Meet Our Team
Meet the passionate and dedicated team behind New Hope Pet Hospital, committed to providing exceptional care and love to every furry friend.
Meet Our Compassionate Team: The Heart of New Hope Pet Hospital
Dr. R.A. Simoneaux, D.V.M.
Dr. Simoneaux was born and raised in Florida and developed a love for animals at a very young age. His family always had several pets, and his mother showed great concern for their welfare. This concern was not lost on her children, and Dr. Simoneaux decided in High School to pursue veterinary medicine. He started working for a veterinarian in his junior high school as a kennel technician. Within a year, he had gotten a second job at Sea World of Orlando as an animal care technician and had been promoted to veterinary assistant at the animal hospital. He continued in this capacity throughout high school and community college, adding a third job at the local veterinary emergency hospital on weekends.
Our Staff
Ryan Williams
Practice Manager
Ryan is a Port Charlotte native, born and raised. She started working in the veterinary field in August of 2000 when she began working for Dr. Simoneaux. Never did she think she would love veterinary medicine so much. She loves going to work! Ryan has had all kinds of animals since childhood. They have always been her passion. She loves reading, going to the beach, and looking for sharks’ teeth in her spare time. She tries to catch a sunset as much as possible.
Emily Varnam
Lead Veterinary Assistant
Emily was born and raised in Punta Gorda, Florida. She has always had a passion for animals. While growing up, her family always had all kinds of animals. Emily’s best friend is her chihuahua named Honcho. She started working at New Hope Pet Hospital in March 2019. She started as a kennel tech and is now our lead assistant. She is currently attending school and working on her technician certification.
Pattie Gauthier
Veterinary Assistant
Pattie was born in California and lived there until she was in her 20s, then moved to Kentucky, where her mother was raised. She moved to Florida in 2000 and started her journey working with animals at the Animal Welfare League. She then came to New Hope Pet Hospital. After 11 years, she went back to the Animal Welfare League for a few years, then came back to New Hope Pet Hospital in March 2020. She currently has three rescue cats named Gomez, John Snow, and Pitch. Pattie says, “I consider myself a dog person but can not live my life without a cat.”
Callie Martinez
Veterinary Assistant
Callie was born and raised in Florida. She has always had a passion for animals of all kinds. She has two cats and one dog. Callie came to work at New Hope Pet Hospital after she graduated high school. She plans to return to school to study zoology and further her education with animals. In her free time, she loves being with her family & friends, as well as going to the beach.
Adriana Iorfida
Veterinary Assistant
Adriana was born and raised in Punta Gorda, Florida. She has been a part of the New Hope Pet Hospital family since birth. Her parents have been bringing their pets for over 20 years. Adriana currently attends the University of Florida and is studying animal sciences with hopes of attending veterinary school in the future. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her goldendoodle Cooper!
Nichole Roberts
Veterinary Assistant
Nichole grew up in a small town outside of Pittsburgh, PA. She always loved animals and wanted to work with them. She started her career in a boarding facility then moved on as a veterinary receptionist and then to an assistant. She has experience in all aspects of the veterinary field. Nichole moved to Florida 5 years ago and has dogs, cows and horses. Her favorite thing to do in her free time is boating on the river.
Delaney Povazan
Veterinary Assistant
Delaney moved to Port Charlotte in 3rd grade from Pittsburgh, PA. She came to work at New Hope Pet Hospital soon after graduating high school in 2023. She has always loved all kinds of animals, especially reptiles. She has 2 bearded dragons, 1 snake and has always had dogs. Delaney enjoys outdoor activities. She plans on continuing her education in animal care.
Shiane Bridwell
Lead Receptionist
Shiane was born and raised in Florida. Her family moved around before settling in Port Charlotte in 2007. Since she was young, she always had a passion for all types of animals. She started her veterinary career in 2020 as a receptionist. She started working at New Hope Pet Hospital in July 2023. Shiane has one Catahoula mix named Erik and two cats named Rue and Tittuss. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her partner and family and spending time at the beach.
Amberlee Jordan
Receptionist
Amberlee was born and raised in Myakka City, FL. Soon after graduating high school, she realized she wanted to pursue a career with animals. She has been working as a veterinary receptionist for over 14 years. She has a strong passion for caring for all kinds of animals. Amber joined New Hope Pet Hospital in April of 2024. She really enjoys making sure the clientele and pets are well taken care of. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her son, Trent and their parrot named Berry. She also loves horseback riding, swimming, singing, and dancing.
Dr. R.A. Simoneaux, D.V.M.
Dr. Simoneaux was born and raised in Florida and developed a love for animals at a very young age. His family always had several pets, and his mother showed great concern for their welfare. This concern was not lost on her children, and Dr. Simoneaux decided in High School to pursue veterinary medicine. He started working for a veterinarian in his junior high school as a kennel technician. Within a year, he had gotten a second job at Sea World of Orlando as an animal care technician and had been promoted to veterinary assistant at the animal hospital. He continued in this capacity throughout high school and community college, adding a third job at the local veterinary emergency hospital on weekends.
He attended the University of Florida for the completion of his pre-veterinary curricula. During this time, he also worked in the neo-natal foal unit at the veterinary college in Gainesville, caring for pre-mature foals, and worked in a research lab on a DNA cloning project.
Dr. Simoneaux attended the University of Florida Veterinary College for his veterinary degree and graduated in 1990. Upon Graduation, Dr. Simoneaux took a position as a staff veterinarian and executive director of Care and Rehabilitation of Wildlife (C.R.O.W) on Sanibel Island, Florida. During this tenure at the helm of C.R.O.W., he completely oversaw the medical and surgical care of a wide variety of patients, from owls to bald eagles, raccoons, alligators, bobcats, and all other native wild animals. Despite the rewards and challenges of wildlife medicine, Dr. Simoneaux missed working with companion animals such as dogs and cats.
After leaving C.R.O.W., Dr. Simoneaux entered private practice at a multi-doctor practice in Cape Coral. He followed this with a year as an emergency clinician in Ft. Myers and Sarasota.
Dr. Simoneaux has been in practice in Charlotte County for over 20 years and is married to his childhood sweetheart, Basia. They have a full family life with twin girls in college, five dogs, and a cat who insisted on joining the crew.
Both are thrilled to live in beautiful southwest Florida with its proximity to the ocean, year-round tennis, and now… pickleball.
Dr. Simoneaux loves what he does and strives every day to improve the standard of care for his patients and help to improve the quality of life for each of them and their families.