Dr. Victoria Hernandez knew she wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as she can remember. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Integrative Animal Biology at the University of South Florida, she began her journey at VHA as a veterinary technician, an experience that deepened her passion for emergency and critical care. She went on to earn her DVM from Louisiana State University in 2025 and has now come full circle, returning to VHA as an ER/ICU doctor.
“VHA has always felt like home,” she shares. “It’s the first place that gave me a chance, and I knew I wanted to come back and grow as a doctor surrounded by the team that helped shape me.” One of the most rewarding parts of her journey has been stepping into the role of teacher and mentor, the same role that inspired her when she was just starting out in the field. She hopes to inspire a love for the profession in others, just as it was inspired in her.
Her time as an ICU nurse during the pandemic also shaped her approach to medicine. She learned to put herself in a pet parent’s shoes, especially when they couldn’t be by their pet’s side, and now makes it a priority to ease anxiety and build trust through communication and compassion.
At home, Dr. Hernandez lives with her fiancé, Joshua, and their miniature schnauzer, Moose. Outside of work, she’s a self-proclaimed theme park junkie and spends her free time visiting Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, and Busch Gardens any chance she gets.
While balancing work and home life is a continuous learning curve, she’s grateful for VHA’s culture of support and growth. She looks forward to continuing to evolve in the field of emergency and critical care medicine.
“If you can dream it, you can do it.” Walt Disney
