Ever since he can remember, Dr. Brett Zielinski always had a fascination with animals, nature and ecology. Being raised outside of Chicago, Illinois; he became one of the many who escaped the Midwestern winter for the Florida sunshine when he made the decision to get his Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology followed by his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Florida.
Dr. Zielinski’s focus is with general practice and preventative care. His passion comes from being able to make strong connections with his patients and their owners, and create practical and effective plans that lead to the best quality of life for each individual patient.
When not at work, if Dr. Zielinski could be doing anything it would be surrounding himself by nature. When that is not possible you could find him traveling, enjoying time with family and friends, or just relaxing with his pets.
From a young age, Dr. Vega was adamant about pursuing a career working with animals. Dr. Vega was born and raised in Miami, Florida. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, where he double majored in Anthropology and Criminology. Dr. Vega then went on to obtain his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from UF.
After veterinary school, Dr. Vega moved to the Tampa Bay area, where he enjoys providing quality and compassionate care to his patients. Although a general practitioner, Dr. Vega’s fields of interest include dentistry and dermatology.
Outside of work, Dr. Vega enjoys practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, traveling, and gardening.
Angela is native to the Tampa Bay area. She began her journey in veterinary medicine in 2012, while attending Eckerd College, where she studied Health Care Management. Like many in the field, she initially wanted to become a Veterinarian but by 2014 Angela decided she wanted to advocate not only for pets, but also for the professionals who dedicate their lives to them.
Within five years, Angela achieved several accolades for developing teams and processes as a lead veterinary technician, which further solidified her career path to focusing on hospital operations.
Throughout her career, Angela gained experience through working in shelter, specialty, and corporate veterinary settings. However, her heart lies in general practice, where she can make an impact for the pets, pet parents and professionals within her local community.
Kasey is another FL native, born and raised here is St. Petersburg. Kasey has been in the field for 4 years, and graduated from Saint Petersburg College’s Veterinary technology program in 2023. Kasey is passionate about providing the best quality care to all of her patients.
When Kasey is not caring for your pets, she is spending her free time with her family and friends, including her fiancé Jacob, her Goldendoodle Chesney, and her cat Xena.
Mattie was born in Gainesville, FL and has always had a passion for animals. Mattie started in the field in 2014 and shortly after attended SPC’s veterinary technician program. Her specialties are surgery procedures and educating new pet owners.
Outside of work, Mattie enjoys spending time hiking the Carolinas, nature watching her friendly neighborhood gators from her dock and spending time with her Great Dane, Jude and Mastiff/Staffie Mix, Hero.
Sasha has worked in veterinary medicine for over five years, starting as a kennel assistant and veterinary assistant before becoming a technician. Her passion for animals began in childhood and continues to drive her dedication to patient care today. She especially enjoys client communication and education, and has a soft spot for feline patients—no matter how spicy they may be. At home, Sasha cares for two cats, Benson Bean and Solstice, as well as a bearded dragon and a tree frog. Sasha is committed to treating every patient with the same care she gives her own pets, and finds daily motivation in making a difference for animals and their families.
Inspired by the legendary Steve Irwin, Isaiah has been working with animals for over nine years. He began his journey in the kennel just six months after high school and gradually moved through several roles, including reception and veterinary assistant, before becoming a full-time technician. Isaiah has a special love for reptiles and rottweilers and brings his upbeat, goofy energy to every shift. Outside of work, he enjoys playing basketball, going fishing, and spending time with his daughter. He also has a passion for coaching and previously served as the head JV basketball coach at Sickles High School. Whether it’s a new pet or a new challenge, Isaiah is always ready with gummy worms in hand and a smile on his face.
Cora has been working as a certified veterinary technician for ten years. Originally from St. Petersburg, Fl she has worked first hand with many organizations throughout Tampa Bay and especially enjoys doing relief work with ZooTampa.
In her free time Cora enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, kayaking, hiking, camping, and when she is stuck indoors making arts and crafts.
Kim is one of our Client Service Representatives. Originally from Tallahassee, Fl she moved down to St. Petersburg after graduating from Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in biology. When she isn’t working at Bayview Kim works part time at a local animal shelter helping rescue animals find their forever homes.
In her free time Kim enjoys working out, traveling, trying local restaurants with her fiancé, and reading.
Ashlyn moved from Pennsylvania to sunny St. Pete, Florida to pursue her degree in Animal Studies and Psychology at Eckerd College. While in college, she began fostering animals and felt a calling toward helping sick kittens. Learning to provide simple medical care to her fosters at home led to an interest in the veterinary field.
Now Ashlyn is enrolled in the SPC Vet Tech program, and will become one of our future Veterinary Technicians. In her free time, you can find Ashlyn out on the water, at the beach, or training with her pups.
Lauren was born and raised in Clearwater, FL. She has always had a passion for animals and graduated from Tarpon Vet Assistant program in 2017. After graduation, Lauren went on to work with animals as a trainer at Busch Gardens for several years. She recently worked for a local rescue where she cared for pets both sick and healthy.
In addition to her love of pets, Lauren enjoys traveling, listening to music and crocheting.
Marissa’s passion for animals began as a kid watching Animal Planet and rescuing injured wildlife. With years of experience in shelters, fostering, and various animal care roles, she brings both heart and dedication to her work at Bayview. She’s currently enrolled in the Veterinary Technician Program at St. Petersburg College and is especially eager to expand her skills in patient care. Marissa loves Bayview’s supportive, team-focused environment where learning is always encouraged. At home, she enjoys reading, journaling, and relaxing with her two dogs, Echo and Oya—and a few too many cats to count.
