Meet Our Team

Get to know our professional and caring staff!

Dr. Bassem Deeb, Owner

Dr. Bassem Deeb grew up in Cairo, Egypt, where his love of animals began early in life. His childhood was spent caring for a variety of animals.

At an early age, he realized his love and care for animals and how he could best serve the animal community by becoming a veterinarian. He understood the connections that the people have toward their pets at that early age. Following his childhood dream, Dr. Deeb attended Cairo University, where he studied Veterinary Medicine and graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Veterinary Medical Science. Even during his time in Medical school, he never stopped caring for animals and volunteered regularly. Dr. Deeb is indulging his passion for helping and rescuing injured pets.

After making the United States his permanent home, Dr. Deeb completed the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) program sanctioned by the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA). Dr. Deeb also completed his internship at an Emergency Small Animal Hospital in NJ.

For over fifteen years, Dr. Deeb has established a highly-esteemed career in veterinary medicine excelling in many areas, including Preventative Medicine, Surgery, Emergency, and Critical Care Medicine. He is passionate about delivering high-quality medicine to your pets. Dr. Deeb served as Chief-of-Staff for many years in an animal hospital in Tampa, FL.

In addition to his experience, this position enabled him to mentor and educate incoming veterinarians, veterinary students, and support staff.

Dr. Deeb is a member of the Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA), as well as a USDA-accredited veterinarian. He is also certified to approve international and interstate pet travel requirements and health certificates.

Dr. Deeb continues to further his education and training through advanced courses in veterinary medicine. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and participating in events in his community.
Dr. Brandee Baker, Medical Doctor

Dr. Brandee Baker was raised on the western slope of Colorado. Growing up on a small farm with horses, cows, sheep, chickens, cats and dogs, her love for all animals inspired her to become a veterinarian. At 8 years old, she was spending a day helping her family work cattle when the veterinarian told her to glove up and pregnancy check a cow. Since then, she knew she’d be a veterinarian.

Dr. Baker graduated from Colorado State University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. She graduated from Midwestern University veterinary school with honors in 2021. Dr Baker spent the last 2 years in Tucson, Arizona primarily as a large animal veterinarian along with small animal preventative care work.

Currently undergoing training in acupuncture for large and small animals from Chi University, she looks forward to offering both conventional and integrative wellness for each of her patients in the near future.

Dr. Baker looks forward to providing high quality care to meet all of your pet’s needs, and is excited to join the Good Shepherd Team!
Nancy Antonopoulos, Practice Manager

Originally from Long Island NY, and started my veterinary career in 1996, still with the passion 26 years later. I have helped establish and maintain practices, with employee coaching and with creating bonds with pet parents as if they were my own, through education, guidance and compassion. I have called Good Shepherd my pet home as of 2022 and look forward to the years to come.
Nicole Newman, Technican

Meet Nicole, an incredible addition to our Good Shepherd Family!

Nicole grew up in a small Maryland town and relocated to Florida in August of 2019. Nicole worked at a dairy farm in high school, right next to a veterinarian who came every week to help the animals. When she was tasked to work as the Veterinarian’s assistant at the farm, her passion for working with animals ignited! Nicole is extremely interested in the science behind all veterinary treatments and is eager to help out any pet or wildlife that may be in need. She dedicated herself to fostering dogs and even guinea pigs while taking care of her own animals at home; consisting of pigs, chickens and rabbits! Nicole fully submerged herself into the veterinary field in January of 2019 and since then has been flourishing in so many ways. Starting as a surgical assistant and veterinary technician, Nicole has since been certified in Cold Laser Therapy and now has moved on to her role as our Lead Surgery Technician!

Nicole has been continuously adding to her family by adopting the cutest animals ever in the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021. She now dedicates her free time to her two pets rats, her loving Pitbull mix “Dakota” her trouble-making kitten “Ellie Walker” and, her newest addition, another kitten, “Peaches” who absolutely adore going on “wheeling” adventures in her truck.
Whitney Speight, Receptionist

Whitney was born in Kentucky and since then has lived all over the United States before settling down in our Sunshine State for the birth of her first child! Whitney has been through a lot of changes throughout her life, but the one constant has been her unwavering love of animals!

Whitney has been working in customer service her whole life and thoroughly enjoys speaking to people and helping them feel comfortable in whatever environment they may find themselves. Whitney also possesses experience working in the human medical field! Whitney is very dedicated to her studies at home and in clinic so that she may continue to grow her veterinary knowledge. Since a young age, she has always wanted to work with animals! She grew up already inquiring about vaccinations and preventative care since she has owned pets her entire life.

Currently, Whitney shares her home with her husband Jordan, her son Sutton and daughter Sawyer along with three rescue pups Blue, Brix and Jelly and her two cats Peanut Butter and Quinn. Passionate in her love of Veterinary Medicine, she hopes to continue learning and one day move from reception to becoming a Certified Veterinary Technician. While not at the clinic, Whitney enjoys spending time with her family, lounging on a boat, riding ATVs, watching football or relaxing with her rescues and a good book.
Saundra Pangburn, Receptionist

I grew up in a military family & moved around a lot. I have loved animals all my life & when I was younger volunteered at shelters to get as much experience caring for them as possible. As I grew up I realized my passion for caring for animals & the people who love them, could be turned into a career. I also discovered how much I enjoyed being the first smiling face a pet parent sees when they walk through the door. I now call Florida my home and I am very excited to join the Good Shepherd Pet Hospital team! Through good times or bad, I’ll be with you & your fur baby every step of the way!
Emily Garcia, Veterinary Assistant

Im currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in pre-veterinary medicine I have 7 pets of my own 1 show line German shepherd, 3 American Bullies, 1 poodle, 1 bearded dragon, and a racing pigeon (messenger/homing pigeon). Growing up I was a junior handler in conformation, protection, and obedience shows for German shepherds. I would spend most of my time outside working with the dogs and getting ready for the shows. Few years back I decided to show my German shepherd and got first place with him. Good Shepherd has given me the opportunity and a hand in pursing my Veterinary dream.
Laura Bauer, Technician

I started in veterinary medicine 2005 in Norfolk, VA area. I moved home to Pinellas County, FL in 2012 and by 2015 I was back in the veterinary field. In 2016, I made the switch to an all feline practice, where I spent the next three years. In 2019 I had a baby girl and took a step away from the field to care for her. Now that daughter is older I am eager to step back into veterinary medicine and couldn’t be more excited to do that at Good Shepherd.
Destiny Reading, Receptionist

Florida born and raised, owning pets my whole life. With a strong desire to help animals and provide the best assistance possible for fur babies and their parents, my goal is to move up in the veterinarian field and provide the best care for your babies! I love being one of the first faces clients and patients encounter. I believe if I give the best experience possible for a client and patient then I know I have done my job and made people happy. My passion to help animals comes from growing up with them and always caring for them. I am so excited to be a part of Good Shepherd Pet Hospital team and to provide you with the best customer service I can and love for your fur babies!