Maria Pilar Diaz, DVM - President
South Miami Pets
Email: maripilidiaz@gmail.com
Although she’d had an affinity for animals since she was young, Dr. Diaz wasn’t sure that veterinary medicine was her true calling until her first year of college. After a year and a half of architecture studies, she realized that it was time for a change. During the first semester of her sophomore year, she decided to do some volunteer work at a local animal practice. It didn’t take long for Dr. Diaz to become hooked—she decided almost immediately to start making arrangements to attend veterinary school!
Dr. Diaz grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where a love of nature, animals, and the outdoors blossomed early on. She attended the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez to earn her Bachelor’s degree in animal science, and was then accepted to the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine in Alabama to earn her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Diaz entered the rigorous internship program at Veterinary Specialists of South Florida after graduation, completing a year-long rotation focusing on medicine and surgery. In addition to her formal education, Dr. Diaz also holds a certification in canine rehabilitation therapy from the Canine Rehabilitation Institute.
When Dr. Diaz’s previous boss decided to retire from private practice, he offered her the opportunity to purchase the clinic. Dr. Diaz had always dreamed of owning her own hospital, and she simply couldn’t refuse! Now, as an Associate Veterinarian and the co-owner of South Miami Vets & Pets, she’s able to live her dream every day of making beloved pets—as well as their owners—feel better. Dr. Diaz is particularly interested in surgery, dermatology, and emergency work.
Dr. Diaz and her husband, Manuel, have two beautiful daughters, Sofía and Julieta. The family shares their lives with Pancho, Dr. Diaz’s adopted four-legged partner in crime, and Poppy her cat.
Outside of work, Dr. Diaz enjoys photography, music, practicing the guitar, and traveling. She’s been to various destinations all over the world, having visited South Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Venezuela, and Argentina!
Sharon MacIvor, DVM - Past President
Dadeland Animal Hospital
Email: TheMiamiVet@gmail.com
Dr. Sharon MacIvor received her D.V.M. degree from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1988. Shortly thereafter, she established her first animal hospital of five in South Florida. Currently, she owns and is the lead veterinarian for Dadeland Animal Hospital. Throughout her veterinary career, she has volunteered service to multiple organizations including Miami-Dade Schools' Careers in the Classroom and the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine's Senior Student Program. She is a former medical director of South Florida Wildlife Rescue and on the medical board of the Greater Miami Humane Society. Her desire to give back to the community is further reflected in her service to the Executive Board of Directors for the Miami Zoo, FIU Honors College, Special Olympics of South Florida, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and our very own SFVMA. She is the proud parent of two daughters pursuing their careers as a medical doctor and Tax Attorney. A classically trained pianist, Dr. MacIvor often enjoys tickling the ivories as well as travel fishing and watercolor painting.
Marta Lista, DVM - FVMA Past President/Board of Directors
Trail Animal Hospital
Email: listamp@yahoo.com
Dr. Lista earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Florida in 2000 and her B.S. from the University of Miami in1996. Dr. Lista began working at Trail Animal Hospital in 2007 and shortly after purchased the animal hospital from her mentor, Dr. Perry Smith. She currently sits on the board of directors of the Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA) and the South Florida Veterinary Medical Association (SFVMA). She is a past president of the SFVMA. Dr. Lista lobbies in Tallahassee and locally in support of the veterinary profession and animal care. She currently is the District 6 Representative for the FVMA representing Broward, Miami, Collier and Monroe County veterinarians. She is a member of the UFCVM Dean’s Circle of Excellence and served a three year term on the UFCVM Admissions Committee. Dr. Lista runs with Foot Works and FDC and competes in local 1/2 marathon and 5k races. She also is a member of the Hammerheads Triathlon group and enjoys biking and swimming. Dr Lista has a boat captain’s license and enjoys spending time on the beautiful Biscayne Bay. Dr. Lista lives with her husband, Charles, son Charlie, stepdaughter Isabelle and a rescued retriever named Bo.
Robert Swinger, DVM, DACVOS -FVMA District 6 Delegate/Treasurer
Animal Eye Guys
Email: swingereye@gmail.com
Dr. Robert Swinger completed his undergraduate work and received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois in 2003. After completing an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Veterinary Specialists of South Florida in 2004, he went on to complete both an ophthalmology internship and residency at the Animal Eye Specialty Clinic. Soon thereafter, he joined the VCA Aurora Animal Hospital before returning to Florida in 2011 to launch Animal Eye Guys. Animal Eye Guys has expanded to multiple locations across South Florida extending on the east coast from Miami to West Palm Beach and on the west coast from Cape Coral to Naples. Dr.Swinger is board certified and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. In his work environment, Dr. Swinger enjoys teaching and taking active roles in the clinic’s internship/residency programs. He is an active lecturer/wet lab instructor across the nation including the Florida Veterinary Medical Association, The Gulf Atlantic Veterinary Conference, Vet Vacation CE, University of Illinois, St. Matthew’s University, and many local events for his referring veterinary community. Outside of the veterinary arena, Dr. Swinger enjoys spending time with his family (which includes his twins, Keegan and Francesca, and a toy poodle, Sophia) and enjoys the outdoors and traveling.
Gerardo Diaz, DVM - MDAS Delegate/Board of Directors
Briarwood Animal Hospital
Email: briarwoodanimalhealth@bellsouth.net
Dr. Gerardo J. Diaz completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Miami and received his DVM degree from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. He is past-president of the Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA), the South Florida Veterinary Medical Association, and the Dade County Veterinary Foundation. Dedicating a substantial portion of his career to upholding the veterinary profession, he has served on FVMA's Board of Governors, Budget and Finance Committees, held the office of District Representative, and currently serves on the Legislative Affairs Committee as well as the Admissions Committee for the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. He practices both equine and small animal medicine and surgery with a special interest in infectious diseases and surgery.
Ricardo Diaz, DVM - MDAS Delegate/Board of Directors
The Pet Care Clinic of Doral
Email: doralpetcare@aol.com
Rick L. Diaz completed his undergraduate studies in Biology/Chemistry at the University of Miami and received his DVM degree from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. He is past-president of the South Florida Veterinary Medical Association and has served on the College Advisory Board for the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr Diaz has received 3 Gold Star Awards for the Florida Veterinary Medical Association for outstanding contributions to veterinary medicine in Florida. Dr Diaz is currently owner/veterinarian of The Pet Care Clinic of Doral.
Irving Lerner, DVM - Miami Veterinary Foundation Delegate
Crossroads Animal Hospital
Email: icjrd@aol.com
Born in Miami to parents who both survived the Nazi Holocaust and arrived and settled in Miami in 1950. Morris Lerner was a successful and respected blue-collar businessman who wanted his children to become educated and lead a different path. Irving fulfilled his dream by becoming a veterinarian graduating from the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine’s third graduating class. He has practiced in Miami for 39 years and founded Crossroads Animal Hospital at Kendall in 1985. Irving is currently President of the Miami Veterinary Foundation, a non- profit organization, responsible for promoting the veterinary profession with efforts to educate and serve the low-income community, control pet overpopulation and suffering, and also to provide scholarships for veterinary students and technicians. For the past 20 years Irving has managed the family real estate business located primarily in Wynwood. The Lerner family has weathered the depression in the area through the 80's, 90’s, and early 2000’s. Irving had the foresight to hold on to the family properties in Wynwood and improve the area by investing in the buildings and find tenants who add quality to the area. Irving and others saw the need for the property owners to organize and create a Business Improvement District (BID). Irving is a charter and current member of the Wynwood BID that taxes and governs the District as a semi-autonomous municipal arm of the City of Miami. Helping create Wynwood as an international destination to live, learn, eat, create, and play has been an exciting journey, but Irving has remained grounded and still loves his chosen career as a veterinarian serving his community and helping animals and pets in need. Irving has been married to Cindy for 42 years and they have three adult children, Jill, Robin, and David, and three grandchildren. Cindy Lerner, an attorney, is the past mayor of the Village of Pinecrest serving from 2008-2016. She was a Florida State Representative from 2000-2002 and is currently running for County Commissioner to represent District 7 in Miami-Dade County.
Millie Rosales, DVM, DACVD - Board Member
Miami Veterinary Dermatology
Email: Miamivetderm@gmail.com
Dr. Millie Rosales graduated with a Bachelor of Biology and high honors from Florida International University. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000. Following graduation, she worked as a general practitioner in Miami for a non-profit small animal clinic. In 2003, Dr. Rosales returned to the University of Florida and completed a two year residency in the specialization of veterinary dermatology. Dr. Rosales is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD), a distinction given only to practitioners who have achieved board certification in this specialty. She has also authored several articles and lectured at local and state veterinary associations. Dr. Rosales holds a primary interest in allergic and immune mediated skin conditions in dogs and cats; and chronic (recurrent) ear infections in dogs. Beyond her dermatology expertise, Dr. Rosales has a strong passion for the care and well-being of pets in shelters and rescue organizations. You will often find her supporting and advocating for local shelter and rescue groups, raising awareness on spaying/neutering and promoting the importance of pet adoption. A native Miamian, Dr. Rosales values her roots and is fluent in English and Spanish enabling her to serve the Spanish speaking clients of the South Florida area. Away from the office, Dr. Rosales enjoys spending time with her family and daughter, doing yoga and art activities. She can sympathize with her clients as she also owns an allergic white American Bulldog.
Randy Dominguez, DVM - Board Member
Animal Care and Surgical Hospital
Dr. Randy Dominguez earned his degree as a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the University of Las Villas Martha Abreu, Villa Clara, Cuba in 1997. He passed the board and obtained his license in 2007, and he founded Animal Care and Surgical Hospital in February 14th, 2011. Since 2008, Orthopedic and Minimally Invasive Arthroscopy Surgery as well as scoping has developed into his passion and primary professional activity as well as Spine and Soft tissue Surgery, he’s currently one of the few doing Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic and Thoracoscopic procedures . Dr. Dominguez has performed thousands of procedures, great part of them referred from Colleges and also providing Mobile Orthopedic, Soft tissue and Spine surgery to another Veterinary Clinics and currently Flexible and Rigid Endoscopy procedures. He is active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA), South Florida Veterinary Medical Association (SFVMA) and Cuban Veterinary College. In his free time, he enjoys running, working out, studying and spending time with his wife and 3 sons, family, friends and his dogs Sally and Cookie.
Mario Cabrera, DVM - Board Member
Cutting Edge Surgical Referrals, Inc.
Dr. Cabrera was born in Ciego de Avila, Cuba. Dr. Cabrera is a second generation Veterinarian. After graduation Dr. Cabrera attended Miami Dade Community College for one year and transferred into the school of veterinary medicine at Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Urena in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. After graduation Dr. Cabrera attended the prestigious Animal Medical Center in New York City as an international Post Graduate Intern. Dr. Cabrera then moved to West Lafayette, Indiana to attend the Purdue University foreign graduate program. In 1994 Dr. Cabrera moved back to Miami to run and manage his fathers veterinary practice in Miami. Upon attaining licensure Dr. Cabrera took over his fathers practice and grew the practice from a small one-doctor clinic to one of the largest veterinary hospitals in Miami Dade County with accreditation from the American Animal Hospital Association. Dr. Cabrera continued to expand his knowledge and expertise in both veterinary surgery and pain management with training and certification in Veterinary Acupuncture from the University of Florida’s Chi Institute and thru many advanced surgical courses. Dr. Cabrera sold his practice in 2005 to VCA Animal Hospitals, the largest veterinary group in the United States with over 500 hospitals and became a Medical Director for VCA. During his tenure at VCA Dr. Cabrera showed his passion and expertise in surgery and eventually became the in-house surgeon for all the VCA hospitals in South Florida. In 2010 Dr. Cabrera opened his present company, Cutting Edge Surgical Referrals Inc. He now exclusively limits his practice to surgery and is presently performing surgery for more than 100 hospitals from the Palm Beaches to the Florida Keys.