Dr. Laura Woodward (Baltodano)
Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Miami, Florida, Dr. Laura discovered her passion for working with animals at an early age. Combining her love for animals with a desire to make a difference in people’s lives, she pursued a career in veterinary medicine—a field that perfectly embodies her dual passions.
After earning her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Washington State University in May 2013, Dr. Laura became deeply involved with the WSU Pet Loss Hotline. Through this experience, she provided compassionate support to pet owners nationwide as they navigated the grief of losing a beloved companion, reinforcing her commitment to honoring the human-animal bond.
Since December 2015, Dr. Laura has been the sole owner of Lighthouse Pet Clinic, where she dedicates herself to offering exceptional care to pets and their families through every stage of life. Her commitment to wellness extends beyond animal care. In 2018, she founded the nonprofit organization Andrew’s Anthem in honor of her son, channeling a portion of the clinic’s proceeds to support teens, young adults, and their families in building a strong foundation of mental well-being.
Looking ahead, Dr. Laura is excited to co-create the Revive Health & Wellness Center with her husband, Mike. This venture will offer holistic wellness practices designed to nurture both pets and people.
When she isn’t caring for her patients, Dr. Laura enjoys a variety of activities, including reading, exercising, teaching mindfulness and self-compassion, archery, bowling, kayaking, boating, and dancing. She also cherishes quality time with her children, husband, and her fur family of two dogs and two cats.
Michael F. Woodward, Vice President of Administration
Mike is the husband of Dr. Laura, and he serves as administrative captain of the practice. He works with the doctor to ensure that Lighthouse is reaching as many companion animals as possible.
Originally from Virginia Beach, VA., he moved to Florida from the Outer Banks of North Carolina with his family in 2018, residing in Venice until he met Dr. Laura.
Professionally, his passion is writing and communicating in ways that are clear and concise, believing that effective communication is the very best way to build lasting, meaningful relationships with our families, friends, and colleagues.
In his spare time, Mike loves to be outside with Dr. Laura, hiking, kayaking, traveling, and exploring. He also loves to read, swim, surf, and fish, believing that you can take the boy out of the woods, but can never take the woods out of the boy.
Maria Eldridge, Medical Services Director
Maria is a native Floridian whose compassionate nature and love for animals led her to a career in veterinary medicine thirty-eight years ago. She has been the lead Veterinary Technician at Lighthouse Pet Clinic since December 2015, and has recently has been assigned the role of Medical Services Director, overseeing daily functions of surgery, anesthesia, and patient procedures. She is a well-respected member of the veterinary community here in Lee County and has worked with a variety of animals, both large and small, during her career. Maria is also a certified instructor with the Florida Animal Care and Control Division. She has one dog, one cat, a large Sulcata tortoise, and a large outdoor aviary with a variety of birds. When she is not busy working, she enjoys traveling to the mountains and spending time with family.
Denise Reed, Veterinary Technician
Denise is originally from NC, she has been in veterinary medicine as a technician since 1997. Denise has been involved in mentoring and teaching students in our area in this field. She is a highly skilled technician with a strong background in animal behavior. Denise has been a vital part of the Lighthouse team since 2018.
Jenny Toland, Critical Systems Director
Jenny is the Critical Systems Director at Lighthouse Pet Clinic. She began her journey with LPC in March 2018. She started out as a receptionist, then moved to Lead Receptionist, and has now worked her way up to Critical Systems Director, where she oversees Accounts Payable and Inventory. Before LPC, Jenny was with The University of Florida Small Animal Hospital. She was a part of the Internal Medicine and Cardiology Department. She has been in the Fort Myers area for seven years. She has two cats, one dog, ten chickens, and a tortoise who she loves to spend time with, along with her husband.
Amy Vega, Client Care Representative
Amy joined our Lighthouse team in 2021 as one of our Customer Care Representatives. Amy was in the Hospitality Industry for 13 years before joining Lighthouse. Amy has a cat named Stella and a Siberian Husky name Selene. Amy loves playing board/card games, photography, scrapbooking, and most importantly spending quality time with her family and fur babies. Her love and passion for animals brought her to the veterinary industry.
Leah Fields, Veterinary Assistant
Originally from Michigan, Leah moved to Lee County in 1988. She is a proud U.S. Army veteran and former small business owner. Her desire and drive to help others led her to become a child welfare case manager. This same desire led her to Lighthouse Pet Clinic, where she joined us as Client Care Representative in August 2023. Recently, she transitioned to become a member of our veterinary team, where she now serves as a Veterinary Assistant and Patient Care Advocate. Leah provides direct communication to our pet parents regarding their fur babies’ hospital stay with us, ensuring they stay informed every step of the way. She has three dogs at home, and when she is not working she likes to spend time with her family and pets. She reports that she is a HUGE sports fan!!
Felipe Santiago, Veterinary Technician
Felipe is a native Floridian, born in Tallahassee. He moved to Lee county when he was very young. He has been a veterinary technician in our area for 8 years and joined the Lighthouse Team as a veterinary technician in November 2024. Felipes experience and love for animals is a welcome addition to the Lighthouse Team. He has 6 fur kids at home, 4 cats and 2 dogs. When not busy working , Felipe enjoys spending time with family and going out for dinner trying new restaurants.
Savannah Kennison, Client Care Representative
Savannah was born and raised in Naples, Fla. She has worked in the veterinary field since 2013. She joined the Lighthouse Team in December 2024 as part of our customer care team. Savannah enjoys working hard and interacting with our clients! She has 2 recent additions to her family, 1 dog and 1 cat. In her free time she enjoys learning new things, spending time with her children and going to the beach and local parks. She is a perfect addition to the team!
Leidy Tejon, Veterinary Assistant
Leidy is originally from Cuba and has been here in Lee County for 10 years. She has worked as a veterinary assistant for 3 years and joined our team as a veterinary assistant in December 2024. Leidy has become an important part of our team very quickly! She is diligent in caring for our surgery patients post operatively, ensuring everyone recovers comfortably. She helps greatly in communication with our Spanish speaking clients to bridge any language barriers. In her free time Leidy loves to paint and play video games.