Hello students!  My name is Dr. Joanna D. Maza.  I have been teaching at Saint Petersburg Veterinary Technology College since 2013.  During this time, I have taught both online and campus classes which included: Large Animal Diseases, Large Animal Clinical and Nursing Skills, Small Animal Emergency Medicine, Pharmacology, Animal Anesthesia, Work Practicum, Anesthesia and Surgery Labs, as well as, Study Abroad at an Elephant Sanctuary, in Thailand.


I received my BS degree in 1997 from DePaul University in Chicago, IL and my DVM degree in 2001 from Tufts University, Boston, MA. Following graduation from vet school, I interned at Fairfield Equine Hospital in Newton, CT, to gain more equine experience.  While there, I was sponsored by the USDA, to go abroad to the UK to learn about and help eradicate the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak. Once the disease was eradicated, I was hired by the British Ministry’s DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) to go out to farms, examine animals for signs of disease and do epidemiological surveillance.  Through this experience, I gained a lot of large and farm animal skills. Thereafter, I became a member of the MRCVS (Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) and worked in a busy Veterinary Surgery in Cardiff, Wales.  Since my return back to the US, for the past 10+++ years, I have been working at an exclusively small animal hospital in Sarasota, FL.  I live in Bradenton, FL with four miniature wirehair dachshunds named: “Anubis,” “Shakti,” “Frankie,” “Hoagie” and two cats: “Trichobezoar” and “Handsome Jack."


After experiencing a plethora of health challenges following shoulder surgery, I am interested in everything that promotes health and well being.  I love nature.  My interests include travel, arts, yoga, meditation and spirituality.


My goal as an instructor is to help you succeed in your courses and more importantly, for you to gain practical skills and applications of information covered which will enable you to become the best veterinary technician that you can be.


Please feel free to email me at any time with questions or concerns you may have. I look forward to learning with you!

Warm Regards,

Dr. Joanna D. Maza, DVM, MRCVS