We are proud to have Dr. Ana Maria Cepeda join our veterinary team where she will be seeing clients at both Braden River Animal and North River Animal Hospital. Originally from Port St. Lucia, Florida, Dr. Cepeda is a resident of the Parrish area where she has been practicing companion medicine as an Associate Veterinarian in our local area for many years. She is well-versed in small animal medicine and surgery with special interests in Dermatology, Internal Medicine and Animal Behavior.

An alumna of the University of Florida, in Gainesville, FL, Dr. Cepeda received her Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences as the recipient of the Bright Futures Scholarship. Next, Dr. Cepeda pursued her professional studies at St. Matthew’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in Grand Cayman where she matriculated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. In conjunction with her graduate studies, she also completed a year of clinical training at the highly-regarded Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Dr. Cepeda brings a wide-range of experience to our veterinary team. Her many, very interesting positions of leadership and volunteer experience include being the team leader for the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) while at St. Matthew’s University School of Veterinary Medicine. She also completed an Emergency and Critical Care Externship at Eastern Carolina Veterinary Emergency Treatment Service and a Spay/neuter Externship at the Humane Society of St. Lucie County in Port St. Lucie. Additional accomplishments include completing a Veterinary Forensics Workshop at the University of Florida College of Medicine, a Marine Veterinary Medicine Workshop in the Cayman Islands as well as a wildlife research internship at the White Oak Conservation Center in Yule, FL. Dr. Cepeda also has published work in the Journal of Theriogenology related to veterinary imaging of the feline reproductive system.

Also a huge advocate of volunteer work, Dr. Cepeda has been heavily involved in dog fostering for Canine Friends Rescue Group and the Cayman Islands Humane Society Foster Program. Dr. Cepeda’s long-standing desire to care for the health needs of animals also equally parallels with the connection she shares with pet owners. She states, “I really enjoy being a part of the veterinary team here. My true passion as a veterinarian is connecting with pet owners in the exam room where I can provide education and information that will help improve and/or extend the quality of life for their pet. Having these relationships with our clients is truly satisfying for me.”