Our Team

It Takes a Team

Caring for the sick and injured animals of Brevard County takes a team of staff and volunteers. FWH relies on individuals who dedicate their time and energy to the well-being of our animals and our facility.

Tracy Frampton

Executive Director

Tracy has a BA from Miami University and has enjoyed a long career in the animal field in various capacities, from zookeeper, to animal registrar to conservation coordinator and even agility instructor. Her career allowed her to participate in field work in Cameroon, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Belize. She has been at Florida Wildlife Hospital for 9 years and has loved watching it grow. In her spare time (what’s that?), she loves to get out in nature, play pickleball, or spend time with family.

Amanda Aitken

Rehabilitation Manager

Amanda Aitken is a dedicated Rehabilitation Manager with over a decade of experience in the wildlife rehabilitation industry. Starting her career as an intern, Amanda demonstrated exceptional dedication and a passion for animal care, quickly advancing through various roles within the organization. Amanda holds a BS in Biology from the University of Central Florida and she shadowed the hospital’s previous licensed wildlife rehabilitator, gaining her hands-on experience and allowing her to develop and implement effective rehabilitation programs tailored to the unique needs of each species. She is also a member of the Florida Wildlife Rehabilitators Association where she participates in workshops and conferences to stay current with the latest developments in rehabilitation science and management. In her free time, she loves to spoil her dog Archie and spend time with her niece.

Kat LaPenna, PhD

Operations Manager

Hi, I’m Kat the Kiwi! I grew up in New Zealand and developed an early interest in conservation and historical human-animal relations. My fascination with history and the natural world led me to pursue a career in research, and in 2024 I completed my PhD on ancient Roman hunting spectacles. I have over 5 years of volunteering experience at zoos across NZ and Europe and I enjoy sharing my research on captive wildlife at zoos and universities across the country. In my spare time I enjoy hiking, painting, and traveling to remote places in the world.

Lindsay Mayer

Outreach & Volunteer Manager

Lindsay has worked as the Outreach and Volunteer Manager at the Florida Wildlife Hospital since October 2021 but has a long history of working and volunteering with them starting in 2010. She is an experienced animal care professional who has worked in the wildlife rehabilitation and zoo industry over the last decade working with animals ranging from stingrays to owls to Komodo dragons. She received her undergraduate degrees from Bradley University in Psychology and in Music and her master’s degree in biology from Miami University. During her master’s program she had the opportunity to travel to Belize, Thailand, and the Galápagos to observe and participate in international conservation projects including monitoring manatee populations, sea turtle nest surveys, and collecting population data on Galápagos tortoises. In her free time she likes to spend time outdoors both on land and under water.

Dr. April Geer, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Geer grew up in Florida and always knew she wanted to be a veterinarian. When she was a teenager, her family moved to Ohio where she attended high school and then attended college at The Ohio State University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology in 1994 and her DVM degree in 1998. For over 20 years she worked in and owned multiple companion animal hospitals in Ohio and then Florida after moving back in 2006. She loved helping people and their beloved pets but also longed to help the various species of wildlife she had grown up with. After selling her housecall practice in Kissimmee and moving to Brevard, she began helping out at FWH in 2021. She became FWH’s first staff veterinarian in 2023, and since the beginning of 2024 has been working for us full time and leading our growing medical staff. She loves the variety of species she’s able to return to health so they can be returned to the wild. When not helping animals here, she also volunteers when she can with FWC and similar organizations to work with stranded marine animals such as manatees, dolphins and the occasional spotted eagle ray!

Elisa McGuire

Grant Writer

Elisa McGuire is a native Californian who loves exploring the backroads and undeveloped areas of her adopted state of Florida. She has worked in nonprofits for over 40 years and has been a grant writer for 25 years. Elisa attended Rancho Santiago College, graduated from the Grantsmanship Center of Los Angeles Program in 2001, and completed the St. Joseph Health System’s Fundraising Certificate Program in 2003.

Elisa comes from a long line of ranchers and was raised with a deep appreciation and respect for wild places and wild creatures. As a child, she and her father hiked on the John Muir Trail and explored the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Her fascination of wildlife began in 1969 when she spotted her first California Condor from a remote fire lookout tower. Elisa is a yoga teacher (500-RYT) and loves spending time with her three dogs and her family. She considers it a great honor and a joy to work for FWH, where she joined the team in January of 2023.

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