We are very pleased to announce the addition of three new doctors to our team! Thank you all for being patient with us for the last year and a half when our appointment schedules have been so full. We have been working hard to add additional doctors to our team, but wanted to make sure we got the right ones. We think we have.
Dr. Dani Bernard was born in Bolivia and moved to the U.S. with her family at a young age. From early on, she has loved animals and taking care of them. Her grandfather was a human orthopedic doctor and he would often share medical stories with her, so medicine was a big component in her life.
“From a young age I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian. Growing up you could often find me bringing home stray cats, dogs and the occasional injured possum and taking care of and playing with our 5 dogs, 2 cats and a large hoard of small animals that my parents graciously allowed me to keep.”
Dr. Bernard spent most of her life in Florida. She received her Bachelors of Science from the University of Central Florida and her Masters of Public Health from the University of South Florida. Dr. Bernard was ready for a change and attended The Ohio State University for veterinary school, where she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (Go Bucks!).
Her professional interests include internal medicine, preventative medicine, nutrition and emergency medicine. Dr. Bernard has also taken extra training in fear-free handling and places great importance on the gentle handling of all animals and is dedicated to practicing high quality and thorough medicine.
In her free time, Dr. Bernard enjoys traveling and hiking with her husband and their dog Roscoe, a sweet American Staffordshire Terrier. She also enjoys sketching, watercolor painting and being an active member of their Church.
Dr. Stephen Long was born in Portland, Oregon but grew up in Orlando. Dr. Long knew at the age of eight that he wanted to be a veterinarian. Like all veterinarians, his passion for animal welfare drove him to this field.
“Watching Animal Planet, wildlife shows, and animal care teams nurse animals back to health are all a huge part of why I became a veterinarian. Nothing is more rewarding than to be able to heal an animal and watch their progress as they improve.”
Dr. Long went to the University of Alabama for his undergraduate degree, where he received his Bachelor’s in Biology. He then received his DVM at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.
While his primary interest is in cats and dogs, he is also well versed in aquatic medicine and he is a member of the UF Marine Mammal Response Team. He is also passionate about animal behavior.
“Coming into a veterinary office is often terrifying for a lot of animals, so I put an emphasis on being an effective communicator to clients and adjusting my routine to the patient’s comfort. It is important to make sure the current visit goes well so that future visits are less intimidating for both the patient and the client.”
Dr. Long resides in the Melbourne with his energetic Labrador mix, Blazer. Dr. Long took Blazer in as a foster pet, but as with many foster cases, ended up adopting him.
“I didn’t have the heart to return him to the shelter. So I told my family I had someone special to introduce them to and adopted Blazer, and he’s been with me ever since.”
Outside of the clinic, you can find Dr. Long at the gym, playing video games, and like most Floridians, at the beach or fishing. Dr. Long also enjoys movies such as Deadpool, Captain Marvel, and How to Train Your Dragon.
My goal at every visit is to ensure the patient receives quality care, the client has all questions or concerns addressed, and to create a low stress environment for the patient so they can become more comfortable with each visit.
Dr. Erin Bentley was born in Palm Beach, FL but spent the majority of her early childhood in Roanoke, Virginia. At the age of 5, she and her family moved back to Florida and settled in Melbourne Beach. A few years later, an Australian Shepherd named Sydney joined the family and became a lifelong patient at Animal Medical Clinic under the care of Dr. Godwin.
Dr. Bentley began horseback riding at the age of 6 years old and never looked back. She has owned multiple horses and has shown in different disciplines including eventing and hunters, but currently competes in dressage with her Westphalian, Lacota. A lifelong love for horses ultimately laid the foundation that led her to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. She began undergrad by completing the honors program at Florida Atlantic University and then transferred to the University of Florida where she graduated with a degree in Animal Sciences/Biology. Dr. Bentley’s initial plan was to become an equine nutritionist and it wasn’t until graduating from undergrad at UF that she decided that becoming a veterinarian would better allow her to maximize her interest, skills, and passion.
After graduating from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in the top 10 in her class, Dr. Bentley completed an ambulatory internship at Peterson Smith Equine Hospital in Ocala, FL. She continued working as an equine vet in Ocala where she was one of the official horse show vets at the World Equestrian Center. But missing small animal practice, and desiring to return to the coast and to be closer to family, she joined the team at Animal Medical Clinic, Indialantic. She has particular interests in canine and feline general medicine, nutrition, ophthalmology, and end of life care.
Outside of work, Dr. Bentley enjoys riding her horse, running, lifting weights, relaxing at the beach, baking, and watching the Gators!