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The Village Vets of Decatur
The Village Vets of Decatur, which was formerly Decatur Village Veterinary Center, is located in the heart of the city of Decatur; one of metro Atlanta's most popular and sought-after neighborhoods. It opened its doors on March 26, 2001. at its first location on E. Howard Avenue, which was the same facility of the former Decatur Veterinary Hospital; Dekalb County's first small animal veterinary practice.
Decatur Vets
Dr. Will Draper
Since 2000
“Dr. Will” grew up in Inglewood, California, and graduated from Morningside High School in 1984 before matriculating to Tuskegee University (4th generation) for both undergraduate and veterinary medical studies. He was accepted to veterinary school after only 3 years of undergraduate studies; and after receiving his DVM in 1991, he continued his training at North Rockville Veterinary Hospital in Rockville, Maryland before moving to Atlanta in 1992.
He loves music (big Dave Matthews Band fan), movies, painting with acrylics, and enjoying family activities. His favorite veterinary interests include dermatology, internal medicine, and surgery. He married his classmate, Dr. Françoise Tyler, in September, 1993. They have 4 children; son David (9/97) and daughters Tyler (5/99), Gabrielle (11/01), and Olivia (7/03). They also have 4 dogs (Max, Louie, Frank, and Etta James) and 2 cats (Zig-Zag and Charlemagne).
Dr. Will has served as the featured veterinarian on WebMD's web series, "Ask The Veterinarian”, and serves as a veterinary expert in WebMD magazine. He received the Purina ProPlan 2013 National "Veterinarian of the Year", and has been honored as one of Atlanta's "Best Vets" in Atlanta Magazine consistently since 2001, and was selected as a FIVE STAR veterinarian in that same publication- an honor bestowed to only 7% of the veterinarians in the metro Atlanta area.
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Dr. Melissa Finke
Since 2008
Raised on Long Island, NY, Dr. Finke received both her Bachelor's degree in 1995 and her DVM in 1999 from the University of Georgia.
Dr. Finke and her partner Jon live in Vinings, GA with their son Landon Jacob Roth (1/15). Having previously worked at a practice in Woodstock for 6 years, she loves all aspects of veterinary medicine, with a special interest in surgery.
Dr. Finke's hobbies include traveling and horseback riding. She has a French bulldog - Moxie.
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Dr. Dianna Doss
Since 2011
Dr. Doss attended North Georgia College prior to moving to the University of Georgia's College of Veterinary Medicine; where she graduated in 1998. Prior to joining The Village Vets, she worked at practices in Grayson, Covington and Loganville.
Dr. Doss enjoys both small animal and emergency medicine. Dr. Doss and her husband, Joe, live in Oxford with their two daughters, McKayla and Katie, and their three dogs Bubba Gump, Lula, and Tramp. When not working, Dr. Doss can usually be found on the softball field with her girls.
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Dr. Chris Simmons
Since 2015
Dr. Christopher Simmons is a 2014 graduate from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and is the son of a veterinarian, Dr. Ken Simmons, from West Palm Beach, FL. He is a compassionate person who loves to interact with his clients. Outside of veterinary medicine, he, his wife Amanda, and their goofy labradoodle “Bennie” are avid supporters of Florida Gator athletics. He also enjoys playing recreational basketball. His professional interests include ultrasonography, clinical pathology, and neurology.
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Dr. Janine Franco
Since 2008
Dr. Franco is an Atlanta native, and after graduating from Woodward Academy, matriculated to the University of Pennsylvania where she received her undergraduate degree. She received her DVM from the University of Georgia in 2006. She joined The Village Vets of Decatur in June 2008.
Janine and her husband, Alan, live in Decatur with their daughter, Eden (11/08), son, Lewis (4/11), cats Riesling and Brown Guy, and their dog, Alfie.
Dr. Franco is conversant in Spanish, and is a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners.
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Dr. Deva Prather
Since 2011
Dr. Prather is originally from Orlando, Florida. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology with a Chemistry minor. In 2003, Dr. Prather graduated from Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts. Following graduation she worked in emergency medicine for 2 years. She has been practicing in the Decatur area since.
She and her husband, Donald, live in Oakhurst with their three children - sons, Connor (8/06), Nicholas (6/08) and daughter, Katherine (1/11). They also have two dogs – Ginger and Jessie and one cat – Mia.
Dr. Prather enjoys spending time with her family, as well as reading and photography. Her special interests in veterinary medicine includes surgery, emergency care and working with shelter and rescue pets.
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Dr. Anneke Lothridge
Since 2011
Dr. Lothridge, originally from Athens, GA, did her undergraduate studies at University of Georgia before graduating in 2009 from Colorado State University's veterinary school. She now lives in Decatur's Oakhurst neighborhood with her husband, Britt and their daughter, Anna (5/09) and son, Jacob (11/10). In her spare time, Dr. Lothridge enjoys yoga, reading, sewing and spending time outdoors - “especially at the beach.”
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Dr. Amanda Slider
Since 2012
Dr. Amanda Slider received her bachelor's degree in Biology from Georgia Southern University. In 2009 she graduated from the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Slider has a special interest in emergency, critical care, feline, and shelter medicine. Her hobbies include scuba diving, water sports, traveling, snowboarding, and spending time with her husband Chris, their daughter Leah (12/2013), as well as her seven nieces and nephews. They have two energetic orange tabby cats, Zeke and Kiah.
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Dr. A. Olly Neal
Since 2018
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. Neal earned a degree in animal science from Alcorn State University in Mississippi before receiving his veterinary doctorate from Tuskegee University in Alabama in 2004. He practiced small animal general practice and emergency medicine in Las Vegas, Nevada before relocating to Atlanta. Dr. Neal's professional passion is small animal emergency and critical care medicine, He brings with him a deep knowledge base and strong leadership to our team. Dr. Neal enjoys spending time with his 3 children, 2 dogs and 1 cat- and is also a big college football fan. He travels back to Haywood County, Tennessee to visit friends and family whenever he can.
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Dr. Naeemah Cottrell
Since 2018
Dr. Cottrell is an Atlanta native, having spent the majority of her childhood within the Metro Atlanta area, but also finding opportunities to travel throughout the US in her college and graduate school years. With a sincere passion for science, and an avid interest in art, she graduated Cum laude in 2010 from Wesleyan College, majoring in Biology, with a minor in Studio Art. Following her graduation, she took a year off from her veterinarian-centered career, to give back to her community and the youth of Atlanta as a second grade art teacher. Following this empowering experience, she attended the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, and received her Doctorate in 2015.
Dr. Cottrell currently lives in Stockbridge, Georgia with her husband Michael, and her playful yet amusingly antisocial cat, Yoruichi. Dr. Cottrell loves spending time with her family, discovering savory authentic restaurants, and playing her violin. Her professional interests include imaging, surgery and dentistry.
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Dr. Adam Calcutt
Since 2011
Originally from Manchester, England, Dr. Calcutt received his DVM from St. George’s University, Grenada in 2008. Following two successful years working at an animal hospital in Chicago, he and his family moved to Decatur in 2010 so that his wife Sarah could pursue her career at Emory University.
Dr. Calcutt has travelled extensively enjoying many aspects of veterinary medicine - from darting lions in Uganda, to rehabilitating orangutans in Borneo. It was during his time in Africa where he was studying Great White Sharks that he met his wife, Sarah.
His personal interests include flying, scuba diving, soccer – especially watching Manchester United, lazy walks with his two Labradoodles Ella and Tusker, and spending quality time with his son Greyson (5/10).
Dr. Calcutt is excited to be a member of the team at The Village Vets, and looks forward to building many wonderful relationships as he follows his passion for small animal medicine and surgery.
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Dr. Michelle Hermansen
Since 2018
Dr. Michelle Hermansen called Jacksonville, Florida home before pursuing her undergraduate degree at Florida State University followed by her veterinary degree at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation in 2016, she completed a small animal internship at a specialty referral hospital in Tallahassee, Florida after which she spent a year in general practice in North Carolina.
Dr. Hermansen and her husband, John, along with their two big mutts “Chief” and “Ronin,” and one orange cat “Nectar,” are excited to become a part of the Atlanta community. Dr. Hermansen loves working with all her furry patients but has particular interests in neurology and ultrasonography. She spends her time outside of the hospital riding bikes on- and off-road, indulging in good food and trying her hand at pottery.
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