Mandarin Veterinary Clinic; 11587 San Jose Blvd.; Jacksonville, FL 32223; (904) 268-8880

Mandarin Veterinary Clinic


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Our Team
The staff of Mandarin Veterinary ClinicOur team consists of highly skilled veterinary doctors, veterinary nurses and assistants. We are knowledgeable and experienced, and we provide the very best medical care for your pet. Because we care, the humane and loving treatment of your pet is our top priority. Each member of our team is trained to provide you with the best possible care when handling your pet.

Education is a key component to our success. Continuing education keeps our team updated with current and innovative veterinary products and techniques. We strive to provide client education and enhance client/pet relations, while providing excellent health care services. Our entire team, from administrators to nurses to doctors, is committed to providing your pet with the care needed to live a long and happy life.
 

Dr. Kandra L. Jones, Practice Owner
Dr. Kandra L. Jones, Practice OwnerDr. Kandra Jones was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. She graduated from the University of Florida in 1974 and continued her education at Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine where she graduated fourth in her class in 1978. She established Mandarin Veterinary Clinic in 1985. Her pursuit of excellence has placed Mandarin Veterinary Clinic among the six percent of hospitals in the United States certified by the American Animal Hospital Association. Dr Jones has been on the State of Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine since 1988 and received the FVMA Gold Star Award in 2004 for outstanding contributions to veterinary medicine.

Dr. Jones's focal interests are in the areas of internal medicine, dermatology, and dentistry. She donates her time to the Safe Animal Shelter, a local no-kill shelter. She also participates in other Jacksonville spay-neuter programs to control pet over-population as well as heading 4 spay-neuter projects in the country of the Bahamas.

Personally, Dr. Jones enjoys pets at home as much as at her practice. In her spare time, she participates in Wolfson Children's Hospital's Pet Therapy Program as a veterinarian and as a participant with her dog, Potcake. She has been married to Rick Blankenship since 1983. Rick is originally from Fernandina and is a Florida State graduate and a CPA. He was appointed Ambassador to the Bahamas in 2001 and recently returned to Jacksonville after two years of service. He now focuses on investments and property development. Dr. Jones and Rick are currently the proud owners of four Chihuahuas, one Pomeranian, three cats, one squirrel, six birds, one rat, one fish, 15 chickens, three ducks, and 95 peacocks...better known as "THE ARK" to friends and neighbors!

 

Dr. Blythe Waters, Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Blythe WatersDr. Waters is a native of Jacksonville who grew up in Atlantic Beach. After four years of attending the University of Virginia where she was a Jefferson scholar, Dr. Waters spent a year teaching chemistry at Stanton Prep School and working as a nurse at Mandarin Veterinary Clinic. It was that year that her "summer job" turned into a career. Her parents swear that they knew when she was 6 years old that she wanted to be a veterinarian as she spent every weekend deciding which pet to take to school for "show and tell" and regularly took injured birds to BEAKS (Bird Emergency Aid and Kare Sanctuary). Dr. Waters' lifelong love of all animals was a wonderful background for beginning her journey in veterinary medicine.

Dr. Waters graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. While there, she became actively involved in organized veterinary medicine. She served two years as her school's representative to SAVMA (Student American Veterinary Medicine Association) and was the head of the International Student Affairs Committee. She traveled to Poland, Mexico, and Croatia to visit veterinary schools and developed an appreciation for the roles of veterinarians worldwide. Dr. Waters has continued her commitment to the profession by working with the American Veterinary Medical Association to establish a nationwide mentoring program. The task force launched their internet based mentoring system in 2004 and Dr. Waters already enjoys a relationsip with a mentee at the University of Florida.

Even though she spends a great deal of time at work, Dr. Waters can be found relaxing at the beach with her Australian Shepherd, Darwin, and her Black Lab, Watson, or napping on the couch with one of her three cats, Oliver, Maxine, and Bob. She loves spending time outdoors riding her bike, kayaking in the ocean, and tending to her garden.

 

Dr. William C. Schoenborn, Board Certified Radiologist
Dr. Bill Schoenborn is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology. He received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University (1994), following which he completed a Small Animal Internship at the University of Minnesota (1995). Before deciding to pursue a career in radiology, Dr. Schoenborn was a small animal practitioner in Syracuse, NY for four years (1995-1999). In 1999 he applied for and was accepted into the radiology residency program at the University of California at Davis. After completing his residency and passing the board exams, he was awarded Diplomate status by the American College of Veterinary Radiology in 2002.

Diagnostic imaging often plays a pivotal role in many clinical cases, both surgical and medical. Dr. Schoenborn's primary goal is to advance pet health care by consulting with area practitioners and providing diagnostic imaging expertise (ultrasound exams, ultrasound guided biopsies and radiographic interpretations).

Dr. Schoenborn was born and raised in New York but spent five years in northern California (San Francisco Bay area) prior to relocating to Jacksonville and establishing First Coast Veterinary Imaging, P.A. He and his wife immensely enjoy spending time with their young son and vicariously re-discovering the world through a child's eyes. Dr. Schoenborn enjoys golfing, swimming, most professional sports and The Sopranos. His motto is "I'd rather be mowing grass than shoveling snow"!

 

Jennie Ellis, Hospital Administrator
Jennie EllisJennie has been working with us since October of 2000. She worked at the front desk as a receptionist for a little over 6 years, and was promoted to the Administrative Position in January of 2007. She was born and raised in Ocala and moved to Jacksonville in 1999 to attend the University of North Florida. She graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice in 2003. After graduating, she married husband Greg in the summer of 2003, and in October of 2004, they became proud parents of a little boy, Dakota.

Jennie enjoys shopping, fishing, boating, and spending time with her furry friends, Binks and Vader. Both cats were strays adopted from Mandarin Veterinary Clinic. Jennie also enjoys watching reality television. If you have a question about what happened in one of them, she probably has the answer.

 

Fuji Padgett, Office Manager
Fuji PadgettFuji has been working at Mandarin Veterinary Clinic since 2001. She grew up in the Orange Park area and moved to Mandarin after getting married to her husband, Michael, in 1992. She has two sons, Shawn and Casey, and a baby girl, Jessica, born on May 19, 2004. Other members of her family include two Miniature Pinschers, Bear and Abbey, and two cats, Snapper and Ms. Jackson.

When Fuji isn't working, she enjoys spending time with her family. Her hobbies include photography, scrap booking, quilting, and shopping. She also loves to vacation in Key West.

 

Ken Richards, Assistant Nurse
Ken Richards Ken was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. After completing high school, he relocated to the Jacksonville area with his family. He is the proud father of a son named Dusty.

In 1992, he applied for a position at Mandarin Veterinary Clinic and fulfilled a lifelong dream of working with animals. He calls himself the "old dog on the block" since he has been happily working with Dr. Jones since 1993. Ken is responsible for ordering all pet foods and making sure that all of our special needs patients have their food in stock.

When Ken is not working at the hospital, he enjoys boating, fishing, watching movies, and lying by the pool with a good beer...oops!...a good book! He has two cats at home, Snoopy and Peaches, and one dog, Layla. Both of his cats were strays that turned out to be the best two friends a guy could have.

 

Shannon McLaughlin, Receptionist
Shannon McLaughlin Shannon has worked at Mandarin Veterinary Clinic since March 2002. She works hard at maintaining patient files, stocking supplies and ensuring that the pet waiting rooms are clean and comfortable for our four-legged clients.

Shannon has overcome many obstacles in her life, one of which was being born with cerebral palsy. This has not prevented her from achieving many lifelong goals. With the help of her co-workers and job coach, she has realized her primary goal of working with animals.

In addition to working at Mandarin Veterinary Clinic, Shannon also enjoys competitive swimming, karate, YMCA exercise, cheering on the FSU football team and spending time with family and friends.

 

Shelli Hall, Lead Nurse
Shelli HallShelli joined Mandarin Veterinary Clinic in the fall of 2004. She was born and raised in Chicago but moved to Jacksonville to be with her fiancé, Dave, who is in the Navy. Shelli brought with her many years of experience, having last worked for 10 years as the Head Nurse in a nine veterinarian clinic in Chicago.

Shelli lives in Jacksonville with her dogs Neffie, a Shih Tzu, and Kala, a German Shepherd.

 

Jeanne DePais, Assistant Nurse
Jeanne was born and raised in Mt. Kisco, New York. She and daughter Brenna moved to South Florida in 2000 where she met her husband, Itamar. Jeanne has always loved animals and worked in a large stable of 30 horses while in South Florida. She joined Mandarin Veterinary Clinic in August, 2005 and splits her time as a Receptionist and Nurse.

Jeanne and her family recently purchased a new home and share it with two cats, Milo and Cleo.
 
 



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