Our Doctors
Dr. Dawn Morgan -Winter
Dr. Dawn Morgan-Winter remembers always wanting to be a veterinarian and if you ask her family, they will tell you same. They recall funny stories of her “adopting” other families’ outside cats and rescuing injured wildlife like turtles, baby squirrels, and owls to nurse back to health or hoping to make them make pets. Lucky for animal lovers, Dr. Dawn Winter pursued her childhood dreams and made them her life’s passion when she decided to become a veterinarian.
Dr. Dawn Winter earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Washington State College of Veterinary Medicine and Oregon State College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, she returned home to practice veterinary medicine in Lakeland. Dr. Dawn Winter continues to seek out opportunities to better practice medicine and has earned Certificates in Veterinary Rehabilitation and Acupuncture.
Outside of owning Lakeland Veterinary Hospital and Wellness Center and dedicating herself to practicing the highest quality veterinary care, Dr. Dawn Winter enjoys spending time her husband of more than 20 years and her teenage son. She enjoys traveling to new places to experience the food and culture offered around the globe.
Dr. Summer Jenks
Dr. Summer Jenks is a practicing veterinarian in Lakeland, Florida. Dr. Jenks received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from The University of Miami in 1997, her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from The University of Florida in 2003, and completed her internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Hollywood Animal Hospital in 2004. While predominantly a small animal veterinarian, Dr. Jenks has had limited experience with farm animals while in school, during mission trips to Bolivia and Haiti, and occasional farm calls for friends. Dr. Jenks is also an adjunct instructor at Florida Southern College where she teaches Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Animal Nutrition. Dr. Jenks is active in many community organizations including KidsPack Polk County and Blessings and Hope Food Pantry. Aside from cuddling up with a good book, her favorite thing to do is travel the country and the world with her husband and their three children.
Dr. Claire Hefner
Dr. Hefner grew up in North Carolina and earned her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While away at college, she quickly realized how much she missed her pets, which inspired her to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. During her time at UNC, Dr. Hefner helped found a trap-neuter-return (TNR) student organization for feral cats on campus, called Feral2Sterile.
After graduating, she moved across the Atlantic to attend veterinary school at University College Dublin in Ireland, where she earned her degree in June 2025. As a veterinarian, Dr. Hefner especially enjoys client communication, and she has a growing interest in learning ultrasonography and medical Spanish.
Following graduation, Dr. Hefner returned to the U.S. and relocated to Florida with her fiancé, Jose, whose career in baseball analytics brought them to the Sunshine State. In their free time, they enjoy day trips to the beach or pool, exploring new places, and spending time with their dog, Winky, and cat, Peg.
