Meet the Team at Brandon Lakes Animal Hospital

Dr. Rodriguez was born in Madrid, Spain, and raised on the west coast of Puerto Rico. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of North Florida. He then attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, where he met Dr. Woodside in 1997 and graduated in 2000. He completed his clinical year at Purdue University along with Dr. Woodside. He then attended an additional clinical year at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Dr. Rodriguez was chief of staff for Banfield Pet Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, for ten years, where he was named one of the nation’s top 10 Banfield doctors in 2007. He became a part of the Brandon Lakes team in 2016 and has known Dr. Woodside for nearly 20 years. Dr. Rodriguez specializes in small animal medicine and soft tissue surgery. He is also proud to be fluent in Spanish.

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!

Dr. Santiago is a compassionate veterinarian with a deep appreciation for the human-animal bond. She earned her doctorate degree from Western University of Health Sciences, where she gained extensive knowledge of animal health and welfare. Dr. Santiago joined Brandon Lakes Animal Hospital in the summer of 2023, where she is excited to apply her skills and knowledge to care for her patients. Fluent in both English and Spanish, she is able to provide personalized care to a diverse range of pet owners.

With a strong commitment to high-quality medicine, Dr. Santiago takes the time to get to know each patient and their owner. She is dedicated to developing strong relationships based on trust and respect, ensuring that every patient receives the best possible care. When she is not working, Dr. Santiago enjoys expressing her love for her culture through dance. She is an accomplished salsa dancer and loves performing folkloric dances from Puerto Rico. Her hobbies reflect her vibrant personality and her commitment to staying active and engaged with the world around her.

Dr. Jeanna May Villacarte was born in Hayward, CA, but grew up in Tracy, CA in the San Joaquin Valley. She attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2015 and after studying in the Caribbean Island of Saints Kitts and Nevis for 2 and ½ years, she came back to attend her clinical year at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine.

After obtaining her doctorate degree from Ross in January 2019, she has worked as a full-time associate in Stockton, Discovery Bay, and Tracy, CA. During that time, she has also done relief work in Modesto, Stockton, Merced, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, and Lathrop, CA. Aside from work, she loves to travel and visit new places while spending time with her family, her husband, her one-year-old son, her friends, and her three pets.