Jessica Eich, DVM
University of Georgia
Dr. Eich has joined First Coast Veterinary Emergency as our daytime emergency veterinarian. Dr. Eich went to undergrad and veterinary school at the University of Georgia. She then pursued a small animal rotating internship at Nashville Veterinary Specialists. After completion, she was hired as a full-time emergency veterinarian. Dr. Eich recently moved to Atlantic Beach with her husband (Trevor) and their 1-year-old son (Avery) in order to be closer to family. They have three dogs (Munson, Gurley, and Dooley – for those UGA football fans) and 1 cat, Ilene. Dr. Eich loves spending time with her family and friends as well as exploring new places.
Matthew Mizesko, DVM
Medical Director – Emergency
St. George’s University
Dr. Mizesko was born and raised in southeastern NC. He received his doctorate in veterinary medicine from St. George’s University, located in Grenada, West Indies. Dr. Mizesko was a member of the Phi Zeta Honors Society in veterinary school and graduated in the top 5 of his veterinary class in 2016. He has been with us at First Coast Veterinary ER since 2017 and is our current Emergency Department Director. His special interests include acute abdominal surgeries, GI medicine and emergency endocrine disorders. Outside of work, Dr. Mizesko enjoys spending time with his wife Joanna and their 4 young kids. As a family, you will likely find them all outside together whether it be at the beach, swimming in the pool, or just enjoying time in the yard with their two bunnies, chickens, poodle, labradoodle or their barn cats.
Nick V., DVM
North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Nick is a 1995 graduate of the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After working in private practice in North Carolina, he moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin where he was co-owner of a small animal practice for 15 years. During this time Dr. Nick also worked as a relief, emergency veterinarian. After selling his practice, he’s been practicing emergency medicine full time. Dr. Nick joined the team at River Regional Veterinary Emergency, (currently First Coast Veterinary Emergency), in 2016. He has an interest in sports medicine and has volunteered on many Sled Dog races around the world and currently serves on the board of the International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association.
Sydney Davis, DVM, MSc
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Davis grew up in New England, where she developed her love of animals and the ocean. She spent a decade in the professional yachting industry prior to returning to school. She graduated summa cum laude from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, where she completed a dual-degree program, earning both her Doctorate and Master of Science in Research degrees. Her work focused on metabolic and immune responses in bottlenose dolphins, and she has published three papers on her thesis work. She finished her clinical year at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts. After graduation, Dr. Davis completed an internship specializing in emergency/critical care, internal medicine and surgery at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists in Rhode Island. She has spent the past three years locally in NE Florida as a general practice and emergency clinician. Her rigorous training and passion for emergency and critical care cases and soft tissue surgery have led her back to her roots in a full time ER practice. In her spare time, she loves spending time with family and staying active outdoors in the sunshine, surfing, sailing, and traveling.
Polly Weldon, DVM
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Weldon was born and raised right here in Jacksonville, Florida. She enjoyed the island life at Ross University in St. Kitts for one year of vet school before transferring to the University of Florida to complete the rest of her veterinary degree. In vet school, Dr. Weldon took a particular interest in research, becoming involved in projects investigating viral diseases of the Indian Mongoose and parasites of feral horse populations. She also published a paper identifying a novel virus of the critically endangered spider tortoise and presented research at several national veterinary conferences.
Dr. Weldon was honored with multiple national science writing awards and four senior awards from the University of Florida for her interest in public health, sighthound medicine, and veterinary leadership. After graduation, she accepted a mentorship position with First Coast Veterinary Emergency and Specialists to work with one of the finest emergency medicine teams in the state.
Dr. Weldon has a particular interest in infectious disease, public health, and collaborative medicine. In her free time, she enjoys bird-watching, wildlife photography, scuba diving, and going to Jaguars games (“this is our year!”) as a season ticket holder. She has a dog, a cat, and a salamander at home.