PAAH Services
About Park Avenue Animal Hospital
Park Avenue Animal Hospital is a full - service small animal hospital providing preventative and emergency services for your dog, cat, hamster, gerbil, ferret, bird, reptiles and more! Our experienced Doctors and highly trained Staff of Professionals are dedicated to providing you and your pet with preventative and emergency medical procedures.
We understand what it is like to have your special family member under duress so we try to do everything we can to assist you and your family through even the simplest of procedures. Your can read more about the services we provide in our services section.
Feel free to stop by the clinic, located at 847 N. Park Avenue, Apopka, Florida, and meet our staff and take a tour of the facilities. We want you to feel at home and comfortable with leaving your special family member in our care.
Dr. John Turgai, D.V.M.
Dr. John Turgai attended University of Wisconsin-Madison where he received his Bachelor of Science degree. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine where his love for animals increased ten-fold. After graduation from UWVS, he completed a one year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Oklahoma State University.
Dr. John loved living in Madison but decided to migrate to Orlando to be closer to family. Dr. John's prior work experience includes Longwood Veterinary Clinic and Winter Garden Animal Hospital. He also worked as a relief doctor at various other clinics, including the emergency clinics.
He has two cats, an aging Maine Coone, Charlie, and an impish three-legger, Iggy. When he is not working at the clinic you may find Dr. John scuba diving off the coast of Costa Rica or skiing on the snowy slopes of Vermont!
Barbara Blow - Receptionist
Barbara Blow has been a veterinary receptionist for seven years. After owning her own business in the Apopka community for over 23 years, she decided it was time for a change of pace. A love for animals and people alike inspired her to become a veterinary receptionist.
She became a member of the Park Avenue Animal Hospital team in 2008. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother, and utilizes those life experiences to better connect and communicate with clients of all ages. She enjoys meeting new clients and her charisma and energy is an inspiration throughout the office. Barbara is the proud pet-mommy of Briar, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Shadow, a very appropriately-named cat.
Emilie Rubinstein - Receptionist
Emilie Rubinstein was literally born to work in veterinary medicine. While she joined the Park Avenue Animal Hospital team in 2011, some would say that she’s been in veterinary medicine all her life. Born while her dad (Dr. Rick) was still in vet school, Emilie has grown up around animals and around the veterinary industry. It stands to reason that as she grew up, Emilie gained experience working with all sorts of animals, and aspired to follow in her dad’s footsteps.
After graduating high school, Emilie migrated north to attend Berry College’s pre-veterinary program. She recently returned home to Florida to be closer to family while she focuses on her future. Emilie has a lot of interest in nutrition and animal behavior, and is very passionate about horses. She has three rescued horses of her own, along with the dogs and cats that make up the ‘Rubinstein Pack’. In her free time, Emilie loves to visit Disney or spend time with her fiancé, Derrick, and her horses.
Carol Howley - Technician
Carol Howley has been a member of the veterinary community for over 12 years. She knew her calling from an early age was to work with animals and got her start as a kennel technician in her home state of Connecticut. After relocating to Florida in 2001 she decided to take her career to the next level, attending the Florida Institute of Animal Arts. After graduation she set out to establish herself as a certified veterinary assistant, working for Banfield, the Pet Hospital in Casselberry. In 2003 she made the move to Tuscawilla Oaks Animal Hospital in Oviedo, where she met Dr. Rick and Dr. John and began building a solid working relationship and gaining the experience needed to help her attain her next goal, becoming a certified veterinary technician.
Carol is now enrolled in the Saint Petersburg College, pursuing her AS Degree in Veterinary Technology. She relocated to Apopka shortly before Park Avenue Animal Hospital opened its doors, and has been a member of the team since 2008. As Lead Technician she oversees the rest of the tech staff, leading by example and ensuring that everyone on the team continues to reach toward the common goal of providing only the best care for both pet and owner. Her personal passion for animal care includes focuses on client education regarding nutrition, rehabilitation and animal behavior, though she is well-rounded and knowledgeable about many aspects of small animal medicine. She loves all animal types, as evidenced by the motley crew of pets in her personal care, including two dogs, a cat, a rat, and a catfish.
Laana Simmons - Technician
Laana Simmons has been a life-long animal lover. Her passion for animals helped to net her first animal care experiences while she was still in high school, where she volunteered for a local pet shelter. Since then she has worked for kennels, shelters, and animal hospitals, and has been with Park Avenue Animal Hospital since 2008.
Her passion for animals makes her a true asset to the Park Avenue family as she serves as a technician, as well as maintaining the kennel. She strives to make every pet’s visit to the kennel a positive one, with lots of play time and plenty of walks, and cozy sleeping arrangements all in a clean and comfortable environment. In addition to the pets at Park Avenue, Laana also cares for her own pet, Chi-Chi, a Chihuahua.
Janicka Gunn - Technician
Janicka Gunn has been working in veterinary medicine since 2004. She got her start working with a large animal (equine) dentist. She also worked on a number of ranches as a technician, where she assisted with the care of horses in need of medical examinations and treatments. Janicka (pronounced “Yah-nicka”) joined the Park Avenue Animal Hospital team in 2011.
She has always been interested in animals, particularly dentistry and nutrition. She is also a passionate advocate of animal rescue. When not working, Janicka loves the outdoors, and can often be found riding horses or four-wheelers, and more than that she enjoys spending time with her daughter and pets. She has an Australian Shepherd and a Rottweiler.
Kage Hinton - Technician
Kage Hinton is a new arrival to veterinary medicine, but he has loved animals all his life. He’s a busy student, attending the Florida Hospital College of Medicine, but helps out on weekends taking care of pets in the kennel. Kage (a shortened phonetic of Kevin Jr. or “KJ”) is a huge supporter of animal rescue.
He’s the proud papa of two greyhounds from Gold Coast Greyhound Adoptions of Orlando (Chase and Dasher) and his family also has Dixie, a 16 year old Lhasa apso. He’s also passionate about animal nutrition and keeping pets fit and healthy. Being a med school student on his way to becoming a doctor, healthy living and nutrition are very important to him, and it shows when he’s off the clock.
He enjoys spending time with his fiancée trying out healthy-alternative baking recipes, biking, swimming, and running, and has participated in a number of 5k and 10k running events around central Florida.
Terry Rubinstein - Office Manager
After working for Florida Hospital for 30 years Terry Rubinstein has joined Park Avenue Animal Hospital as our Office Manager. With her experience in nursing and her love of animals, Terry made the decision to move from human medicine to animal medicine when her husband Rick opted to open a new practice in Apopka so he could be closer to home. Of course having the opportunity to work along side her husband of 32 years did not influence her decision in any way!
Terry loves people and animals and her care and compassion for both, is endless and heartwarming. Her favorite things are reading and being with her family and friends, and taking care of the family's numerous pets that include but is not limited to: dogs, cats, hamster, bird, 3 horses and one mule colt. Be sure to say Hi to Terry when you visit she would love to chat.
Jessica Wilson - PR Consultant
J
essica Wilson has been in veterinary medicine since 2002. She has served a variety of positions at a variety of hospitals across the state of Florida, and has been a member of the Park Avenue Animal Hospital since 2008. Her passion for animal care began at an early age and after several years in technology-based positions, made the switch to animal medicine, and has not looked back since. Jessica’s personal interests in animal medicine include client education, animal behavior, senior care and dental health.
She also supports rescue groups and fostered and bottle-raised Park Avenue Animal Hospital’s very own Hospital kitties, Hamlet and Ophelia. She plays several roles around the hospital, including receptionist, technician, computer repair and maintenance, and even cat grooming! She has a casual personality and an ability to communicate with clients, as well as a love for all animals – Large, small, furry, scaly, or feathery, two legs, four legs, hooves, paws or claws! Her passion to learn the hows-and-whys of animal medicine, coupled with her expansive knowledge of computers and general technology makes her an asset to the Park Avenue team.
Dr. Rick Rubinstein, D.V.M.
In 1987 Dr. Rubinstein graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. He went on to attend the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine at Gainesville, Florida where he graduated with honors in 1992. After being the proud owner of Tuscawilla Oaks Animal Hospital in Winter Springs for 14 years, he decided to open a new practice in Apopka in order to be closer to home.
Dr. Rick has served on the board of the Central Florida Veterinary Emergency Clinic and The Admissions Committee for the College of Veterinary Medicine at The University Florida-Gainesville. He is active in Rotary and supports many rescue groups.
Once you meet Dr. Rubinstein you will instantly see his love for animals and his family. His hobbies include golf, running and biking, and the occasional triathlon. He and his wife, Terry, have 3 children along with many different kinds of pets.
Amber DiSalvatore - Lead Receptionist
Amber DiSalvatore has been in the veterinary field since 1999. Her senior year at Apopka High School allowed her to shadow at Umatilla Animal Hospital where she was able to observe routine care, surgeries, and traveled to farms for routine farm calls, including tusk trims on pot belly pigs, all the way up to castrating bulls. After graduation, she worked as a technician and receptionist for various animal hospitals in central Florida, while taking courses for Veterinary Practice Management at Saint Petersburg College.
Meg Sorensen - Receptionist
Meg Sorensen got involved in animal medicine almost ten years ago, while living in California. She started with volunteer work, feeding and maintaining feral cat colonies and helping out at spay/neuter clinics through the Monterey Humane Society.
A recent ‘transplant’ to Florida, Meg joined Park Avenue Animal Hospital in 2011 and brings along a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team. Meg is interested in and passionate about pet nutrition and client communication, and is a big supporter of animal rescues. She is shamelessly ‘owned’ by Ava, her Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and her motley crew of cats – Owen the ‘tripod’, Claire, and Greyser the polydactyl (he has SEVEN toes on his front feet, and SIX toes on his back feet!).
Since Meg is new to Florida she spends a lot of her off-time exploring the area and getting to know her new surroundings. She enjoys walking, thrift shopping, reading, and watching movies. She’s also a self-confirmed Anglophile - a fan of all things British – and aspires to someday be able to visit the UK.
Kathy Dodgen - Lead Technician
Kathy Dodgen grew up in the company of animals. She was raised on a small farm in rural Arkansas and learned to love animals at a very young age. Growing up in such a rural area, Kathy saw that animals often weren’t treated as well as they should be. She made it a goal to get involved in animal care, with the hope of joining a team that provides the best care possible, improving the lives of all kinds of animals. Kathy began the road to becoming a veterinary professional over 15 years ago and has been serving the pets of Central Florida ever since. She joined the Park Avenue family in 2011, taking on the role of Lead Technician.
As Lead Technician she oversees the rest of the tech staff, leading by example and ensuring that everyone on the team continues to reach toward the common goal of providing only the best care for both pet and owner.
At home, Kathy has a dog and a pair of cats that she bottle-raised. In her off-time, she enjoys horseback riding, jet skiing, hanging out by the pool and spending time with family and friends.
Becky Deighan - Technician
Becky Deighan has been a member of the veterinary community since 2000. She joined the Park Avenue Animal Hospital team in September 2009 and we are glad to have her experienced mind and compassionate heart as part of the PAAH family.
Her grandmother’s golden retriever, who only had one eye, helped spark an interest in animal health that started at an early age and followed her into adulthood. Becky is passionate about animal nutrition, believing that proper nutrition and exercise are critical to ensuring a good quality of life for pets of all ages. In addition to all the pets she loves on at Park Avenue Animal Hospital, Becky has a black lab and two cats at home. In her off time she has a love and talent for the visual arts, and enjoys painting and drawing. She also enjoys fishing and spending time outdoors.
Mary Varner - Technician
Mary Varner has been an animal lover from an early age. She began her career in veterinary medicine in 2007 and has been with Park Avenue Animal Hospital since 2008. As animals cannot speak for themselves, Mary dedicates herself to providing a voice and understanding for them.
She is a caring and compassionate technician who is passionate about animal dentistry, performing several cleanings per week and advising pet owners on dental products to help keep breath fresh and teeth clean. She also puts her caring touch to good use with pets in the kennel, helping to keep the environment clean and comfortable and offering lots of extra TLC to every pet that comes to stay. She strives to ensure the comfort and good health of each and every pet as if it were her own.
Mary enjoys spending time with her daughter, Julia, and her two dogs, and can be often found at the beach, fishing, or by the pool, grilling with friends, or shopping.
Ines Krause - Technician
Ines Krause only recently joined the veterinary medicine community, but has loved animals all her life. She joined the Park Avenue Animal Hospital team in 2012 as a kennel and technician assistant, helping out in many ways all round the hospital. Ines keeps the kennel and hospital clean and comfortable for all our clients and patients, ensures that boarding animals have all their needs met, and assists the doctors whenever an extra set of hands is needed.
Ines appreciates animals of all shapes and sizes and is passionate about making sure the animals she interacts with have the best life possible. She has a wide variety of domestic and exotic pets, including a cat and dog, an African house snake, crested gecko, a pink-belly sideneck turtle, and a 50-gallon fish tank.
Scott Evans - Technician
Scott Evans started coming to Park Avenue Animal Hospital while in High School to shadow the doctors and technicians and to learn all he could about veterinary medicine in preparation for beginning his college career. He recently officially joined the Park Avenue team as part of the kennel staff, helping to care for the dogs and cats and keeping the environment clean and organized.
Scott has been an animal lover all his life, but became particularly interested in reptiles after visits to the Bronx Zoo in New York. He currently owns a ball python, as well as two dogs and two cats. When he’s not at Park Avenue, Scott works at the Orlando Science Center and also volunteers at the Central Florida Zoo. Scott loves to spend time with his family, fishing on the beach or boating.
Mary Hinkle - Information Technology
After working for the Tribune Corporation (Orlando Sentinel) for 13 years Mary formed her own company, A Change Of Pace, L.L.C., providing Computer and Website services throughout Central Florida. Starting out in the industry as an Electronics Technician where her primary responsibilities were designing and repairing circuit boards in computer systems she accepted a position at The Orlando Sentinel in 1987. Her management skills advanced her position to Technical Services Manager where her department provided computer support to the entire newspaper operation, from desktop systems to the press and distribution systems. Mary received her Microsoft and Apple certifications while at the Sentinel and in January 2001 formed her own company.
Mary loves music and plays a variety of instruments, sings and has even written a song or two! She loves being with her family that includes her two dogs, Sophia ( a black pug) and Lucy ( a red mini-dachshund).
Seaver Rubinstein - Mascot
Seaver the Retriever is a three year old golden retriever, owned by Dr. Rick Rubinstein. He may be all grown up, but he is still a puppy-at-heart. Despite originating from a long line of champion show dogs, Seaver decided to skip show business and settle down as a family dog and beloved hospital mascot.
Since even before Park Avenue Animal Hospital opened, Seaver has been its cheerful, welcoming face. His adventures have been immortalized (and somewhat embellished) in the Seaver comic strips that appear every week in the Apopka Chief, and on this website.
In real life, he can frequently be seen hanging out at the hospital, eager for toys, treats and any attention. His loyalty, infectious smile and constantly wagging tail never fail to brighten someone's day. Seaver is a good boy.
Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.
