her friends and family, gardening, trying our new restaurants, golfing, and watching the Bucs or Lightning play. She loves fitness and worked throughout college at her campus fitness center and used to be a Zumba instructor.
Dr. Norden is interested in Primary Care, Ultrasonography, and Internal medicine.
She and her husband Mitchell married in October 2019. They share their home with her four cats. Mako is a 5-year-old red tabby who loves modeling for photos. Remora is a 6-year-old long haired brown tabby who is obsessed with feather wand toys. Marlin is a 3-year-old red tabby, and Marcel a 1-year-old domestic short hair are her foster fails who love getting into trouble together.
She looks forward to working with this amazing company, joining the Tampa community, and building client relationships. In her next few years, she hopes to advance her knowledge in dentistry, ultrasound, and endoscopy.
Dr. Brake earned his Bachelor of Science from Washington University in St. Louis, and his DVM at University of Illinois – College of Veterinary Medicine. He loves being a veterinarian because he loves being an advocate for animals. He wanted a career that would allow him to interact with pets and their owners in a compassionate and caring way.
Dr. Brake’s family includes his wife, Debra and their fur babies Binny, Daisy and Cinder. His pets are his family – he loves them unconditionally!
His goal walking into any patient visit is to strive to address every client concern and answer every question while keeping the needs of the patient his top priority. Kindness and empathy are his core values.
Dr. Brake’s hobbies and interests include kayaking, hiking and hockey.
Dr. Nelon earned his B.S in Cellular/Molecular Biology from Appalachian State University, his Master’s in Animal Science from NC State University, and his DVM degree at NC State University. He became a veterinarian because of his passion for helping animals, big and small.
His pets are Titan, Roo, and Tigger. They are his world and best friends 🙂
Dr. Nelon’s main passion is connecting with pet owners and helping educate them so they can make the best healthcare decisions for their furry companions. His mantra is The Golden Rule – Treat others the same that you want to be treated.
His hobbies include fishing, gardening, paddleboarding, and hiking. He plans to start a small farm in the future. His professional interests include dermatology and dentistry, with a growing interest in internal medicine.
Fun fact: Dr. Nelon has a twin brother!
My name is Laura and I’m a certified veterinary technician and have worked with the Tampa Bay Veterinary Hospital group since 2010. I was born and raised in Florida but I love traveling up north when I can. I love working with animals and wouldn’t change what I do for anything! I have 2 cats of my own and their names are Banksy and Griffin. In my free time I enjoy working out, yoga and going to the beach.
Lyndi’s career in the veterinary field began in 1999 at a small animal practice. She became a Licensed Veterinary Technician in 2003 after graduating from Tri County Technical College in South Carolina with a Veterinary Technology degree and passing national and state exams. Along with her husband Chad, their home is shared with their two highly active children, Hayden and Peyton, two dogs Kanowa (corgi/shiba inu) and Rousey (boxer), two cats and Hurley a turtle. Lyndi is a sports fanatic, enjoys daily cardio workouts, MMA, any outdoor activities and relaxes by spending time with her family.
Tasha is one of our awesome Veterinary Technicians here at Cheval Animal Hospital. She joined our team because she loves the culture and the type of medicine that is practiced.
Tasha has attended Saint Petersburg College where she earned her Associates Degree in Animal Science. In her free time she enjoys crafting with her Cricut, reading, going to Disney World, and growing her pet sitting business.
Tasha shares her home with her husband Anthony, her daughter Harper, her three dogs (A Pitty named Bella, a Yorkie named Kaluha, a Lab named Baily), her two cats (Sake and Cupcake), and her Bearded Dragon (Dobby). Tasha is working towards earning her CVT license.
Morris is one of our awesome Veterinary Assistants here at Cheval Animal Hospital. He is originally from Tampa, FL. He joined our team to learn more about animals, gain experience, and to improve himself.
He attended Southern Technical College.
Morris, his mom, and brother share their home with their two cats (Clipper and Tempest).
When Morris is not caring for your pets, you can find him reading a good book, playing games, or practicing his origami.
Joining the Cheval Animal Hospital team was Nicole’s first step towards her life goal career as a veterinarian. She received her AA at Hillsborough Community College in Pre-Veterinary Medicine, and attends UCF, where she is working towards her Bachelors.
Nicole, her mom, and her sister share their home with their big family of cats. They are huge cat lovers. All shapes, all sizes.
When Nicole is not taking great care if you and your pets, you can find her fishing, roller blading, and watching horror movies.
Her goal is to grow in the veterinary industry and help animals.
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Erika is part of our awesome Client Care team. She is attending Hillsborough Community College, where she is studying to become a Veterinary Technician. Her lifelong goal is to earn her DVM.
Erika has a big family made up of her three brothers, and her niece and nephew. She shares her home with her five-year-old Cairn Terrier named Archibald (Pictured).
When Erika isn’t helping our clients you can find her playing her clarinet, playing baseball, or writing.
Michelle is our fearless leader of the Client Care Department. She is originally from Long Island, NY.
She loves the positive work culture of our team and how it exemplifies our vision.
Michelle has earned CE in continuing education and practice management from HCC.
She is the middle child of 5 and she shares her home with her two kittens (Shadow and Comet) and her spoiled mixed breed (Haze).
When she isn’t caring for our clients, you can find her horseback riding, paddle boarding, playing the cello, and making crafts with her Cricut.
Jessica is one of our wonderful veterinary technicians. She is originally from Waltham, MA.
She joined our team for a better work life balance, and well-being. She enjoys the family like atmosphere.
Jessica is working towards her CVT at Penn Foster. She has also attended the University of Memphis.
She and her husband share their home with their kitty, Alaska (Mac Mac).
When Jessica isn’t caring for your pets, you can find her at Disney, Universal, boating, cruising, or reading.
Her goal is to grow with our company and to become a practice manager one day.
Sahily is one of our awesome CVTs. She is originally from Cuba, but moved to Tampa in 2009.
She joined our team for a better quality of life, balance, and new opportunities to grow her career.
Sahily earned her AS and CVT for Sanford Brown College.
She and her partner share their home with Their two dogs (Champa and Nico).
When Sahily is away from work, you can find her outdoors at the beach, hiking, meditating, exploring trails, catching sunsets, or at the gym.
She would like to reach all of personal goals to reach her full potential, and to lead a happy and healthy life.
Monica is one of our wonderful CVTs. She is originally from Puerto Rico. She joined our team for a better work-life balance.
She earned her AS and CVT from Sanford Brown College.
She has three older sisters and is the proud aunt to a niece and nephew.
Monica shares her home with her two cats and one dog.
When she isn’t caring for her patients, you can find her cuddling her pets, spending time with friends and family, hiking, going to the beach, and going on river adventures.
Her goal is to own a home in Puerto Rico and to live the good Caribbean life.
Giselle is from Tampa, FL and comes from a Cuban family. She has an older sister. She joined our practice for its gold standard of Veterinary Medicine and extensive networking in the veterinary field.
Giselle is currently attending St. Pete College for her CVT license and AA degree. Her hobbies and interests include anything outdoors, such as hiking, beach, boating, shopping, and trying new bars and restaurants.
Giselle’s pets include a 4-year-old Russian Blue kitty named Astro, and a 3-month-old Golden Retriever named Lilo. Her goals include buying a house and getting earning her CVT license.
Brittany is one of our wonderful Veterinary Technicians. She is originally from Omaha, NE. She joined our team for the opportunity to learn from our talented doctors and their team. She earned her BS from Iowa Western in Biological Sciences. She is working towards her CVT and plans to have earned it by 2026.
She loves nature and loves to travel. And she shares her home with her dogs, cats, retiles, and rats.
Ashley is from Tampa, Florida and is our Client Care Specialist. She joined our practice to grow in the veterinary field and gain more knowledge in it.
Ashley went to Hillsborough Community College for Pre-Veterinary studies and then USF, where she earned her Bachelors in Biology, concentrating in animals. Her goals are to be able to work in animal conservation and travel the world to maybe one day discover a new species!
Ashley’s family includes her parents, her older brother, and her two Chihuahuas – Bella and Luna.
Ashley’s hobbies and interest include trying out new food spots and going to conservation parks. She is very laid back, loves Bad Bunny, and loves watching terrible reality shows.
Christian is one of our Veterinary Technicians here at Cheval and is from Chicago, IL. He is currently attending St. Pete College, and is Fear-Free Certified. He joined our practice for more opportunities and knowledge in the field.
Christian’s family includes his wife Emily, and their two corgis, Mikasa (Mika) and Levi. His hobbies and interests include spending quality time with his wife and their dogs, anime, video gaming, hiking, comics, vintage things, and anything spooky related.
His goals is to gain as much knowledge as he can and to become one of the surgery technicians.
Brittany is one of our Client Care Specialists and is originally from Long Island, NY. She joined our practice because she loves working in pharmaceutical field and also loves working with animals, which seemed like such a perfect combination!
Brittany attended Dowling College where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Studies. Her goal is to expand her knowledge, get her Vet Tech License and eventually her Veterinary Degree! She also would love to travel the world and see some cool places!
Brittany’s family includes a cute Sphynx that goes by the name Kiki, and her boyfriend of 10 years, Anthony. She enjoys anything that will keep her outside, such as kayaking, hiking or going to the beach. She’s an outgoing person who is always looking to learn something new whether its professional or exploring a new beach or trail.
Miranda is from Tampa, Florida and is one of our Veterinary Assistants here at Cheval. She joined our practice because she’s always wanted to work with animals since she was young. She went to St. Leo University and plans on going back to school in fall of 2025 to become a Vet Technician and hopefully further her career in the animal field.
Miranda’s hobbies and interest include working out, playing soccer, reading and cooking, She loves music and being with my family, friends and pets! Her goal is to get healthier all around (mentally and physically) and would like to complete her degree. Miranda hopes to pay off most of her debt by the age 26-35 and hopefully own a home within the next 6 years.
Miranda’s family includes her mom, dad, sister and her dogs, Beast, Azucar, Muneca, and Rocco – and of course, her best friend Lexi! She I cares very deeply for her friends and family and puts them above all else. She also cares deeply for animals all around!
