Dr. Jennifer Tacia graduated from Michigan State University in 2002. Her desire to become part of a respected profession, while being able to help people and animals led her to become a veterinarian. She especially enjoys surgery and the challenges of equine lameness. She was especially moved, when, while still in vet school, she assisted in surgery during an equine caesarian section in which both the mare and the foal were saved. (Equine C-sections are extremely rare, and often the death of the mare, the foal, or both occurs). Dr. Tacia moved to southern Maryland from Michigan in July of 2002. She says she has appreciated the wonderful welcome she has received from the community and members of the Tidewater staff. When not working with animals, she spends time with her animals (Crash, the Paint horse and Pal, pictured here), traveling, golfing, and swimming.
Dr. Michael Parks graduated in 1984 from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech. He says that the devotion his own pets gave him and their need to be cared for inspired him to become a veterinarian. While his love for animals is evident in the compassionate care he provides for his patients, he likes the personal relationship he has with his clients. Dr. Parks has a special interest in surgery because he likes working with his hands. When asked what his most memorable veterinary experience was, Dr. Parks said "saving a mare that had a prolapsed small intestine through the vagina after being pasture bred." He and his wife Gina have two horses (Belle and Alex), one dog (Pandora, a Maltese), and a Calico cat named Bonnie. Gina also breeds Cairn terriers.
Dr. Chris H. Runde graduated from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1985. His interests are broad, but he has always enjoyed the challenges of equine medicine. More recently, he has taken an interest in treating cancer in small animals. “Cancer can be so hard on the owners and their pets. We see so much of it, much more than I ever thought we would. It’s very gratifying to help people and their pets through this and see some positive results.” Dr. Runde and his family live on Briarpatch farm in Mechanicsville with seven horses, five dogs, four cats and an assortment of pheasants. “We all love the outdoors. My wife Karen and my daughter Kristina enjoy riding and foxhunting. My son Brendan and I love fishing on the bay and watching wildlife on our farm.”
Dr. Rania Lisas graduated from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000. She has always had animals in her life, and admired Dr. Herbert Howard (retired) who was her vet growing up. Dr. Lisas enjoys her work with all of Tidewater's clients and patients. She never expected to be working with alpacas or llamas, but has enjoyed learning about their special medical needs. Her most memorable veterinary experience was helping a dog, Sadie, recover from a HBT (hit by train). Sadie recovered and now runs, jumps, and plays with no sign of injury, except the lack of her tail. Dr. Lisas enjoys reading, writing, painting, riding, and hiking. She has had her horse, Balius (Bill), since 1983. She shares her home with a cat, Lucky Jack Aubrey.
Dr. Chas Benedict graduated from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994. He had wanted to become a veterinarian for as long as he could remember. His patients are dogs, cats, horses, and farm animals. He enjoys providing their healthcare and meeting their owners. He is especially interested in opthalmology. Dr. Benedict says his most memorable experience in veterinary medicine was being able to save his dog after being run over by a car. He shares his home with four dogs, Bently, Levi, Jigsy, and Spencer, and three cats, Squishy, Jonesy, and Chloe. When not helping animals, he enjoys golfing, fishing, and football.
Dr. Geoffrey Satterfield graduated in 2007 from Tufts University in Massachusetts. After spending 8 years in the United States Marine Corps, Dr Satterfield’s desire to find a career where he could continue to help people while also helping animals led him into veterinary medicine. Dr Satterfield spent his first few years in veterinary medicine working in a rural practice in south Texas. There he had an opportunity to work on wide range of animals from wild hogs to dogs to horses and cattle to white tail deer. Dr Satterfield has a strong interest in farm animals but enjoys working with all types of animals. His most memorable veterinary experience was being able to save a “hog dog” (a dog used for hunting wild hogs) which had his intestines shredded by a wild hog. When not working, Dr Satterfield enjoys lifting weights, watching the Red Sox win World Series rings and spending time with his wife, Cindy and their menagerie of animals which includes a horse (Tacoma), six rescue dogs (Barn Dog, Jersey, Annie, Lilly, Toby and Sam), two rescue cats (Gabriel and Abigail) and their chickens.
Our Doctors
