Dr. Julia Whited Gerrell was born in Thomasville, Georgia. Her family relocated to Wakulla County in 1994. The Wakulla High School graduate received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in animal science with a minor in agribusiness. She earned her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University in Auburn, Alabama in 2013. Always planning on returning home to practice, that’s exactly what she did. After practicing locally in Crawfordville for seven years, Dr. Whited was ready to make the dream of owning her own practice a reality. She started Forgotten Coast Animal Hospital with Dr. Cassandra Manuel in the summer of 2020. Her goal is to continue to bring exceptional veterinary care to her local and surrounding communities.

Dr. Whited’s professional interests include internal medicine, feline medicine with a special interest in Cytauxzoon felis infection, preventive care, and soft tissue surgery. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two energetic young sons. They especially enjoy spending time on the Wakulla River, fishing, floating, and simply relaxing.

2019 was especially hard for Dr. Whited, having had to say goodbye to three of her beloved animals: Tater, a 14-year-old Bulldog mix; Skinny, a 15-year-old Domestic Shorthair; and Ginger, the 34-year-old Quarterhorse she learned to ride and show with. Then in 2020, her foster-failure shepherd mix, Dixie, also crossed the rainbow bridge at the age of 12. She still has a house full of four-legged family members including Jake, a loveable and rambunctious spaniel mix; Lady, a sassy calico; and South, a rescued Thoroughbred gelding.

Dr. Cassandra Manuel was born and raised in Sanford, North Carolina. She attended North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, earning bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry and biology. She stayed at NC State to attend veterinary school and graduated with her veterinary degree in 2011. Since graduation, she has worked in mixed animal practice and small animal practice in Florida’s Big Bend. Dr. Manuel and her family moved to Wakulla County in 2017, and they love the small-town atmosphere and the nature activities the area provides. In 2020, Dr. Manuel and Dr. Whited decided to act on their dream to start Forgotten Coast Animal Hospital to provide quality and compassionate veterinary care to Crawfordville and the surrounding communities.

Dr. Manuel’s professional interests include clinical pathology and cytology, dentistry, internal medicine, and soft tissue surgery. She enjoys volunteering for the PAWS of Wakulla local charity and providing veterinary services to the Tallahassee Museum. Dr. Manuel enjoys relaxing with her husband and two daughters in her free time and spending time outdoors hiking, kayaking, and horseback riding. Of course, Dr. Manuel’s family would not be complete without their furry companions. They have a goofy senior Great Dane mix Dr. Manuel adopted during vet school named Goose (pictured) and two felines–a lovable rescued tuxedo cat named Scully and the newest member of the family, a playful orange tabby cat called Sebastian.

Dr. Logan Harvey Elmore is a young female veterinarian, and what she lacks in a feminine name she makes up for in a bright personality! Born and raised in Crawfordville, FL, she attended the University of Mobile in Mobile, AL, for her bachelor’s degree while playing volleyball, then continued to the University of Florida for vet school, graduating in 2019. While in vet school, she also completed professional certificates in Food Animal Medicine and Veterinary Business Management.

Logan returned home to work and her current veterinary interests include dentistry and end-of-life care. She also dabbles in large animal medicine just enough to keep her parents’ cattle ranch running. She has been married to her husband, Eric, for seven years; they have an almost one-year-old son, Everett, and a rescued black cat named Amelia. Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Elmore enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, representing Usborne Books as a consultant, and working with Cristian Veterinary Mission through short-term mission trips.