Meet our Team

Dr. Suzanne M. Cayatte is recognized as a specialist in the field of dermatology. Dr. Cayatte received her D.V.M. degree from Colorado State University in 1989. She completed an internship at The West Los Angeles Veterinary Medical Group and a dermatology residency at Cornell University. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology and has been in private referral practice since 1993.

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.

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. Bruns received his D.V.M. from the Ohio State University in 1992. He completed an internship at the University of Georgia and a surgical residency at The Ohio State University. In 1996, he was a staff surgeon at a small animal referral practice in Pittsburgh, PA. In 1997, Dr. Bruns became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgery. In 2001 he joined the surgical service at Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Care Center.

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. Lindsay Nussbaum is originally from Long Island, New York. She received her bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from Wesleyan University in 2009, and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. She completed a rotating internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in 2015, and a surgical internship at Long Island Veterinary Specialists in 2016. In 2019, she completed a surgical residency at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Nussbaum became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2020 and joined the surgical team at Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Care Center in 2019.  

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.