Our Story
Big River Veterinary Acupuncture and Rehabilitation was founded by Dr. Jennifer Tacia in 2019, after 17 years of working in a busy mixed animal practice. She's supported by Juliana Frenkil, a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Assistant and Fitness Trainer with 40 years of experience in the veterinary field. Together, they're dedicated to providing pain management and rehabilitative services to animals across southern Maryland.
Meet Dr. Jennifer Tacia, DVM, CVA, CERP
Dr. Tacia has been practicing veterinary medicine in Southern Maryland since 2002, working for many years in a busy mixed animal practice. In 2019 she started Big River Veterinary Acupuncture and it has grown to now include rehabilitation therapies. Through the years she has had the pleasure of working with so many wonderful animals and people and learning from every one of them. Every bit of this knowledge and experience goes into helping the animals of Southern Maryland be their most healthy selves.
Dr. Tacia received an excellent veterinary medical education at Michigan State University. Through the years she has continued to build upon that foundation of knowledge by completing advanced courses and earning certifications in Veterinary Acupuncture at The Chi University of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine in Reddick, Fl. She also earned certification in Veterinary Medical Manipulation as well as Equine Rehabilitation and Performance Medicine from The Integrative Veterinary Medical Institute in Reddick, Fl.
When treating a patient, Dr. Tacia uses a holistic approach. This means considering the state of health of the whole individual, not just the one part that may be a problem today. Her approach is also integrative. This involves integrating the medical techniques and principles taught in vet school (Western Veterinary Medicine) with the less invasive and more holistic techniques like Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine and the expansion of Big River Veterinary Acupuncture to include rehabilitation services.
Meet Juliana Frenkil, RVT, CCRA, CCFT
Juliana Frenkil has worked in the veterinary field in some capacity for 40 years. She has always had a great love and respect for animals of all kinds.
While working for an emergency practice in the Baltimore area, which she later general managed, Juliana achieved her license as a veterinary technician. During this time, she was also invited to be a field technician for Chesapeake Search and Rescue Dog Association, a voluntary organization in which her two German Shepherd dogs participated. As well, she volunteered time with Chesapeake Wildlife Sanctuary, and became licensed to rehabilitate wildlife, including raptors. Juliana was asked to teach an emergency canine first aid class to first responders at Anne Arundel Community College.
In the aftermath of 9/11, Juliana organized a group of local veterinarians and SAR teams including her own to provide voluntary 24/7 support to the secondary site at the Pentagon. Once here, she spent two weeks tending to canine first aid and decontamination.
Immediately following this experience, Juliana began working for Chesapeake Veterinary Referral Surgery, now CVSS. She primarily was involved in the anesthetic and nursing care of surgical patients, and routinely was an assistant in specialized procedures, many of them orthopedic. It was here, observing the patients’ post-operative progress, that Juliana inquired with the head surgeon about the need for rehabilitation for these patients. She explored this field, and graduated from the Canine Rehabilitation Institute as a certified canine rehabilitation assistant. This hospital now has a flourishing rehabilitative department, and the programs for post-operative care that have evolved here have helped countless patients return to a better quality of life following their procedures.
A move further south in Southern Maryland found Juliana employed with Mid-Atlantic Animal Specialty Hospital. Here she worked solely in rehabilitation, which she had discovered was her true passion in veterinary medicine. She found working for this wonderful group to be the highlight of her career.
In an effort to move closer to her family on the West Coast, Juliana explored the possibility of employment there. Although several job offers were extended, the ideal scenario for a cross-country move could ultimately not be found, and Juliana returned to a local regular veterinary practice, All Kinds Veterinary Hospital, where she works as an RVT and CCRA.
Juliana earned the title of Certified Canine Fitness Trainer after attending this program through University of Tennessee. This will expand the number of patients she can help to include those in need of conditioning and weight loss.
As a CCRA and CCFT, Juliana is excited to join the integrative team at Big River Veterinary Acupuncture, dedicated to pain management. Unfortunately, rehabilitative facilities are widespread in Maryland, and Juliana hopes to provide services to so many patients who would otherwise have too far to realistically travel for treatment. After so many years in the industry, Juliana feels that the realm of canine rehabilitation is her true calling and passion, and looks forward to extending, improving, and enhancing the quality of her patients’ lives.
Meet Hannah, Our Practice Manager
Hannah began working in the veterinary field over 20 years ago. Her experience at two local mixed practices, initially as a technician and later in management, developed her love for the industry and a further desire to build fulfilling relationships with pets and people. In 2022, she began Wild Roots Veterinary Consulting to help the veterinary community thrive without losing the personal connection that she sees so valuable. Managing Big River Veterinary Acupuncture and Rehabilitation for Dr. Tacia has allowed her the opportunity to support her passion of keeping a warm welcoming feel to animal medical care, while providing modern efficiencies to make it easy to do the best for our patients and your pets. While she wears many hats, her favorite is having the chance to help the people and pets she gets to meet along the way. Outside of the clinic, Hannah and her family are hanging out around the farm, hitting the horse trails, camping, or having fun on the water. Her canine family, Gus and Basil, are known to frequent the front desk ready for leftover treats or snuggles.
“Big River Veterinary has been seeing my pups for acupuncture for the past few years. Dr. Tacia is truly invested in her practice because she loves what she does. She loves her patients and the improvements they make.”
— Meaghan M
Contact Us
If your regular vet or surgeon has recommended rehabilitation, make an appointment with us today. Or, if you're interested in acupuncture, we're happy to help. No referral needed.