Clinic Staff

Dr. Peak graduated with honors from Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine. He completed a veterinary dentistry residency at the Dallas Dental Service Animal Clinic in 2000 and became Board Certified by the American Veterinary Dental College in 2001.

He has served as President of the American Veterinary Dental College, chair of the Examination Committee, the Fiscal and Audit Committee, and the Board of Directors. He has been the Program Chair for the Veterinary Dental Forum, and chair for the Veterinary Dental Oversight Group, a committee that oversees the operations of the Veterinary Dental Forum. 

Dr. Peak has published several articles relating to veterinary dentistry and believes strongly that the education of other veterinarians and the general public about dental disease in pets is the key to providing optimal oral health. He has lectured and performed wet labs in many locations and veterinary practices across the country from California to Maine. He is married to Erin and they have two sons, Matthew and Fletcher. When not engaged in veterinary dentistry, he enjoys fly fishing and sports with his sons.

Dr. Chris Smithson graduated with honors from Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine. He completed a veterinary dentistry residency at the Center for Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery in Gaithersburg, MD and is Board Certified by the American Veterinary Dental College. 

Dr. Smithson is originally from Montgomery, AL.  He received B.S. with honors in Animal and Dairy Science from Auburn University in 1999 and graduated from Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine with honors in 2002.  After seven years in general practice, Dr. Smithson began a formal residency training program in dentistry and oral surgery. In 2011, he completed his residency training at the Center for Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery in Gaithersburg, MD.  He became board certified by the American Veterinary Dental College in 2013.  

Following his residency, Dr Smithson returned to the Tampa area and became a partner at The Pet Dentist.  He is excited to provide specialized care in dentistry and oral surgery, and he enjoys all aspects of veterinary dentistry but has a special interest in oral oncologic surgery and endodontic disease.

Dr Smithson has lectured at local and national veterinary meetings and has authored journal articles as well as book chapters on the subject of dentistry and oral surgery.  In 2012, he received an award for outstanding original publication in The Journal for Veterinary Dentistry.  Dr. Smithson has served on the AVDC Exam Committee since 2013 and was Chair of the Committee from 2017-2019. 

In his spare time, Dr Smithson enjoys fishing, canoeing, camping and any activity that allows him to be outside. Most of his time away from work is occupied by spending time with his wife, Heather (a Tampa native and also a veterinarian) and their three daughters.  Dr Smithson and his family have two pets, a cat named Moby and a deaf Border Collie named Possum.

Dr. Brown received a B.S. in Animal Sciences from Louisiana State University in 2014. She completed her Doctorate at Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine in Phoenix, Arizona where she co-founded the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Dentistry Society.

Dr. Brown accumulated valuable experience in small animal general practice in Charlotte, North Carolina, before transitioning her focus exclusively to small animal dentistry. She underwent extensive training in advanced dentistry and oral surgery, ultimately completing her veterinary residency at The Pet Dentist. She ardently advocates for advancing the field of veterinary dentistry, showcasing her expertise through published works and lectures on the subject.

Dr. Brown, originally from Texas, spent the majority of her childhood along the Alabama Gulf Coast. Growing up on a small cow-calf operation in northern Alabama and participating in various equestrian disciplines from the age of five through the collegiate level inspired her to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.

Dr. Brown has two dogs; a Golden Retriever mix, Ruca, and a three-legged Labrador Retriever, Rufus. In her free time, you can find Dr. Brown tending to her succlent garden, cooking, traveling with friends and family, or cheering on the LSU tigers!

Dr. Brown's Publication(s):

1. Dental Abnormalities in Two Dental-Skeletal-Retinal Anomaly-Positive Cane Corso Dogs: A Case Series. Brown AT. Peak RM. Smithson CW. Bell C. Journal of Veterinary Dentistry. 2023;0(0).

doi:10.1177108987564231215170

Dr. Blythe Waters is originally from Atlantic Beach Florida and graduated from The University of Virginia where she was a Jefferson Scholar. After teaching International Baccalaureate Chemistry for a year, Dr. Waters committed to her lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian. 

She graduated with Honors from the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. She practiced general medicine and emergency medicine and even owned her own 5 doctor practice in the Jacksonville, Florida area before deciding to pursue a residency in dentistry.

Dr. Waters served as the UF representative to the AVMA during veterinary school and chaired the International Veterinary Student committee, organizing over 250 study opportunities for international students at US Universities. She has also served her local community by serving as a City Commissioner in Atlantic Beach and remaining active with the Jacksonville Veterinary Medical Association.

In her spare time, Dr. Waters enjoys any activity that allows her to be outside with her dog and her family. She is also an avid reader and an erratic gardener who appreciates that orchids and succulents are remarkably tolerant of a little benign neglect. She shares her home with her husband (Dave), daughter (Sybil), mom (Janice), 2 cats (Saru and Peugeot) and 1 dog (Otis Redding). She can’t choose between the mountains and the ocean as her happy place, but knows that peace is to be found in the quiet and beauty of nature. 

Dr. Duca started her career as a licensed veterinary technician and went on to complete her doctorate in veterinary medicine at St. George's University. She then accepted a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Cornell University. Upon completion, her interest in dentistry led her to a private practice in upstate NY where she was able to have a special focus on general practice dentistry and oral surgery cases. As she became more solely focused on dentistry, she realized that she wanted to specialize and accepted a residency position with The Pet Dentistry of Tampa Bay in pursuit of board certification. During time away from her career, she enjoys spending time with her family and kids, traveling, cooking, and exploring new places with her adopted Caribbean Street dog named Spice.

Dr. Erin Cambier, originally from Palm Harbor, Florida, embarked on her academic journey at her beloved alma mater, Auburn University and graduated with a degree in Animal Sciences. Eager to expand her horizons, she then ventured to the Great White North to the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island, Canada, where she earned her veterinary degree.  

While in veterinary school she initiated the chapter of the Christian Veterinary Fellowship organization and found special interests in reproductive medicine and dentistry. After finishing her schooling, she began practicing in Nova Scotia, working as a small animal veterinarian. She spent time working in different types of veterinary medicine, to include primary care, emergency care, and rural practice, enjoying the variety the veterinary field has to offer.  

Dr. Cambier discovered a joy in collaborative healthcare, relishing the opportunity to work closely with colleagues and pet parents to deliver the best care as a unified team. While she finds fulfillment in many aspects of her profession, her heart lies in veterinary dentistry. Eager to deepen her expertise she returned to the Tampa Bay area to pursue becoming a board-certified veterinary dentist.

In her spare time Dr. Cambier enjoys the warmer waters of the Gulf, walking the beaches with her husband, Seth, and their Golden Retriever, Daz. Back at home, her two cats, Chad and Bo Jackson, hold down the fort. The newest addition to their home has been their beloved son, Noah, with whom they plan on discovering all the local splash pads that Pinellas county has to offer.

Dr. Bonnie Gatson is a native of south Florida and received a degree in Zoology from the University of Florida in 2007. She then pursued her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida and graduated in 2011. 

After completing a small animal rotating internship at Tufts University in North Grafton, MA in 2012, she returned to the University of Florida and completed a residency in anesthesia and pain management in 2015. Dr. Gatson became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia in 2016. After completing her residency, Dr. Gatson taught anesthesiology as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Florida until 2021.

Dr. Gatson enjoys advanced anesthesia and pain management, including the use of locoregional techniques such as nerve blocks to minimize the amount of pain medication required to keep pets comfortable after surgical procedures. As an educator for many years, Dr. Gatson also enjoys teaching veterinary practitioners in all aspects of anesthesia and pain management. She is the founder of Safe Harbor Anesthesia Support, with the goal of providing direct high-quality anesthetic care to animals around the state of Florida.