Meet our Team

Dr. Ierace received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Missouri in 2014. She then completed a twelve-month internship in small animal medicine followed by a three-year residency in dermatology. Dr. Ierace achieved Diplomat status with the American College of Veterinary Dermatology in 2019. In 2021, Dr. Ierace received the dvm360 Veterinary Heroes Award for Dermatology.

Dr. Ierace’s special interests include allergies, ear diseases, and immune-mediated skin diseases.

She always strives to improve the quality of life for her patients who suffer from skin and ear diseases. When not at the office, Dr. Ierace enjoys spending time with her husband and dogs. Dr. Ierace is committed to providing the highest quality of patient care for every patient and can’t wait to meet you!

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. Brandon Durr grew up in South Florida, where he graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences. After attending the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville, he received his veterinary degree. He completed a small animal rotating internship at Southeast Veterinary Referral Center in Miami, Florida, and a small animal surgery specialty internship at Mississippi State University in the city of Starkville. His two main areas of interest are surgery and neurology. He will continue his education and pursue a neurology residency following his neurology internship. Aside from neurology and surgery, he is also passionate about physical therapy and rehabilitation. His interests outside of work include hiking, rock climbing, video games, and spending time out in the sun or on the water with his dogs. 

I am a certified Radiologic/CT Technologist who received my degrees from the University of Central Arkansas and Baptist School of Radiology. Growing up with my first dog, Popsicle, I developed a love for animals at a very young age. I performed CT scans on humans for eight years and then decided to fulfill my dream of working with animals by owning a pet bakery and boutique for seven years. When my fourth dog, Mieko, was diagnosed with cancer and underwent radiation therapy, I experienced the world of advanced veterinary medicine. During this time, I realized I could blend my passions of diagnostic imaging and animals. So, in 2019, I moved from Arkansas to Florida to join the TBVS team as the Diagnostic Imaging Technologist. I enjoy working with all imaging modalities and am particularly excited to perform MRI scans on your furry family members.  

I am a compassionate Veterinary Technician with over 20 years of lovingly caring for the health and well-being of animals. I am a graduate of the Medical Institute of Minnesota whose passion for neurology started in 2005 when a family member was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I understand firsthand the complexity of a neurological diagnosis and treat every patient as though it is a member of my family. Through my human neurology interactions, I have learned how to explain complicated medical diagnoses and procedures in simple ways. As the fur-mom to a specific needs terrier, my spare time is spent with him watching movies, crafting, or hanging out with family and friends.

I'm a seasoned veteran when it comes to the veterinary technician world. My love for animals began at a young age when I aspired to become a veterinarian. My first beloved pet was a beautiful German Shepard named Nicky. After Nicky passed on, my love for pocket pets and exotic reptiles grew. A little intel on myself is that I have worked with quite a few primary veterinary offices with different specialties over the past decade. I have taken my knowledge from those practices and applied them to make me a well-rounded veterinary nurse. I joined Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialists about 2yrs ago in our Internal Medicine department. I like to think of myself as a very compassionate veterinary nurse with abundant knowledge that I enjoy sharing. I try my hardest to ensure that every patient in my care is well taken care of and their pet parent feels at ease when their fur baby is in my care. I hope that reading this it brings you comfort in knowing who I am.

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. Brigitte Reinmuller is a graduate of St. George’s University and attended her clinical year at Cornell University. She grew up in Toronto, Canada, and graduated from the University of Toronto. She joined TBVS after completing an ER Academy internship and has been a team member since 2020.

In her free time, Dr. Reinmuller enjoys any activity by the water and traveling with family and friends. Rascal, a DSH cat, and a soon-to-be rescue pup are her fur babies. Dr. Reinmuller became a veterinarian to help your best friends and family receive the best medical care possible.

Dr. Nicole Hamisak grew up in the Tampa Bay area. She spent her high school summers volunteering at veterinary clinics and working with Medicine Horse, a therapeutic horseback riding program for children. She went on to acquire her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing from the University of South Florida. Dr. Hamisak decided to return to academia to study Biochemistry to pursue her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). Her clinical year was spent at Louisiana State University with a focus on emergency medicine and soft tissue surgery. Her DVM was awarded by St. George’s University.

Dr. Hamisak specializes in small animal medicine and surgery. Areas of interest include triaging emergency cases, pain management, and emergency surgery. Over the years, Dr. Hamisak has had many species of pets, such as chickens, reptiles, cats, dogs, and horses. She loves all animals and has a passion for emergency medicine and managing critical cases. 

Dr. Callahan joined the Emergency and Critical Care service in 2021. She was born in Clearwater, Florida, and returned to the area after graduation from veterinary school. Before veterinary school, she gained experience as a veterinary technician and veterinary practice manager. Her path led her to the University of Florida for her undergraduate studies and then to Oregon State University for her degree in veterinary medicine (DVM).

Dr. Callahan is an active member of veterinary emergency and critical care associations, which help provide the most up-to-date diagnostic and treatment options for your pets.

She currently lives in the Tampa Bay area with her husband, two spoiled-rotten dogs, and a senior cat (the boss). In addition to emergency medicine, she has a particular interest in elevating paraprofessional team members to reach their potential through effective training and mentorship.

Dr. Doenges was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and raised around the world as the daughter of one of our nation’s military service members. She received a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Berry College in Rome, Georgia; a Master of Arts in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma in 2014; and her DVM in 2018 from the University of Minnesota. She moved to Florida in 2018 to escape the cold, snowy winters of the north and soak up the sun.

Her professional passions include working with dogs, cats, and the occasional wildlife, with interests ranging from surgery to emergency and critical care. She enjoys reading, horseback riding, paddle boarding, and going on adventures with her two dogs on her days off.

Dr. Lori Nichols received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2017. She worked in small animal general practice until joining TBVS in 2021. She has also done relief work with various animal shelters in the Tampa Bay area.

Dr. Nichols has special interests in feline medicine and shelter medicine. She has been active with multiple rescue organizations throughout the Orlando and Tampa Bay areas. In addition, she enjoys fostering kittens and helping them find their forever homes.

Dr. Nichols enjoys spending time with her husband and their furry family of “foster failures.” She loves experiencing the culture and community in St. Petersburg and all it has to offer.

Dr. Fauske attended veterinary school at North Carolina State University and graduated with her doctor of veterinary medicine in 2014. She completed a rotating internship at BluePearl in Tampa in 2015. She then went on to complete her residency in Veterinary Cardiology in 2018. She has a special interest in advanced medical management of congestive heart failure with a focus on maintaining and improving quality of life. In her free time, Dr. Fauske enjoys singing opera, roller blading, kickboxing and attending Broadway musicals. She is also a hockey fan and can't wait to go to some Lightning games!