Dr. Erin Siems was born in Ohio but spent most of her childhood in Virginia. Even from a young age, Dr. Siems always had a passion for science and animals. Dr. Siems realized her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian when she graduated with honors from Ross University in St. Kitts, West Indies. She then spent two years at a community practice in rural Wytheville, VA before moving to St Petersburg, Fl for a position as an emergency veterinarian (and to get away from the snow!). For the past 7 years, Dr Siems has been practicing in the Bradenton area and has truly found a place to call home. While she loves all aspects of veterinary medicine, she holds a special place in her heart for geriatric medicine, making sure the golden years are truly golden. She also has a love for and excels at small animal medicine and surgery. She feels fortunate for the special bond she has formed with her patients and clients over the years and looks forward to making more memories at her new facility.

In her free time, Dr Siems enjoys hanging out with her husband and two “kids” Shaka, a boxer and Arnold, a boerboel mastiff. She also enjoys paddleboarding, running and creating culinary experiences in her kitchen. +-

Dr. Michelle Hernandez graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and is excited to be part of the Big Paws Animal Hospital team. She is RECOVER CPR Certified, Fear Free Certified for both dogs and cats, and a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Originally from New Jersey, Dr. Hernandez recently made the move to sunny Florida with her husband, two daughters, and cat to trade snow shovels for sunshine. She has a special interest in surgery, internal medicine, and behavior, and loves building lasting relationships with pets and their families. Her goal is to make every visit as comfortable and stress-free as possible while providing compassionate, high-quality care.

When she’s not at the hospital, you’ll usually find Dr. Hernandez spending time with her family, exploring parks and beaches, or trying out local restaurants.

She feels grateful to be part of the Lakewood Ranch community and looks forward to caring for your pets for years to come. +-

Dr Paul grew up in suburban Toronto, Canada, and finally managed to get a cat at the age of 7. Her mother was all for it, but her father took a lot of convincing. Since age 7, she has never been without a cat or two and has also enjoyed finally owning a dog for the past ten years, a lovable Goldendoodle. Despite her lifelong love for animals, she did not make the decision to pursue veterinary medicine until she was in college majoring in psychology. While taking a required biology class, her interest in science took off, and her plans changed! Dr Paul graduated from Tufts University in 2003, worked as an associate vet in Seattle for five years, then after a three year "mom" break, returned to work back in Toronto, Canada for nine years, both as a relief vet and an associate. In 2020, Dr Paul and her family moved to Florida, where she has been working as a relief vet for Indevets for the past five years.

Although she enjoys the freedom of relief work, Dr Paul likes to settle in and work regularly at her favorite clinics. She has been a regular relief vet at Big Paws for the past year and loves the staff and great clients! Dr Paul has special interests in internal medicine, oncology, and geriatric medicine. She is planning on taking an ultrasound course in the near future. +-