Meet the Team at Brandon Lakes Animal Hospital

Originally from Kenosha, Wisconsin, Dr. Woodside moved to Florida in 1985. He met his wife Kathy of 25 years at the University of South Florida, where he graduated in 1992. After working several years in retail, he entered veterinary school at Ross University in 1997. He graduated from Ross in 2000 after completing his clinical rotations at Purdue University.

Dr. Woodside’s passion for veterinary medicine has led him to consider the human-animal bond as his reason for practicing medicine. “It is the cement by which we learn to love, teach, care for, and sometimes tolerate, our pets.” It is why we call our furry pals “family members” and do almost anything for them. Dr. Woodside takes pride in being well-read and current in his field and consistently strives for a diagnosis. He has a particular interest in orthopedics and surgery. He is thankful daily for a caring, professional, and conscientious staff dedicated to the best patient care and client satisfaction.

Dr. Heppner was born in Tampa, Florida, and raised in the Brandon area. After graduating from Bloomingdale High in 1995, she began her undergraduate studies at Clemson University. She graduated with a BA in Animal Sciences in 1998 from the University of Florida. Dr. Heppner then attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her clinical year at Kansas State University and a Small Animal Internship at North Carolina State University. She then returned to Tampa for six years as an Emergency Veterinary at Blue Pearl Veterinary Specialist. Dr. Heppner performed post-doctorate training at the Chi Institute at the University of Florida and is certified in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture. Her interests are in Veterinary Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Pain management, and exotic medicine, including birds and small mammals.

Dr. Heppner and Dr. Woodside have known each other for over ten years. She brings a wealth of knowledge to the hospital and is a complement to our already outstanding group of staff members. She is the mother of two beautiful daughters and two dogs.

Dr. Taggart was born in Denver, Colorado but grew up in Florida. She obtained her biology degree from the University of South Florida in 1997 and graduated from the University of Florida veterinary school in 2001. Dr. Taggart began her career as an associate DVM in a practice-owned hospital and became a partner there in 2004. During her time there, she was appointed Chief of Staff for Banfield Pet Hospital for 16 years. She joined the Brandon Lakes Animal Hospital family in August 2017.

Areas of Interest: Dermatology (skin and ear disease, wound care), Internal medicine, Soft tissue surgery, General Surgery, General Dentistry, and small animal medicine.

Dr. Craver was born in Tampa, Florida and raised in the Riverview area. Her interest in veterinary medicine began in her early years. After graduating from Tampa Bay Technical High School with a veterinary assistant certificate, she continued her education at the University of South Florida where she graduated with a degree in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Psychology. For her Doctoral studies, Dr. Craver attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in the beautiful island of St. Kitts. After an accelerated didactic program, she completed her year-long clinical studies at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine in Indiana.

Dr. Craver began her career at Brandon Lakes Animal Hospital in 2007 as a Veterinary Technician while attending her undergraduate studies. She’s has worked alongside Dr. Woodside, Dr. Heppner, and Dr. Rodriquez for 9+ years prior to achieving her degree in Veterinary Medicine. She was excited to return to the sunshine in Florida and continue her career alongside one of the best teams of Doctors and Nurses at Brandon Lakes. Her interests include Dentistry, Soft Tissue Surgery, Internal Medicine, and Dermatology. Dr. Craver is the proud mom to a rambunctious Golden Retriever named Theodore who loves coming to work as much as his mom!

Bio Coming Soon!