The veterinarians and staff of the Animal Clinic of the Humane Society of Sarasota County pledge to provide the very best care for your pets and to always treat you and your pets with compassion. Click here for a complete list of HSSC Shelter and Animal Clinic Staff.

Dr. Ivan grew up in Bulgaria. He graduated from veterinary school in 1997. From 1997-2002, he worked in large animal medicine. He was a research fellow at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences from 2002-2005. He moved to Denver, Colorado, in 2005. He spent the next 11 years working at Planned Pethood Plus, home of the famed Animal Planet show: Dr. Jeff, Rocky Mountain Vet. He began working at the Animal Clinic of HSSC shortly after his move to Sarasota in early 2016.

Dr. Ivan enjoys rock music and fast cars. He lives with his wife and twin children.

Dr. Kirsten Bui was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. In 2013, she received her Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of South Florida. Four years later, Dr. Bui earned her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tennessee. She joined the Animal Clinic staff in June 2017.

Dr. Bui has a Boxer named Dawkins. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, crocheting, working out, and going on adventures with her husband, Philippe. 

DR. NICOLE TAURISANO
Associate Veterinarian

Originally from Yonkers, New York, Dr. Taurisano received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from St. George's University and completed clinical training at the University of Pennsylvania. She also holds a Bachelor's degree in Animal Science, Pathobiology, and Wildlife Conservation from the University of Connecticut and a Master's degree in Anatomic Pathology, completed in collaboration with the Animal Health Centre in British Columbia studying streptococcal infections in marine mammals. Prior to joining HSSC, she completed a year of specialty training at Brandon Equine Medical Center here in Florida.

Passionate about diverse topics across a range of species, Dr. Taurisano's academic interests turned into a love of being a general practitioner over years of international community outreach in the form of wellness clinics, sterilization missions, and caring for working equids with organizations such as World Vets. When she isn't traveling, she lives with her three cats and two ball pythons.