Our Staff

Darlene Rivera, C.V.T. - Practice Manager

Darlene grew up on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania until she was 13 when she moved to Interlachen, Florida. She has always had a love for animals, but found her true calling when she was 17 and volunteered at a veterinary office.  Soon she was hired by that practice as a kennel assistant.  For the next 14 years, Darlene worked as a receptionist, technician, and then office manager.  In 2006, while continuing to work full time, Darlene decided to go back to school to earn her Associate in Science Degree in Veterinary Technology.  Having graduated in 2009, we are very proud to have a licensed Certified Veterinary Technician on our team.  Darlene has worked with Dr. Blackburn since 2001, and her diverse knowledge of the profession, her experience, and her drive and dedication make her an essential part of the Keystone Heights Animal Hospital team. 

Darlene lives in Keystone Heights with her husband, William, and their two girls, Marissa and Mia. Darlene spends most of her free time helping her girls with sports and academics. She also enjoys working out with her girls at local gym and taking beach trips to St. Augustine with her family.

Sam - Lead Veterinary Technician

Sam is a Florida native and has lived in Putnam County her entire life.  Working with animals has always been a dream of hers.  In 2009, Sam was eager to enter the veterinary field and took a position as a cleaner at a local animal hospital.  Her strong work ethic and dedication were immediately evident and she soon began training for a technician position.  Sam has a unique ability to understand and relate to animals which makes her an excellent technician.  She instinctively knows how to keep an animal calm during times of stress and has a gentle nature even with our feisty feline friends.  Although she only recently joined the Keystone Heights Animal Hospital team in June 2013, she has worked with Dr. Blackburn since 2009. 

Sam lives with her husband Mike, her daughter Claudia, and her son Adam.  Like most veterinary technicians, Sam's love and compassion for animals carries over into her own home.  In addition to fostering needy animals for the S.P.C.A. of North Florida, her permanent family includes 8 dogs, 8 cats, 2 guinea pigs, 2 goats, 1 potbelly pig, 15 chickens and fish.  On her days off, when she isn't tending to her own animals, Sam enjoys spending time with her kids, working outside with her flowers and plants, and watching Gator football.

Nikki - Veterinary Technician

Nikki is our efficient, calm under pressure, powerhouse worker who keeps everyone laughing with her witty sense of humor. She was born in Virginia but has spent most of her life in Keystone Heights, Fl.

Nikki has two amazing children, Faith and Peyton, and is like an Aunt to most of the kids in her town. If she could adopt a million kids she would. She enjoys anything on the water, especially fishing. She spends more time outside then she does inside. She has 4 dogs and grew up on a horse farm with her 5 siblings.

Nikki works full time and still makes time to help pet owners outside of her job as well. Her idea of success in veterinary medicine is creating empowered clients through education and support and the prevention and relief of suffering in our patients. Nikki loves her team here at Keystone Height Animal Hospital and considers all these ladies her family.

Brianna - Veterinary Technician

Bio coming soon...

Laikyn - Veterinary Technician

Bio coming soon...

Shekinah - Veterinary Assistant

Bio coming soon...

Cait - Veterinary Assistant

Cait has lived in Keystone her whole life. She graduated from Keystone Heights High School in 2021 with a certificate from the National Society of High School Scholars. After graduating she wanted to follow her dreams of working in veterinary field. Cait is one of our veterinary assistants. She has a 9-month-old son named Kaison with her high school sweetheart and a 2-year-old pug named Sadie Mae. Cait has grown up around several types of animals at her Nanas farm. She absolutely loves her job. Cait comes in with a smile, great attitude every day and says she absolutely loves her job. She spends her free time with her son shopping and spending time with family.

Candy - Receptionist & Public Relations

Candy grew up in Jacksonville living near NAS Jax since her dad was a Chief in the Navy. After high school Candy moved to the Gainesville area and worked for 18 years at Gainesville Eye Clinic before having her two daughters. Candy is also a former co-owner of a veterinary practice and has over 30 years of veterinary care experience, 13 of those years have been spent working with Dr. Blackburn. Whether she’s working in the front office greeting clients or working in the back taking care of animals, Candy is happy to be a part of the Keystone Heights Animal Hospital team and looks forward to meeting you and your four legged family members.

Candy lives in Putnam County with her two daughters and many pets. On her days off, she enjoys being outside and loves anything to do with the water, beach and boating. 

Debbie - Receptionist

Debbie is originally from Baltimore, Maryland and has lived in Florida since the mid 1990's. She is a lover of critters of all kinds. Debbie has worked  with everything from Key deer to cats. Currently she has 8 cats, 4 dogs, hermit crabs and some fish in her household. Debbie's favorite thing to do is hanging with the family and soaking up rays at the beach. 

Kaitlyn - Receptionist

Kaitlyn grew up in Fort white, around farm animals and did a lot of barrel racing and competing in different style horse competitions. Kaitlyn has been working for Keystone Heights Animal Hospital as a receptionist since 2016 and loves being involved with the animal care. Kaitlyn lives in Melrose with her husband Billy, and their two children. They spend most of their free time going to theme parks and the beach or just traveling to new places.  

Mj - Receptionist

Mj has lived in Keystone Heights most of her life and is finishing her senior year at Keystone Heights High School while being Dual enrolled at Sante Fe College. She is pursuing her degree in nursing while working part time as a receptionist. She has been one of our receptionist since 2020 and always has a smile on her face, ready to welcome clients. Her favorite part of the job is meeting new people everyday and talking to clients about their pets.

Mj has a Golden Retriever named Theodore and loves taking him to the dog park and hiking at Goldhead State park.