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. Marta Pawluk
Staff Veterinarian
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. Amy Ford
Staff Veterinarian
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. Alison Millington
Staff Veterinarian
Dr. Millington grew up in Florida and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of North Florida. She then went on to St. George’s University and the University of Georgia to complete a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 2017. Following graduation, Dr. Millington worked in Grenada at St. George’s University, teaching veterinary students in a clinical setting. Following her time at St. George’s, she then moved to San Diego, CA, where she worked in general practice. After five years on the west coast, she decided it was time to head back to her home state and is now here with us at Island Hammock.
Dr. Millington has devoted almost 20 years to working in various fields of veterinary medicine. She has gained worldwide experience and has spent time working in places such as the Caribbean, South America, and Asia. Dr. Millington appreciates the special bond we have with our beloved pets and enjoys being able to work with pet owners to maintain and improve their pet’s health.
In her free time, Dr. Millington loves spending time outdoors and watching wildlife. She also loves spending time with her husband and two dogs, as well as with her friends and family. She is an avid traveler and also hopes to get her pilot’s license in the near future.
Associate Veterinarian
Michelle Koon
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 pug children: Kaiser, Reuben, and Sushi.
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 and “the pug pack.”
Practice Manager
Tiffany Bonilla Arce
Tiffany lives with her husband, Ruben; her sons, Alexander and Aiden, their newest addition Avery, her dogs, Avis, Chase, and MooMoo, and her Scottish Fold Senor Poofy Pants. When she’s not running around after her kids, she enjoys watching movies, singing, drawing, being an amateur photographer, and helping her husband DJ.
Brianne Leon
She earned her associate’s degree in Equine Photography from the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale. Still, after adopting an off-the-track Thoroughbred, she decided on a career in the veterinary field. She quickly became fascinated with rehabilitation, nursing old race injuries, and giving these horses a second chance at a new life. She is currently in school to become a Certified Veterinary Technician.
Bri moved to the Keys with her fiancé Giovani and two fur babies- Holly, a Bull Terrier, and Chubs, an American Bully- to live out their island dream.
When not helping animals, you can typically find her paddle boarding, boating, at the beach playing fetch in the sand with her pups, or reading- she never leaves home without access to a good book! She also loves horseback riding and visiting Disney whenever she gets the chance!
Tyra Harris
Kevin Martin
Kevin’s hobbies are hunting, fishing, boating, and working out. He lives in Key Largo with his giant dog, Blanca. They go for a run every morning, taking in the beautiful sights the Keys have to offer.
Ashliey Pena
Eliabel Figueroa
Ely recently moved to the Keys with her dog Aspen. From a young age she has been passionate about helping animals. She grew up surrounded by many farm friends and always wanted to pursue a career with marine life and the veterinary field. She has been in the animal husbandry and vet field combined for about 8 years. Ely is a Certified Veterinary Assistant and is working towards becoming a Certified Veterinary Technician. Her ultimate goal is to become a Veterinary Nurse for wildlife and marine mammals and what better way to reach that goal than being in the Keys! In her free time, Ely enjoys traveling, making art, reading, visiting museums, watching movies, going to concerts and spending time with her boyfriend David and all their pets.
Summer Rodriguez
Summer has had a passion for animals since she was a little girl. She grew up on a farm in Miami with chickens, horses, dogs, cats and even peacocks! She has been a Vet Tech for six years and has been in the veterinary field for eight years. In her free time, she likes boating, fishing and the beach- really any water activities. She lives at home with her two dogs, Marley, a lab mix, Macie, a Great Dane mix and her tuxedo cat Cali!
Nurse Technician
Karla Buckley
When she’s not working, she spends time outdoors, kayaking, SCUBA diving, and swimming. She has two cats, Penny, who she adopted as a feral from Pennekamp Park, and Lena, who runs the household. Karla loves playing cards and board games and does about anything with friends and family.
Karla has spent many years fostering for assistant dog programs, Colorado Greyhound Adoption, and any other animal that found her front door. She has always had a house full of animals and enjoys working with all the furry friends at the Island Hammock Pet Hospital.
Lead Client Service Representative
Danielle Albury
Dani is proficient in working with animals and enjoys it. She started pet-sitting in high school. She is devoted to making the patients feel comfortable and relaxed in our office. It also offers to assist clients in any way possible. Dani spends her free time with family and friends and loves listening to music and being by the ocean.
Cari Sanders
Cari would love to address some FAQs about Louisiana living: 1. Mardi Gras is a big deal. 2. They do not have any alligators as pets, but they sometimes wander out of the swamps into our yards. 3. Boiled crawfish reign supreme, and there is no other way around it.
And as always, laissez les bon temps rouler!
Crystal Rousseau
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!!
Paloma Marrero
She’s always been passionate about animals and how much they bring joy into our lives, so working at Island Hammock Pet Hospital makes her feel very accomplished. Paloma enjoys spending time with her family, loves music, the outdoors, and caring for her big cat family!
Levi Carlisle
Levi is a Key Largo local, born and raised, and graduated from Coral Shores High School in Plantation Key. He has found his dream job working at Island Hammock Pet Hospital and absolutely loves working with and around animals and has always had quite a few at home. His spare time is taken up with his girlfriend Delilah and pets of his own; his rescue cats, Cheese, Champagne, Beau, and Meme, and three ferrets, Mr. Business, Bambi, and Paul. He occasionally likes to rehab wild animals too, if the opportunity arises. He is very thankful to have a job so close to animals at the Island Hammock Pet Hospital and is dedicated to keeping clients and patients comfortable and happy.