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Loretta North, CVT

Loretta North, CVT

Practice Manager

Joined Brandon Equine Medical Center in August 2007

Loretta grew up riding and caring for horses in Michigan and showed for years on the hunter/jumper circuit. She has fond memories of riding her first pony Becky while wearing a dresssomething that she doesn’t often wear now. In 2005, Loretta graduated from Bel-Rae Institute in Denver, Colorado as a Certified Veterinary Technician. She then interned and later worked for Littleton Large Animal Hospital in Littleton, CO before relocating to Florida. She is experienced in ICU care, emergencies, radiology, and anesthesia and always greatly enjoyed patient care. Following the birth of her first child, Loretta focused on administrative work, and in 2016, she became the practice manager. Loretta lives with her husband Will (an awesome professional chef), sons Henry and Blake, and two thoroughbreds, Cherokee and Flash, aka “the boys.”

You may contact Loretta at lnorth@brandonequine.com.

Kristine Rusch

Kristine Rusch

Accounts Receivable Clerk/Receptionist

Joined Brandon Equine Medical Center in September 2018

A lifelong Floridian, Kristine began riding horses at the age of seven. Kristine is very much at home in the saddle and worked exercising racehorses before joining Brandon Equine. She currently owns three horses and travels throughout Florida as a competitive barrel racer. When not barrel racing, Kristine enjoys fishing with her boyfriend Austin and co-parenting their Australian Shepherd Chaz.

Heidi Irvin

Heidi Irvin

Administrative Assistant

Joined Brandon Equine Medical Center in September 2019

Animals have always been a passion of Heidi’s with horses being a big part of her life while growing up on Tappan Lake, Ohio. Along with her daughter (now a Gator at the University of Florida) and identical twin boys, Heidi relocated to Florida in 2007. Heidi enjoys spending time outdoors with her two horses, a donkey, three dogs, and three cats.

Betty Lewis

Betty Lewis

Administrative Assistant & Ambulatory Technician/Nurse Assistant

Joined Brandon Equine Medical Center in December 2006

For those of you that don’t know me, I am the oldest living employee at Brandon Equine. I’ve been with Brandon Equine off and on since 2006. We’ve occasionally parted ways, but I just keep popping back up like a bad penny. I’ve held most positions here: barn technician, surgical technician, administrative assistant, and ambulatory technician. I am currently an administrative assistant to Dr. Richter and the ambulatory technician/nurse assistant to Dr. Young. My hobbies include keeping my walker upright and remembering how to dress myself. No, seriously, I barrel race and won a senior state championship in 2012. I enjoy fishing, kayaking, and working around my farm.

Trinity Shepherd

Trinity Shepherd

Inventory Supervisor

Joined Brandon Equine Medical Center in August 2010

Trinity’s first position at Brandon Equine was as a veterinary technician. She now holds the position of inventory supervisor. Trinity has been around horses her whole life, so joining the Brandon Equine team was a natural fit. She considers it a true honor to help alleviate the suffering of horses. One of her patients, Captain (an off-the-track thoroughbred), literally became her own several years ago and is her pride and joy. When not working with the horses, she is busy being a mom to her son Wyatt and taking care of their many critters. 

Mary Ann Zwirko

Mary Ann Zwirko

Technician Assistant & Client Care Coordinator

Joined Brandon Equine Medical Center in January 2014

Mary Ann grew up and spent the majority of her life in New Jersey. She was an elementary school teacher, as well as a high school and college coach. She earned two master’s degrees along the way before moving to Florida in 2014, when she began working at Brandon Equine. She currently lives in beautiful Clearwater and enjoys working with and learning from the incredible doctors here at Brandon Equine. Her well-behaved and much loved dog Pirate enjoys working here at Brandon Equine and makes a wonderful office dog as well.

Mariah Perez

Mariah Perez

Technician/Nurse Assistant

Joined Brandon Equine Medical Center in February 2015

When I was younger I lost my first horse to colic. Since that moment, I knew that I wanted to help save horses when I grew up so that no young boy or girl, or even bigger boys and girls, would have to go through that same pain! My love for all animals big and small has lead me to have a small zoo of my own with two of my own horses: my old retired mustang Bentley and my Chincoteague pony Spirit. I also have chickens, turkeys, rabbits, dogs, cats, pigs, and a few others! I have two beautiful daughters and an amazing husband that puts up with me bringing home all sorts of critters! I love teaching and watching my daughters love and care for all the animals!

Lindsay Staffieri

Lindsay Staffieri

Technician/Nurse Assistant

Joined Brandon Equine Medical Center in November 2016

Bio coming soon!

Lauren Lanier

Lauren Lanier

Technician/Nurse Assistant

Joined Brandon Equine Medical Center in June 2017

Bio coming soon!

Jessica Hosegood

Jessica Hosegood

Certified Veterinary Technician

Joined Brandon Equine Medical Center in April 2019

Bio coming soon!

Alyssa Rodriguez

Alyssa Rodriguez

Ambulatory Technician/Nurse Assistant

Joined Brandon Equine Medical Center in September 2019

Bio coming soon!

Expert equine care in Brandon, FL.

From our board-certified horse surgeons and board-certified internists to our professional and courteous staff, at Brandon Equine Medical Center, we are committed to the health and well-being of all breeds and sizes of horses. In the field, as an outpatient, or when admitted to the horse hospital, we treat every horse like our own and every client as the most important.

Contact Info

Phone: 813-643-7177
Fax: 
813-643-5877
Email: info@brandonequine.com

Hours

Monday – Friday: 8AM-5PM
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Emergency care available: 24/7/365

Location

605 E Bloomingdale Ave
Brandon, FL 33511
Click here for directions.

Have a question?

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If this is an emergency, please call us directly at 813-643-7177.

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