Meet Our Veterinary Team
Meet the Veterinarians & Team of Island Hammock Pet Hospital! We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets!
Meet Our Team in Key Largo, FL
Choosing a vet can be challenging—you want the best for your pet, and so do we! At Island Hammock Pet Hospital, we know that trust needs to be earned. Our team members have taken many additional steps to offer care and service at a much higher standard because we know what it means to share one’s life with an animal companion. It’s a special bond we are honored to support! Meet our team of doctors and staff below, and contact us if you have questions or need to schedule an appointment.
Dr. Amy Ford
Originally born in New Orleans, Dr. Ford developed her love of animals from a young age. She grew up riding horses and caring for every stray animal she found. Dr. Ford earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Georgia(Go Dawgs!). After undergrad, she attended St. George’s University on the beautiful island of Grenada, West Indies, where she earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and developed a passion for scuba diving and all things island life. She completed her clinical year at Auburn University and then moved to New York for a rotating internship. It was there she fell in love with the exciting, fast-paced life New York City offered. Dr. Ford continued to practice veterinary medicine in New York City and has a strong interest in the human–animal bond, fear-free practice, surgery, and medicine. After braving too many northeast winters, Dr. Ford is excited to be back in the tropical sunshine and ease into a more relaxed way of life. Her interests include scuba diving, free diving, boating, yoga, and spending time with her rescue bulldog, Bogie, and Chihuahua Romeo.
Dr. Marta Pawluk
Dr. Marta Pawluk was born and raised in Poland. After graduating high school, she left her home country to study in the United States. She completed her undergraduate studies in Philadelphia, graduating Cum Laude from Temple University. From there, she headed off to veterinary school in Grenada, West Indies, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. Georges University. After several years of island living in Grenada, she returned to the US to complete her clinical year at Cornell University, followed by an externship at the University of Pennsylvania.
While attending veterinary school, Dr. Marta particularly enjoyed emergency medicine cases. Owning and fostering shelter animals all her life, she has also been a proponent of rescued animals and volunteered at several spay/neuter clinics while studying veterinary medicine. Dr. Pawluk also donates her time to help our local animal shelters and rescue groups.
Away from work, Dr. Marta enjoys spending time outdoors. Her hobbies include hiking, running, and playing tennis. Now living in the Keys, she is thrilled to be back near the water, where she likes SCUBA diving, kayaking, and paddleboard. Dr. Marta resides in Key Largo with Meitschi, an island dog she adopted while in Grenada.
Dr. Ana Pernas
Dr. Pernas was born and raised in South Florida and always had a love for animals and nature. She completed her Bachelor of Biological Sciences degree at Florida International University, in Miami.
After undergrad, Dr. Pernas went on to earn her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida. Dr. Pernas has an interest in helping shelter animals and earned a professional certificate in Shelter Medicine during her time at UF.
Throughout her veterinary medicine journey, Dr. Pernas has gained experience in various areas of vet med, including: small animal general practices, animal shelters, zoo hospitals, and ecological research.
After vet school, Dr. Pernas is excited to return to South Florida to be close to her family, friends, and the ocean! Her interests include traveling, reading, weight-lifting, being outdoors, and caring for her Parakeet named Mañana.
Associate Veterinarian
Michelle
Michelle has been working in the veterinary industry since 2005. She started as a kennel technician and as her passion for caring for animals grew, so did her career. She has had many roles in the industry, each providing her with more knowledge and stronger relationships with clients and co-workers alike.
Originally from Traverse City, Michigan, she has always felt she is “tropical at heart.” Relocating to Key Largo was a dream come true for Michelle and her husband, Jason. They have three fur children: Sushi Roll, a Pug; Tootsie Roll, a Teacup Chihuahua; and Musa Saki, a Bengal.
In her spare time, Michelle loves SCUBA diving, kayaking, birding, or anything she can do to enjoy the beautiful nature that is Key Largo with Jason.
Practice Manager
Jennifer
Savanna
From rehabbing injured wildlife to working with local pet rescues, Savanna has always been passionate about caring for animals.
Born and raised in Arkansas, Savanna fell in love with the beautiful nature that surrounded her but found herself even more compelled to study the ocean and the creatures within it. She majored in Biology at Hendrix College in AR, where she had the opportunity to live in Costa Rica while studying leatherback sea turtles.
This launched Savanna’s passion for studying marine life, which led her to working in her school’s research lab that studied spinner dolphin muscles. These animals were fascinating, but she had only ever looked at them through a microscope and wanted to experience them in person. After graduation, Savanna moved to Maui where she got to see the dolphins and where she started her career in veterinary medicine.
Since then, Savanna has worked with seals and sea lions, but her favorite so far has been the furry friends that walk through the Island Hammock Pet Hospital doors!
When she’s not working, you’ll find her scuba diving with her boyfriend, Louis, taking long walks with their two huskies, Luna and Ashyda, or sunbathing with their bearded dragon, Goby!
Anna
Allie
Bio coming soon.
Axel
Prior to joining our hospital, he volunteered at a humane society in South Florida, gaining hands-on experience caring for animals. His time there deepened his passion for animal welfare and reinforced his commitment to working in veterinary medicine.
In addition to his role in animal care, Axel is a Licensed Real Estate Agent and a proud SPH alumnus. He was a multi-sport athlete participating in football, lacrosse, and basketball— all experiences that helped shape his teamwork and discipline.
Whether working with clients, teammates, or patients, he brings integrity and a genuine love for helping both people and animals.
Crystal
Born in Portchester, NY, Crystal moved to Key Largo, Florida, with her family back in 1987. Crystal has always been fascinated with working with animals, big or small. She was involved in the Marine Mammal Stranding Network in 1992 and was very proud to be part of “The Pod Squad.” In 1997 Crystal started her family with her first bundle of joy, Michael, retiring from the stranding network. In the years to follow, Michael was joined by his two sisters, Sierra & Skylar. During this time, Crystal was also involved in the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of America and was rehabilitating squirrels with her children. Crystal is looking forward to her journey at Island Hammack Pet Hospital.
Crystal lives with her husband, David, her two dogs, Dinghy & Leo, as well as one kitty named Precious. During her downtime, Crystal enjoys gardening, being on the water or at the beach, watching football, and loves her Florida sunsets. Go, Pack, Go!!
Lead Client Services Representative
Seanna
Originally from a small rural town in Maryland, Seanna was able to grow up around a wide variety of animals, ranging from dogs and cats to chickens and goats. This fostered a love of animals of all kinds from a very young age.
Seanna moved to Key Largo in 2019 after achieving a Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology to pursue a career in scuba diving. After 5 years of working in the diving industry teaching new divers, running marine conservation programs, and managing dive shops, Seanna decided it was time to jump into another passion of hers, animals!
In her spare time, you can find Seanna scuba diving and relaxing at home with her boyfriend Nate and their cat Mo.
Linda
In her younger years, Linda grew up on a small farm in Utah fostering her love for animals, big and small. She helped raise chickens, pigs, ducks, a feisty goat , and rebellious rooster.
Linda moved to the Keys in the fall of 2022 when her husband was offered a job out here and was able to transfer her job out here working remotely. She finally retired from the Federal Government after 29 years and found that she could now fulfill her dream of working with animals.
In her free time, she loves kayaking, trying her hand at gardening and spending time with her dog Max and cat Kitty.
Natalie
Natalie lives with her partner, Justin, her dog Jacques, her three cats Milo, Foofie, & (also) Jacques, three hermit crabs, and too many fish to count. In her free time, Natalie enjoys fishing, public speaking, painting, puzzling, beach combing, and aqua-scaping her freshwater aquariums. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia, Go Dawgs!
Hayley
Originally from a small town in Indiana, Hayley has always had a love for animals and the ocean. She completed her undergraduate degree in Hawaii and is now working toward her master’s degree at the University of Miami for Marine Mammal Science. She hopes to continue learning more about animal care and eventually pursue a career in veterinary medicine working with marine mammals.
In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors and spending time on the water. She has an energetic black Lab who loves tagging along on the boat for fishing trips!