Veterinarians
in Lake Mary, FL

Dr. Hays has been with Banfield in Heathrow, FL since April 2014. Before coming to Florida, Dr. Hays owned several mixed animal practices in central Kentucky. He spent most of his career working in small and large animal reproduction. He wrote several research papers and worked on several research projects that were associated with embryo transfer, semen collection and freezing in large and small animals. His main interest during that time was working with mares in central Kentucky who had problems getting in foal. Dr. Hays has two children and five grandchildren, he enjoys being outside, playing golf and traveling with his wife in their RV. More Details >>

Dr. Portela was born in Colombia, South America and has always felt connected with animals. She attended veterinary school at the University of Tolima in Colombia and graduated in 1999. She came to the U.S. soon after graduating from vet school to do a 2 year fellowship program with the University of Florida and met her husband, a Gainesville native. After getting married, she worked with Banfield for 6 years as a Veterinary Technician, then left Banfield to work at the University of Florida for 3 years, first at the College of Veterinary Medicine in the Clinical Pathology department and then in Animal Care Services in research. Dr. Portela then finished the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates program and became licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the U.S. She came back to Banfield and has been with the company since 2015. In her free time, she loves spending time with family, exercising, dancing, and traveling. More Details >>