Meet our Team

Dr. Brian Scott received his degree from Tuskegee University’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 1987.  He owned and operated AAHA accredited companion animal practice for over 20 years where he developed a love for dermatology. He completed an American College of Veterinary Dermatology approved Dermatology residency with McKeever Dermatology.

Dr. Sara M. Cowan, a Diplomate of The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, is a board-certified specialist in the field of veterinary internal medicine. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and received her BS and DVM degrees from The University of Florida with honors. She completed her internship at North Carolina State University in 1999, and completed the Internal  Medicine residency program at The University of Tennessee. She achieved board certification in 2003, and was granted the ACVIM Resident Research Award in hematology the same year. Dr. Cowan moved to Sydney, Australia with her husband from 2004-2015. In Sydney, she worked as a specialist at the notable Small Animal Specialist Hospital, where she also taught students, interns and residents. She was an invited member of The University of Sydney Mentoring Program for the Faculty of Veterinary Science from 2010-2015. She also served the profession by regularly providing continuing education lectures to colleagues in private practice, and serving as a specialist examiner for the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists. Dr. Cowan was the Director of Infection Control and Antibiotic Use for a multi-specialist practice with a staff of over 100 people from 2012-2015. She attended a cutting-edge Masterclass on minimally invasive procedures at The Animal Medical Center in Manhattan in 2015, bringing all of this experience to Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialist when she joined the team in November 2015. Dr. Cowan enjoys all aspects of Internal Medicine, with a particular interest in blood disorders, responsible antibiotic use, and endoscopy.

Be sure to see Dr. Cowan's feature in Tampa's Veterinarians of the Year in Tampa Style Magazine!

Dr. Miller received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, in 1979. After six years in a nine-veterinarian small animal/equine practice in Nova Scotia, he entered a residency program in comparative ophthalmology at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida. Upon completion of a master’s degree in 1988, he joined the faculty at the University of Florida. He became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 1989. During his tenure at the University, Dr. Miller served as an attending ophthalmologist in the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, with appointments in both the Small Animal and Large Animal Departments, was a supervisor of resident training, and served a term as Chief of Ophthalmology Services. His association with the University is continuing as an Adjunct Assistant Professor. During his time at the University of Florida, Dr. Miller worked on the development of collagen corneal shields for the treatment of corneal diseases in cats and dogs, intraocular valves for the treatment of glaucoma, and inherited retinal diseases in dogs. He entered referral practice at Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Care Center in 1993.

Dr. Schenk received his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/Biotechnology and went on to acquire his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Michigan State University. After graduation, Dr. Schenk interned for Blue Pearl Veterinary Specialists in Grand Rapids, MI in the field of small animal medicine and surgery. Areas of particular interest for him are uveitis, acute blindness, and comparative ophthalmology. In July 2020, Dr. Schenk began his residency program with Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialists in Largo, FL. He will also be working with Eye Care for Animals in our Chicago, IL practice. 

Dr. Fernandez received her doctor of veterinary medicine from Ohio State University in 2014. She practiced as a rotating and oncology intern at BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Tampa until 2016. She then pursued an academic internship in oncology at Louisiana State University before continuing to receive a master’s degree in veterinary clinical sciences and completing a residency in medical oncology at Colorado State University in 2020.

Dr. Fernandez has a special interest in multimodal therapy in the treatment of animal cancers and the achievement of comfort and excellent quality of life for her patients.  She is passionate about developing an individualized diagnostic and treatment plan for every patient that fits with their medical needs as well as with the goals and wishes of their human companions. 

Dr. Tensley grew up in Ohio where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Zoology from The Ohio State University. Her veterinary degree was earned at Colorado State University in 2012, where she also completed a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences. Her small animal medicine and surgery internship were at the Ohio State Veterinary Teaching Hospital and her neurology internship at the VCA Animal Specialty Center in Columbia, SC. 

Her love of neurology led her on to a residency with The Animal Neurology and Imaging Center in New Mexico and board certification in Neurology through the American College of Internal Medicine. She has continued to work with The ANIC as both a neurologist and medical director.  

Dr. Tensley’s interests include both medical and surgical neurology. She believes in a whole-patient approach to treatment and is currently working toward certification as a canine rehabilitation practitioner through the University of Tennessee to optimize the post-surgical care of her patients. Dr. Tensley is also passionate about teaching the next generation of veterinarians and neurologists so serves on the Pathway Vet Alliance house officer steering committee and ACVIM neurology resident exam committee. 

In her spare time, she enjoys exploring the outdoors with her husband and 2 young sons, all of whom are excited to experience everything that the sunshine state has to offer. 

Dr. Matt Oakes received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Florida in 1989. He completed an internship and surgical residency at Louisiana State University in 1993. He then owned and operated a mobile referral surgery practice in Denver, Colorado. In 1994, Dr. Oakes became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and joined the surgical service at Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Care Center. Dr. Oakes has published numerous articles in veterinary journals and textbooks, and has lectured regularly at local and national veterinary meetings. Dr. Oakes performs a wide variety of orthopedic, soft tissue, and neurosurgical procedures.

Dr. Carissa Southard grew up in Palm Harbor, Florida, and graduated from Tarpon Springs High School. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences at Florida State University and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the University of Florida. After veterinary school, Dr. Southard completed a Small Animal Rotating Internship at Michigan State University and a Diagnostic Imaging Internship at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston, Texas. In 2019, she completed a Diagnostic Imaging Residency and received her master’s degree in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences at Auburn University. In the summer of 2019, Dr. Southard joined our team and started the Diagnostic Imaging department. She enjoys all aspects of diagnostic imaging and collaborating with other veterinarians. Some of her special interests include vascular diseases, oncology, and hands-on modalities such as ultrasound and contrast studies.