Doctors’ Biographies

Dr. G. M. Bushnell: Practice Owner and Veterinarian

Georgia Maureen Bushnell was born in New Iberia, Louisiana, the youngest of five daughters.  She grew up on the bank of the Bayou Teche in an area known for its love of family, good food and the beauty of nature.  While older sisters were away at school, Maureen’s playmates were the family pets.  Patient cats were dressed as babies and pushed in doll carriages and loyal dogs were willing companions in many exciting adventures.

College life brought Maureen to Nashville, Tennessee where she graduated from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 1979.  As a resident of Tennessee, she attended the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1983.

Having been taught that a veterinarian’s first year of practice sets the standards for the rest of her professional life, the new Dr. Bushnell desired to further her veterinary education and hone her skills in an academic environment.  She applied for and was fortunate enough to be awarded an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Georgia.  The year was spent rotating through the medicine, surgical and emergency services leading a team of senior veterinary students while learning from Georgia’s outstanding small animal faculty and staff.

Finally ready for the “real world” of veterinary practice, Maureen moved first to Ft. Myers, Florida then finally to Miami in 1986.  In Miami she met and married her wonderful husband, Miami native Gary Haskin.  Their daughter, Taylor, is currently a college student.

Maureen took a bit of time off from the practice of veterinary medicine during her pregnancy and Taylor’s early years.  During this time the family moved to Redland, five months before Hurricane Andrew paid it a call.

Arriving at Redland Animal Hospital in January 1993, Maureen worked only one day a week for the first two years.  She then worked part time for another two years before purchasing the practice in 1997. 

Maureen currently divides her time between the demands of veterinary practice and practice management, her family and friends, and activities ranging from boating and fishing to dog training and horses.  She is on the board of the South Florida Horse Show Association and is a member of the Miami-Dade County School’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Advisory Committee.

Dr. Stacy Laxen

Dr. Stacy Laxen was born and raised in Minnesota. After completing her bachelor degree in Animal Science and her degree in veterinary medicine at the University of Minnesota, she moved to Miami, Florida. Her areas of special interest include internal medicine and neurology.

Dr. Laxen has two cats, Monty and Evy, who love living in sunny Miami. She enjoys spending her free time outside, either running, camping, biking, or swimming. She also likes to travel, has spent time doing various veterinary work in Australia, South Africa, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua.

Dr. Elizabeth Novy

Dr. Elizabeth Novy a Dallas native, graduated from Texas A&M's's College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. After graduation Dr. Novy moved to the west coast of Florida with her husband; working for four years in a small animal practice in Port Charlotte. In 2008, Dr. Novy moved to Miami and began providing relief veterinary services so she could care for her growing family.  Dr. Novy's family consists of her two young children, an eight year old Boxer mix, a nine year old Border Collie, two cats and a mouse.

Dr. Cyrena Rose

Dr. Cyrena Rose was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. As a child she enjoyed the company of multiple dogs, cats, rabbits, fish and a turtle!  She received her undergraduate  degrees Magna Cum Laude in Marine Science & Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Jacksonville University.  While waitressing her way through undergraduate school she met and subsequently married her current husband, Erni Rose.  They moved to Tampa Florida for Cyrena to pursue a graduate degree in the sciences with intentions of teaching at the college level as a  career.  While writing a Master's thesis on brittlestars and their relationship to seagrass in Tampa Bay she acquired a golden retriever named Testarosa.  This wonderful dog and an inspirational husband, pushed Cyrena to realize her potential and to fulfill her true passion, veterinary medicine!  While working at a local veterinary hospital she completed the requirements to receive a Master's degree in Zoology from University of South Florida. Cyrena was promoted from receptionist to technician and finally assistant practice manager at the veterinary hospital.  After four long years of weekend commutes home to see Erni in Tampa, Dr. Rose graduated with high honors from the  University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.  She practiced at a small animal hospital in Tampa for two years and then moved to the Miami area for the warmer weather! She currently practices as a relief veterinarian from Tampa to the Florida Keys. Dr. Rose enjoys surgery and dermatology, but also relishes in educating staff and clients about preventative medicine and diseases that affect animals. She regularly works with local Humane Societies and is a strong believer in the benefits of spaying and neutering.