Lauren Prather

DVM

Dr. Prather graduated cum laude from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000. She also obtained her undergraduate degree in Zoology from the University of Florida in 1996. She is a native of Florida and grew up in Tallahassee.

Dr. Prather enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine. Her hobbies include traveling, spending time with family and friends, and of course, Gator football! She has 3 feline companions; Darth Kitty, Handicat, and Henry.

Dr. Prather has been at our hospital since 2001. She is the current secretary of the CFVMA, a member of the FVMA and the AVMA.


Katie Benbassat

DVM

Dr. Benbassat is a 2006 magna cum laude graduate from University of Florida. She was awarded many honors beginning as a high school senior with her acceptance into the University’s Early Admissions Program for Veterinary Medicine. Before becoming a veterinarian, she also worked as a veterinary technician. Dr. Benbassat has a special interest in surgery, oncology, and emergency medicine.

Dr. Benbassat shares her home with her husband, Jacques and three kids, Ava, Brock and Claire. They have 2 cats J.C. and Monster. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, CrossFit, traveling and reading.


Lindsay Kuester

DVM

Dr. Kuester obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in animal sciences from the University of Florida in 2000. She went on to graduate from the University Of Florida College Of Veterinary Medicine in 2005. In between undergrad and veterinary school, she completed an internship at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, researching African elephant behavior and reproduction. Dr. Kuester has previously worked as a veterinarian in Kissimmee, Fl. and Charlotte, NC.

Her professional interests include ophthalmology, dentistry, and surgery. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her cat Pip and dog Dublin, scuba diving, and she is an avid Gator football and basketball fan.


Alexandria Velez

DVM

Dr. Velez was born and raised in Ocoee, Florida. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Central Florida in 2016. She went on to graduate from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 2020. Dr. Velez has a special interest in emergency and internal medicine. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Her hobbies include traveling, reading, and baking.


Elizabeth Cappleman

DVM

Dr. Cappleman is originally from Charleston, SC. She attended Sewanee: The University of the South where she played 4 years of collegiate basketball and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She also earned a Masters in Biomedical Professions at Lincoln Memorial University before graduating from The University of Tennessee: College of Veterinary Medicine in 2020. Dr. Cappleman enjoys all areas of veterinary medicine, especially surgery and preventative medicine. She loves spending time with her husband, Sam, and their two French Bulldogs, Gus and Edna! She also enjoys traveling, cooking, and anything outdoors!


Jennifer MacDonald

DVM

Dr. Jennifer MacDonald was born and raised in Scotland prior to moving to Winter Garden with her family in 2010. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from St. Leo University and graduated from St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2023 after completing her clinical year at University of Florida. Her most memorable veterinary school experiences include working with Rhinos in South Africa, assisting in surgery on a tiger and helping with research on leatherback turtles in Grenada!

Dr. MacDonald has a special interest in internal medicine, emergency, anesthesia/pain management, and preventative care. She is also fear-free certified and working towards becoming a certified veterinary acupuncturist through Chi University.

Outside of the clinic, Dr. MacDonald loves singing, DIY/craft projects, traveling, Jeopardy, family time and enjoying her own furry crew: her dogs, Yogi, Billie, and Bambi and her cats, Ronald and Quinty.

Dr. MacDonald has been a part of the WGAH family since 2016 when she first started as a kennel technician, then veterinary technician before going to vet school. She is proud to return to the team as a veterinarian!


Cathy

Veterinary Technician

Cathy has been a technician at the Winter Garden Animal Hospital since 1984 and has been in the animal care profession for over 36 years. She is the mother of two beautiful grown daughters and she shares her home with many pets including dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, and even a few goats!


David

Veterinary Technician

For as long as I can remember I have always had a passion, or as some will call an obsession with animals, and I’m proud to say it’s a shared passion with my daughter. I have a soft spot in my heart for big dogs, and I’m proud to share our home with 17 amazing fur babies (Boss, Mia, Tank, Dexter, and Xena) just to name a few. But my love isn’t just for dogs, I love snakes, lizards and other exotics, and am proud to have a few of these amazing critters in my home as well. Being able to teach my daughter that all animals are amazing and to be respected is an honor and a privilege.


Missy

Receptionist

Missy joined WGAH in early 2021. She has always had a soft spot in her heart for animals. She began her Vet Med journey in 1998, fresh out of high school where she became a member of a small clinic in Ohio. Over the course of 25 years she has had the pleasure helping fur babies and clients in clinics in Ohio, Michigan, Georgia and now with us. In her free time Missy can be found spending time with her 4 children, exploring Orlando or taking photos of nature. Missy currently has 3 dogs and a hamster of her own.


Nikki

Technician

Nikki joined WGAH in March of 2017. She has been a technician since 2004 and has worked for large nonprofit organizations as well as small private practices. During her 13 years she has worked with all types of animals from cats, dogs, birds, skunks and reptiles. Aside from her love for animals and veterinary medicine she is a proud mommy of three beautiful children.


Michelle

Receptionist

Bio & Photo Coming Soon


Lexy

Kennel Technician

Lexy has been with WGAH since 2018 and she enjoys helping her doctors and coworkers. In her spare time, she enjoys the outdoors, marine life, and the beach. She is always up for fun adventures such as traveling, swimming, movies, and theme parks. Lexy has raised with animals her whole life and enjoys every minute of it, she currently shares her home with her cat Hiccup and dog Sophie.