Nicole’s love for animals is what led her to a decorated career in the veterinary industry. She’s been in the field for over 25 years and counting! Today, she serves as Morningside Animal Hospital’s Practice Manager, through which she gets to enjoy the best of both worlds: teaching people and working with pets.

As a child, Nicole thought about becoming a vet, but her dislike of math led her in a different direction. Instead, she started her journey as a kennel technician but quickly began soaking up everything she could possibly learn about every other position in the clinic. A natural leader, Nicole is beloved by everyone on the MAH team. Professionally, she has a particular knack for handling the “naughty” patients.

Nicole is Mom to two adult children. She shares her home with her three French bulldogs whom she adores more than anything. (Brachycephalic faces are her weakness.) Honey Bee is the feisty one, Rhino (a.k.a. Big Sexy) is the sweet one and Mango is the ‘wild child’ who is always getting into everything.

In her spare time, Nicole enjoys boating on the river, taking in the beautiful sunsets and relaxing with her pups and grandkids.

Growing up, Aylin always had a special place in her heart for animals – especially strays. Seeing puppies and kittens in need sparked a desire within her to one day make a difference. This is what ultimately drove her to enter the veterinary field. Being able to play a role in helping companion animals live happier, healthier lives brings Aylin tremendous joy!

Aylin joined the Morningside Animal Hospital team in July of 2021. In her role as Receptionist, she enjoys working both with our clients as well as their furry family members. Since joining our team, she immediately began making a positive impact and is loved by all the people and pets she encounters.

At home, Aylin has one fur baby of her own: a dog named Roxy whose favorite thing to do is hide behind a tree until someone throws her football and then run as fast as she can to grab it. Aylin’s personal interests include painting and traveling.

Growing up in upstate New York, one of Sami’s most passionate interests as a child was animal welfare. When she lost her dog, Sultan, unexpectedly, she felt a strong desire to become a vet in the hopes of preventing such a tragedy from occurring to other pet owners. As a receptionist here at Morningside Animal Hospital, Sami is getting some much-needed exposure and experience to bring her one step closer to her goal.

Initially, Sami got her college degree in creative writing but came to the realization that the only reason she’d taken that path was because deep down, she was afraid of how difficult vet school would be. Now that she’s graduated and has stepped out of her comfort zone, she’s back on track to pursue her childhood dream. Professionally, Sami loves seeing sick pets make a full recovery and knowing she played a tiny role in that process.

Outside of the clinic, Sami is dog-mom to two: Sméagol, who gives attitude when given instructions; and Hadassah, who enjoys burrowing into blankets and would definitely trade Sami in for food. In her free time, Sami enjoys writing, reading, and playing video games. She’s also an avid movie buff and loves to play movie quote trivia with her friends.

For as long as she can remember, Cindi has always had a special place in her heart for animals. As such, a career in the veterinary field seemed like a natural path for her to follow.

In her role as a Veterinary Technician here at Morningside Animal Hospital, Cindi has a particular affinity for working with our senior patients. She loves how calm and sweet they can be.

Outside of the clinic, Cindi resides in Fort Pierce with her husband and their three children. Their animal family consists of two dogs: Hank and Zeus; three cats: Koko, Poppi and Kitiana; and a fish named Frank.

Growing up on a lake in the hills of Illinois, Emily has always had an interest in veterinary medicine. Being able to care for animals every day has been an absolute dream come true for her.

Emily began her career journey in 2018, while she was still living in IL. During that time, she worked at two different animal hospitals before relocating to Florida to be closer to family. She joined Morningside Animal Hospital in June of 2021 as a Veterinary Technician and has quickly become an integral part of the team.

At home, Emily has a growing fur-family that consists of a rescue cat named Sandy, and four dogs: two Scotties, named Claudia and Magnus, a brown lab named Bailey and a Great Dane named Lucia.

Ever since Kaitlin was a little girl, she knew in her heart that she was put on this earth to help animals. She originally worked at a wildlife sanctuary and loved engaging with different species and sharing her passion with others as they learned about these magnificent animals. It was during this time that Kaitlin met a veterinarian who suggested she consider veterinary medicine. The rest is history!

Taking the vet’s professional advice, Kaitlin began immersing herself in the veterinary field and fell in love instantly! There is no better feeling than helping animals and the parents who love them. Whether it’s being a comfort in the hardest of times or a helping hand in recovery, Kaitlin is living her lifelong dream of helping animals. She has a background in emergency care but joined Morningside for a change of pace.

Outside of the clinic, Kaitlin lives in Port Saint Lucie with her young daughter and their senior chihuahua, Wolf. In her free time, Kaitlin enjoys off-roading in her Jeep, powerlifting, exploring nature, and experiencing new places.

Misty has been in the veterinary field since 1997, yet she’s still learning even now. Clinically, she has a special interest in surgery, emergency medicine, and physical therapy. That said, there really aren’t any aspects of vet med that don’t get Misty excited. And though all animals have a special place in her heart, Misty is particularly fond of working dog breeds and exotics.

In her spare time, Misty enjoys hunting, fishing, shooting, playing airsoft, and raising cows (you may even find her climbing trees or playing in a few ditches). She also enjoys spending time with her family, which consists of her husband, two amazing sons, and five crazy dogs!

When Jamaican-born Novia was a teenager, she became a fur-mom to three kittens. The experience sparked a genuine interest in helping, caring for and advocating for companion animals. Her desire to work with animals never wavered over the years, so it came as no surprise that Novia would ultimately end up in the veterinary field.

Several years ago, while in the process of relocating from Orlando to the Port St. Lucie area, Novia decided to officially pursue her career as a Veterinary Technician. After working at an emergency animal hospital for a while, she decided it was time for a change of pace. In 2010, Novia joined the Morningside Animal Hospital team, where she has thankfully remained ever since!

Emily (a.k.a. Raven) was born and raised right here in Port St. Lucie. Throughout her life, she has been surrounded by creatures large and small, and has always had a fondness for helping them in any way she could. As a child, Raven aspired to become a marine biologist, but ended up following the path into veterinary medicine. As a veterinary technician, Raven loves making a difference in the lives of animals.

While Raven had many years of experience with fostering animals, her official career journey began during the pandemic, when she landed a job working as a kennel attendant at another clinic. From there, she worked her way up to the role of technician and joined the Morningside Animal Hospital team to further her skills and experience.

Raven lives with her fiancé, Russell, and their two cats, Freddie Krueger and Mouse. Fred was found living in a wood pile in the backyard with her four kittens who were all adopted out to good homes. She is the biggest cuddle bug and loves to lay on your chest while you read or watch TV. Mouse is insane and loves to play. He will run headfirst into walls chasing after toys. He only has three modes: sleeping, eating, and running around causing chaos.

In her spare time, Raven enjoys participating in cosplay activities with Russell. They make their own crazy costumes and love getting reactions from others. She is also an avid reader and gamer and is currently learning how to play the electric guitar.

Growing up, Ryan always felt a strong connection with animals. It seemed they were drawn to him as well. As he got older, he figured why not pursue a career that would allow him to nurture and celebrate the human-animal bond. As a veterinary technician, he is able to do just that and is loving every minute!

Ryan decided to join the Morningside Animal Hospital team when his family and friends suggested it would be a good fit. It was also located nice and close to home and his son’s school. Professionally, Ryan enjoys the feeling of helping and making a positive difference in the lives of animals and their humans.

At home, Ryan is a proud father and pet owner. His favorite thing to do when he’s not working is spending time with his loved ones.

Sometimes a fresh start in a new field is all a person needs. Look at Sam, for example. She had a career in retail management, which she left in search of a new opportunity. Once the world of veterinary medicine came calling, she eagerly answered. Today she’s a Veterinary Technician at Morningside Animal Hospital!

When Sam first entered the veterinary field, she was just a veterinary receptionist with no experience. However, after just one year, she had gained an unbelievable amount of experience and was eager to learn even more. She started out in general practice, then moved onto 24-hour emergency practice, and then the next thing she knew, she was entering the Veterinary Technician program at Penn Foster College. Despite all of the challenges she has faced, Sam calls entering the veterinary field “the smartest decision I’ve ever made!”

For Sam, nothing beats seeing a client’s face light up after she’s done everything she can to treat their precious fur baby. It brings about an unbelievable feeling of great accomplishment seeing animals come in sick or injured, and leave the hospital happy and healthy.

Born in Massapequa, NY, Sam grew up in East Stroudsburg, PA with her mother, sister and grandmother. They have stuck by her throughout the duration of her veterinary journey and she appreciates them. Her family has three cats named Baby, who is a diva; Gary, who is shy, and Chowder, who is a feisty fighter. Despite being surrounded by cats, dogs - specifically pugs - are Sam’s favorite animal.

In her free time, you can catch Sam shooting amateur pool. In fact, she’ll occasionally travel to Las Vegas when she’s successful in tournaments!

After being influenced by a family member who works with wild and exotic animals, Sheena got the urge to work with animals herself. She has been a Veterinary Technician at Morningside Animal Hospital for the past 8 years, and has loved every second!

Born in the Philippines, but raised in the United States, Sheena always dreamed of one day helping animals. After seeing her beloved pet get hit by a car, Sheena was even more determined to join the veterinary field. Seeing the animal in discomfort and not knowing what to do or say led to her joining the veterinary field. Now, instead of feeling helpless, she gets to spring into action and help other animals who come into the clinic with similar injuries.

When it comes to her duties at Morningside Animal Hospital, Sheena loves assisting with surgery, as it gives her a chance to learn new techniques. She also gets great pleasure when the needs of clients and their pets are met.

In her free time, you can catch Sheena spending quality time with her beloved pet, Echo.

Bill served in the military for twenty years before retiring to join the civilian workforce. His love of animals drew him to the veterinary industry.

After initially starting his journey on the West Coast, Bill relocated to sunny Florida and joined the Morningside team in 2019. As a kennel technician, Bill enjoys caring for our guests and working with the rest of the staff.

At home, Bill has one fur child of his own: a cat named Little Bill. In his spare time, you can usually find Bill working on his game on the golf course.

Over the years, Dalton has held a variety of different jobs, from crab fishing on a boat in Washington state to construction in New York to air conditioning in Florida. His true desire, however, has always been to do something that would allow him to work with animals. When he came across the opportunity to work in the kennel at Morningside Animal Hospital, Dalton jumped at the chance and hasn’t looked back since.

Dalton officially came aboard in June of 2023. His favorite part of being a kennel technician is seeing the unique breeds of dogs and making new animal friends. At home, Dalton has three orange kitties of his own that he loves more than anything. Crushy loves belly rubs and cuddles, Nemo is a polite gentleman who loves chicken-flavored treats, and Boots is a spaz whose purr is the loudest Dalton has ever heard.

Aside from animals, Dalton’s other passion is martial arts—specifically Muay Thai. His most memorable moment was competing in Orlando, where he was matched with a strong opponent. Despite his nerves, he fought well, and when the judge raised Dalton’s hand in victory, it was a truly electrifying experience. He’s now 3-0, has two beautiful trophies, and is much more confident in his skills and abilities. His new goal is to remain undefeated in a competition.

Everyone in the veterinary field has their own reason for entering the industry. For Doug, it was his love of cats and a desire to constantly be surrounded by them that lured him into the field. Now, as a kennel technician at Morningside Animal Hospital, he’s able to fulfill his dream every day!

Doug has another deeper, more personal reason for wanting to work with animals. After he moved from Massachusetts to Florida, he was forced to temporarily leave his cat behind. He yearned to be around cats and other animals to alleviate the separation from his cherished feline, and Morningside Animal Hospital was able to provide that comfort for him.

Born in Iowa, Doug has lived in various places including Texas, California, Massachusetts, Germany and England. He credits his globetrotting to joining the Air Force, as it provided him with a chance to see the world. He’s been to almost everywhere he’s wanted to go, although he still has the Arctic and Antarctic on his bucket list.

Doug has been married for 29 years to his wife Kimberly, and they have 5 children (including a set of quadruplets). They also have a cat named Ciara. Doug makes it perfectly clear that while he loves cats, he also loves dogs - especially Huskies!

Nahima has always had a certain way with animals. When she was a small child, she came upon a baby bird who had fallen from its nest. Determined to nurse the tiny chick back to health, Nahima did everything she could, and while the bird didn’t make it, the experience showed her how much she enjoyed helping animals. In fact, that chance encounter would ultimately shape her future career path.

Nahima enrolled in Fort Pierce Westwood Academy to obtain her CVA certification. As part of the process, she needed to complete a certain number of volunteer hours, which she was able to do here at Morningside Animal Hospital. She enjoyed working here so much, however, that she decided to join the team as a permanent employee. Nahima’s favorite part of the job is reading patient notes and trying to figure out what’s wrong prior to the vet’s diagnosis. It’s sort of like being a detective or solving a puzzle.

When she’s not busy at the clinic, Nahima enjoys tapping into her creative side through reading, writing, and painting. She has one fur baby of her own—a dog named Coco who loves to steal Nahima’s clothes and use them to make sleep nests. A self-professed “nerd,” Nahima won first place in HOSA County competition in the vet science category.