Dr. Beniquez joined VCA RIVER's team in June 2023. Dr. Beniquez is originally from Puerto Rico and lived in South Florida as well growing up. Dr. Beniquez completed her pre-veterinary undergraduate education (B.S. in Microbiology and Cell Sciences) and then completed a Master's degree (M.S. Veterinary Forensics) at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Throughout her education, she worked as a veterinary assistant and eventually a technician in a very busy multi-location GP and volunteered with cats, dogs, and some exotic animals in urgent care, teaching hospital, and shelter environments for years. She then made the move to Tennessee when she accepted a seat as a veterinary student at Lincoln Memorial University Richard A. Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Beniquez graduated in May 2023 with high honors and was awarded the ACVIM clinical excellence award in small animal medicine during her clinical year rotations. She aspires to pursue additional training to become a surgeon with special training in surgical oncology as she enjoys helping out senior patients during their hard moments. Dr. Beniquez speaks English and Spanish fluently, and some Italian. She enjoys reading new books, trying new foods, playing guitar and sketching in her spare time. Her family in town includes four happy well-fed and demanding cats.