Meet the Team

Dr. Hilferty is a Louisianna State University graduate - class of 2015. Dr. H lives on the lakeshore in Grand Haven with his wife, two wonderful daughters, and their dogs (Lila & Sia). They also have a three-legged cat named Roux! When he isn't serving our clients and patients, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, hiking, biking, and running. You may see him running or biking around the lakeshore and exploring our local parks! Make sure you say "hello" if you see him! A little fun fact about Dr. Hilferty... He worked for the National Park Service and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries doing guided tours and banding wild birds - so cool!

On a professional level - Dr. Hilferty is looking forward to continuing to improve the medical and surgical standard and offerings of care here at Jenison Animal Hospital. By improving the standard and facility, he is looking forward to attracting, hiring, and retaining a wonderful staff that can provide the best care in the best interested of our clients and patients. He will strive to keep the purpose of the Jenison Animal Hospital mission in his heart with every decision that is made at the hospital.

Dr. Soper graduated from Michigan State University in 2002 and took part in a rotating specialty internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists from 2002 - 2003. She received her certification in Veterinary Acupuncture in 2016 and completed her Veterinary Tui-Na Training in 2017. She is originally from Wyoming, MI but currently lives in West Olive along the lakeshore with her husband, two dogs (Enoch & Ritz), and three cats (Newt, Nigel, & Niobe). When she isn't taking care of your pets, she enjoys reading, hiking, baking, camping, and gardening. Dr. Soper enjoys camping so much, that she and her husband bring the entire family with them! That includes the cats and the dogs! Newt, the "fancy" cat, is a British Short Hair, who loves to talk and cuddle. Niobe is the rescued Domestic Short Hair, who keeps everyone in line in the household. Nigel, the rescued Siamese mix, is the most loving and affectionate cat they have ever had. Ritz, the English Cream Golden Retriever, loves going on hikes and cuddling with his "dad". Enoch is a Golden Retriever, and also the youngest family member. He loves everyone and demands attention all the time. 

On a professional level, Dr. Soper plans to continue to improve and expand her veterinary acupuncture practice to assist more patients by improving their quality and length of life. She thinks of and trusts her clients as extended family members and makes recommendations for her patients based on the "Gold Standard of Practice", which is what she would do if they were her own "furry children". By effectively communicating these to her clients, she can work together as an effective team to advocate for their pet's best health.

Nicolette graduated from Dallas Community College with an associate's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on Human Resources. She has over ten years of experience in the veterinary industry and over two years of non-traditional education in veterinary management and statistics.  She moved to Grand Rapids in 2021 from the lakeshore area and is currently living with her fiance, Darren, and their miniature dachshund, Henry. Nicolette enjoys going to local events, hiking, spending time with family, and cooking. You will probably see her at local breweries, local community events, and downtown Grand Rapids on the weekends! A fun fact about Nicolette - she lived in Germany for almost 3 years and learned to speak a little German while she was there! She still has an aunt and uncle who live there and visited 6 surrounding countries during her years overseas. 

On a professional level, Nikkey is looking forward to getting her Bachelor's Degree and becoming a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager to better serve her clients, patients, team, and community. She promises to always offer the gold standard no matter what and allows the clients to decide what is best for their pets. She is working hard to grow the hospital so that they latest technological and medical advancements are available to the clients and patients that need it. No pet should ever be left behind!

Christina has been in the veterinary industry for over six years working in emergency medicine, on a specialty team, and has worked in general practice medicine. She currently lives in Holton with her husband and two kids (Brooklyn & Colton), their four dogs (Ryder, Copper, Skyy & Stafford), two horses (Biscuit & Gravy), three barn cats, two goats, chickens, and ducks. Whew! She has a whole farm! Life is also full of surprises at Christina's house - when she isn't assisting the doctors here at Jenison Animal Hospital, she devotes her time to her kids and their extracurricular activities, reading, and enjoys riding horses. She lives in a small town that doesn't have too much to do but you may see her hiking and exploring the trails with her kids and driving around on the ATVs! A fun fact about Christina - she is a Starbucks lover! She gets a Starbucks almost every day and "survives" on them!

On a professional note - Christina is looking forward to obtaining her License as a Veterinary Technician while growing her own knowledge and skillset on the job to help her coworkers and patients. Being a part of Jenison Animal Hospital means a lot to her... She joined the field to help give pets a voice and Jenison Animal Hospital believes in practicing the best medicine to support pets and their owners. She promises to continue to do her part b y helping educate pet owners on the best care available for their pets.

Nicole has been in the veterinary industry for over eight years, has an Associate's Degree, and is currently pursuing her veterinary technician license. She currently resides in Shelby with her husband and daughter. Together they have four horses, four dogs, four cats, a snake (Arlo) and a flock of chickens! Horses are Nicole's passion and she has two of them currently, one is 15 years old and the other is 7 years old. She raised and trained both of her horses from colts! When she isn't horseback riding, you will find Nicole hiking, farming, and exploring new places with her family. You will probably catch her at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes with her Jeep, tearing up the dunes! An interesting fact about Nicole... she volunteered with one of her horses, Koda, for four years on the Mason County Sheriff's Mount Search and Rescue Division - an awesome experience for her and Koda!

On a professional level, Nicole is making it a priority to study and pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam this summer/fall and officially become a Licensed Veterinary Technician! Her goal at Jenison Animal Hospital is to support the hospital's mission by helping provide the highest level of care to all patients and treating each pet and their care as if it were her own pet.

Margaret has been with Jenison Animal Hospital for over 6 years and has worked with Dr. Holt, Dr. Meeusen, Dr. Hilferty, Dr. Soper, and all the relief veterinarians in between! She attended Baker College while working here at the hospital and plans on continuing her education in the future. She currently lives in Allendale but recently bought land with her boyfriend and they plan on building their very own home! She has two kitties, Pena and Scrat, that she has bottle-fed and raised since they were days old. When Margaret leaves the hospital, she loves to go to breweries, spend time outside (especially in the summer!), and spend time with her family. You might see her out and about at local thrift stores and shopping at local businesses - it's important that she supports her local community.

On a professional level, Margaret has come to realize that no two days are ever the same and she looks forward to bettering herself and striving to do what is best for the patients. She is excited to learn new techniques, and medicine to be able to provide the best care for our animals! Throughout the years of working at Jenison Animal Hospital, she has made it a priority to remember each client and patient she has assisted to maintain a personal and special experience for everyone who comes in. 

Olivia has over three years of on-the-job training here at Jenison Animal Hospital. She lives in Grand Rapids but recently bought a home that is undergoing a transformation before moving in! Olivia is a mother-to-be and is looking forward to meeting her little girl. She has two dogs (Boone & Dax), and three cats (Nyx, Benson, & Sprout). Boone is Dax's father - they are the biggest goofballs! Benson keeps to herself, Nyx drools when he's happy, and Sprout is more like a dog than a cat. Olivia enjoys hanging out with her dogs, visiting new trails, going for boat rides, and swimming. When she isn't going above and beyond at work, you will probably find her at the local Starbucks or walking around with a pink drink in her hand! A fun fact about Olivia... she has over 22 tattoos and they are beautiful!

From a professional standpoint, Olivia wants to become the best version of herself that she can be in this industry. She wants to represent our Jenison Animal Hospital mission statement by making sure every patient and owner are getting the best care they can.

Katelyn is no stranger to the veterinary industry with over eight years of experience working in animal welfare at various humane societies. She currently lives in Marne with her baby boy, Zayden, her two German Shepherds (Jackson & Douglas), and her Beagle (Charlie). Katelyn also has four chickens - Ruth, Rosa, Lucille, and Daniel! When she isn't taking care of your pets, she likes to go camping, do arts & crafts, check out new restaurants, and go shopping with friends. Her ultimate goal is to focus on quality time with her family and be the best mom she can be! A fun fact about Katelyn - she is double-jointed in her shoulders!

From a professional standpoint, Katelyn wants to expand her skills and knowledge in the field while providing the highest quality care to our patients and their owners.

Hanna has experience in communication, customer service, organization, and on-the-job experience. She has been with Jenison Animal Hospital for almost three years in the Client Care Coordinator role and more recently, in a Veterinary Assistant position. Hanna currently lives in Grandville with her fiance and 12-year-old pitbull, Eclipse. When Hanna isn't at work, she loves spending time with Eclipse bringing her swimming, playing, and hanging out! Hanna enjoys playing video games, rollerblading, and hanging out with family! A fun fact about Hanna is that she is obsessed with pigs!

Professionally, Hanna is looking forward to building up her on-the-job skills and getting her Licensed Veterinary Technician degree and certification. She makes a point to listen to our clients about their concerns and always finds a way to help out the owners, especially when the pets need us the most.

Savannah came to us in 2024 and is currently studying to become an Occupational Therapist or possibly a teacher. She grew up in Jenison but just moved to Wyoming with her boyfried Noah and her 2 cats named Oakley and Ziggy that keep them very busy! Ziggy is a very big baby and loves to go for car rides and playing with his sister, Oakley. Oakley is the big cuddler in the family and enjoys lots of snuggles! Sav has three younger siblings that she spends a lot of time with when she isn't busy at work and she thinks the world of them! In her spare time, you might catch Savannah going for a walk, getting frozen yogurt, or trying out a new local food place. She also enjoyes playing ultimate frisbee, watching sunsets, reading, hanging out with her cats, friends, and family! She's also an amazing singer and has tried out for American Idol!

On a professional level, Sav would love to one day own several properties and be a landlord in order to help others/ She's looking forward to finishing her college degree and growing her knowledge. To support our clients and patients, Sav does her best to provide a welcoming experience for everyone that enters the doors as if they were her own family & pets.

Alex is currently enrolled at Grand Valley State University as a Biology Major with pre-vet emphasis. She lives in Caledonia with her two labs, Mavis & Wednesday. She also has two cats (Sam & Ivy), and a Gecko named Wall-E. Alex can be found getting ice ream with her family and friends in her downtime. She loves to read, paint, and dance - she was a dancer for eight years and was in many competitions all over Michigan! Alex was even on the Caledonia Varsity Dance Team and still helps as an assistant coach in her free time!

Professionally, Alex is excited to go to veterinary school and pursue large animal care. In the meantime, she is learning as much as she can on the job and works hard to give every patient and owner the best care possible.

Alyssa goes by "Luna" around here at the hospital... She currently lives in Kentwood but is from Charlotte, MI with a Bachelor's in Computer Science from Davenport University. Luna is an avid pet lover and experienced pet sitter which is how she found her way to us! When she isn't taking loving care of your pets, she is working for Kentwood Public Schools IT Department full-time assisting the schools and teachers with all of their IT needs. When she isn't at her part-time job or full-time job, she is coaching the high school robotics team with the 10th-12th graders! In her downtime, Luna enjoys reading, drawing, writing, playing video games, watching anime & movies, and doing some coding. You may even catch Luna at the movies, or at the Woodland mall inside her favorite store - Barnes & Noble!

Luna shares her life with her husband (Married in March of 2024!) and Cali (Their calico cat). Cali is tubby, loud, and also gets called "Fluff butt" by her mom and dad. She is pictured with Luna in her bio photo and has the most gorgeous yellow & green eyes!

Professionally, Luna likes to help people through her interests - At the schools, it's technology and IT work. At Jenison Animal Hospital, it's through animals. Her ongoing goal is to continue to keep growing and learning! Luna prioritizes our mission statement by being compassionate, intentional, and respectful in all her interactions whether it's the team, people, clients, or patients. She follows this motto everywhere in life!