Michael W. Parks , DVM
Dr. Parks graduated in 1984 from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech. He says that the devotion his own pets gave him and their need to be cared for inspired him to become a veterinarian.

While his love for animals is evident in the compassionate care he provides for his patients, he likes the personal relationship he has with his clients. Dr. Parks has a special interest in surgery because he likes working with his hands. When asked what his most memorable veterinary experience was, Dr. Parks said "saving a mare that had a prolapsed small intestine through the vagina after being pasture bred."

He and his wife Gina have two horses (Belle and Alex), three dogs (Comet, the Whippet, Bill, a Labrador, and Pandora, a Maltese), and a Calico cat named Bonnie. Gina also breeds Cairn terriers. When not caring for animals, Dr. Parks enjoys boating, home related projects, and dirt biking!

Chris Henry Runde, DVM
Dr. Runde graduated from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech in 1985. His patients include cats, dogs, horses, and farm animals. His interest in biology and animal life led him to become a veterinarian. Dr. Runde especially enjoys the challenges of equine reproduction, and is always thrilled to be present for any birth of a foal or calf, no matter what time of the day or night.

His love of horses is shared by his wife and kids, so they live on a 50 acre horse farm with five horses ( Klassic, a warmblood, Jake, an Appaloosa cross, Jeffery, a Quarter Horse, Ellie, a Thoroughbred, and Nellie, a Percheron cross) and five dogs ( Schooner, a Labrador, Athena, a Doberman, Tari and Flower, both BostonTerriers, and Curley, a Collie mix.).

When not caring for patients, Dr. Runde can usually be found outdoors! He enjoys fishing, bird-watching, and skiing.

Chas Benedict, DVM
Dr. Benedict graduated from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech in 1994. He had wanted to become a veterinarian for as long as he could remember. His patients are dogs, cats, horses, and farm animals. He enjoys providing their healthcare and meeting their owners. He is especially interested in opthalmology. Dr. Benedict says his most memorable experience in veterinary medicine was being able to save his dog after being run over by a car.

He shares his home with three dogs, Bently, Levi, and Jiggy, and three cats, Jasper, Ezra, and Chloe. When not helping animals, he enjoys golfing, fishing, and football.

Dr. Jennifer Tacia, DVM
Dr. Tacia graduated from Michigan State University in 2002. She sees both large and small animal patients. Her desire to become part of a respected profession, while being able to help people and animals led her to become a veterinarian. She especially enjoys surgery and the challenges of equine lameness. She was especially moved, when, while still in vet school, she assisted in surgery during an equine caesarian section in which both the mare and the foal were saved. (Equine C-sections are extremely rare, and often the death of the mare, the foal, or both occurs).

Dr. Tacia moved to southern Maryland from Michigan in July of 2002. She says she has appreciated the wonderful welcome she has received from the community and members of the Tidewater staff. When not working with animals, she spends time with her animals (Crash, the Paint horse; Boo, a black kitty; and Pal, a Golden Retriever), traveling, golfing, and swimming.

Rania Lisas, D.V. M., M. A.
Dr. Lisas graduated from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000. Her interest in the unique bond shared by humans and animals prompted her to go to vet school. She practices on dogs, cats, horses and farm animals. Dr. Lisas has been enjoying her work with all of Tidewater's clients and patients, but has found the horses and neonates especially enjoyable. She says she never expected to be working with Alpacas or Llamas, but has enjoyed learning about their special medical needs. She even has one Emu patient!

Dr. Lisas says her most memorable veterinary experience was helping a dog, Sadie recover from a HBT - What's a HBT? Hit by train! Sadie not only recovered, but she now runs, jumps, and plays with no sign of injury, except the lack of her tail.

When not working with her patients, Dr. Lisas enjoys reading, (mysteries, historical fiction, and science fiction) writing, painting, riding, and hiking. She has had her Paint horse, Balius (Bill), since 1983. Bill has done everything from pony club to three day eventing, and is happily retired and enjoying the mud! She shares her home with a cat, Lucky Jack Aubrey. He was discovered on the hospital's doorstep in a cardboard box marked "stray". She took him home and immediately discovered his favorite hobbies- draping the house in toilet paper, attacking the shower curtain, and weaving between the legs of a just-awoken human (really the only potentially risky hobby -- to the human, of course).