Sea Turtle Hospital Program Manager

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904-201-8414 | cbeastman@ufl.edu

Catherine Eastman (Cat) is the Program Manager of the Sea Turtle Hospital at the University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience. A dedicated sea turtle conservationist, Cat has been working with sea turtles in Florida since 1998. Her early career included environmental education and nonprofit leadership, combining outreach with hands-on conservation along Florida’s Atlantic coast.

In 2013, she became a founding member of the Whitney Lab’s Sea Turtle Hospital team. After two years of planning, permitting, and preparation, the hospital opened its doors in 2015. Since then, Cat has overseen the program’s development and operations, managing the administrative and educational components while helping connect clinical care with scientific research.

Cat holds a Master of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Florida. Her graduate research focused on the health implications of epibiotic organisms on juvenile green sea turtles, contributing to a broader understanding of turtle health in estuarine habitats.

Sea Turtle Hospital Veterinarian

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904-201-8446 | brooke626@ufl.edu

Dr. Brooke Burkhalter graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. She spent 14 years in small animal private practice, caring for family pets and sick and injured wildlife within St. Augustine. She enjoys the internal medicine challenges and other aspects of veterinary medicine, but her main passion has always been soft tissue surgery. Dr. Burkhalter has advanced training in abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy, and CO2 laser surgery. Dr. Brooke has specialized in sea turtle rehabilitation since 2015, and continues to lead our team as the founding veterinarian at The Sea Turtle Hospital. At this hospital, her primary responsibility is treating turtles affected by fibropapillomatosis. As a research hospital, she is very fortunate to work and collaborate with researchers to help better understand the disease and explore new treatment possibilities. Dr. Burkhalter is one of very few sea turtle veterinarians in the state of Florida, and even fewer experts in fibropapillomatosis. Therefore, she also works at multiple other facilities around the state, including The Marine Science Center in Port Orange and The Turtle Hospital in Marathon Florida. Dr. Brooke teaches Sea Turtle Medicine at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, trains veterinary students and residents, and teaches at various conferences and workshops for veterinarians and rehabilitation staff. 

Dr. Burkhalter is happily married to her high school sweetheart. Their family consists of a beautiful daughter and countless furry, feathered, and scaled friends, and whatever orphaned wildlife babies are in need at any given time. When she is not working, Brooke enjoys tending to her farm animals, various family activities, Disney, SUPing, and all other things outdoors.

Sea Turtle Hospital Manager

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904-201-8446 | devonrenee@ufl.edu

Devon is the Hospital Manager at the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab, where she oversees day-to-day operations, including all aspects of animal care. Born and raised in New England, Devon developed a passion for nature and wildlife early on, inspired by her mother, an active wildlife rehabilitator who nurtured Devon’s curiosity and compassion for all creatures, big and small. Growing up surrounded by North American wildlife, she fondly recalls her childhood spent caring for orphaned raccoons, squirrels, and the occasional fawn.

Devon holds a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Care and Education from Unity College in Maine. Her extensive background includes hands-on work with marine mammals, injured wildlife, and countless rescued animals. With over 20 years of experience as a veterinary technician working with diverse animal species—and a specialization in marine animals—Devon brings deep expertise to her role as the Hospital Manager at the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab. Her background spans hands-on care for a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, exotics, and native wildlife, along with marine species. For the past 10 years, she has focused specifically on sea turtles and was part of the pioneering team that helped establish the Sea Turtle Hospital.

Driven by a strong commitment to wildlife conservation, Devon is passionate about creating a world where humans and animals can coexist harmoniously. She is excited to be at the forefront of sea turtle rehabilitation and research, dedicating her career to making a lasting impact on marine conservation.

Devon often jokes, “It’s a lifestyle, not a career,” and it couldn’t be more true. She lives on Anastasia Island with her husband and their French bulldog, and together they share their home with several other animals who were in need of a loving place to stay. When not caring for sea turtles and a variety of other animals, Devon enjoys her "free time" traveling the world, gardening at home, and anything water-related, especially when it involves exploring the great outdoors.  

Sea Turtle Hospital Animal Care Technician

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904-201-8446  |  hailey.eilers@ufl.edu

Hailey earned her B.S. in Marine Science from Coastal Carolina University in 2024. During her final semester of college and shortly after graduating, she traveled and completed several internships within the marine science field. Her passion for sea turtle rehabilitation, conservation, and education grew while working at a sea turtle hospital in Texas. She is excited to continue learning and sharing her love for turtle care and conservation here at the Whitney Laboratory.

When she’s not at work, you can find Hailey at the beach, catching a movie at the theater, or exploring a local plant store. 

Sea Turtle Hospital Animal Care Technician

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904-201-8446  |  Harris.gracie@ufl.edu

Gracie is a St. Augustine native who grew up emersed in marine life from a young age. As a child she visited multiple sea turtle hospitals (including here at Whitney) and developed the dream of one day working in sea turtle rehabilitation.

Summer Intern

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904-201-8446

Isabelle obtained her bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from the University of North Florida and recently graduated with her master’s degree in Marine Science from Jacksonville University. She has spent my time pursuing her passion for sea turtles by participating in a graduate study of nesting females along St. Augustine beaches and by volunteering with Mickler’s Landing Sea Turtle Patrol.