VCA Midtown Animal Hospital

Bios

• Brad Phillips

  DVM

  Dr. Phillips has had a life long love of animals. He knew he wanted to attend veterinary school since starting as a veterinary technician at the age of seventeen. A native of Georgia and the son of a Georgia cheerleader, it was destined that he go to school at the University of Georgia. His hobbies include aviation and competitive shooting. "I enjoy my job as a Veterinarian at VCA because, of course, I love animals. Just ask any one of my 12 pets! Atlas, Alexis Alfie, Anna Ruby, and Astro are all dogs. Mystery, Romeo, Mr. Tips Reagan, Bella, Rudolph & Noel are all cats. I found my way to VCA through a journey of 4 jobs since graduation UGA's College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. VCA has been the most rewarding job so far with all they offer their employees to help animals live healthier and happier lives. The training they provide is superior to other Veterinary Hospitals and I was even fortunate enough to win a scholarship to get advanced radiology training in ultrasound in 2011. The challenge of being a Veterinarian and not being able to ask your patient what is wrong or what hurts makes each day a brand new adventure. Using problem solving skills and science to help pets and thereby help people with pets keeps me happy at VCA. My life is dedicated to always being an advocate for the animals and VCA helps me achieve that goal.".

• Olga Smychkovich

  DVM

  Dr. Smychkovich (Dr. Olga) was born in Russia and came to this country with her family when she was thirteen. Working with animals was always part of t he plan, but she truly became excited about being a veterinarian after working as a veterinary technician for a few years. After graduating from the University of Georgia School of Veterinary Medicine, she spent a year doing an internship at Georgia Veterinary Specialists here in Atlanta. She has been with VCA Pets Are People Too since 2007. In her free time she loves to travel the world, hiking, camping, scuba diving, skiing and going to the beach. Recently, she and her husband became first time parents to a beautiful baby boy named Anthony. He is the most fun and most time consuming thing in their lives. "Being here allows me to do something I truly enjoy - help animals when they are sick or injured and educate clients on good preventative health care practices to keep their pets healthy. I also love the fact that there is never a dull moment and my abilities are challenged every day. There is always an opportunity to learn or try something new and tremendous satisfaction in seeing patients get better as a result of my work.".

• Stephen Pope

  DVM

  Dr. Stephen Pope was born in Athens, Georgia and spent most of his childhood in South Georgia and Alabama, with two years of high school in Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh. It was there he began working at age 15 for a veterinarian and shifted his focus away from medical school to vet school, with his heart set on Auburn. He returned to Alabama and graduated high school from Charles Henderson in Troy, Alabama in 1985. He then entered Auburn University as an undergrad, earning his B.S. in Biology in the pre-vet program. In 1988, he started vet school at Auburn and graduated with his DVM in 1992. Immediately afterwards he started work as an associate vet with Pets are People, too in Dunwoody, part of a three hospital practice that grew later to five clinics in the Atlanta area. In 1997, he switched to ER and continued as an ER vet until the summer of 2006, when he accepted the medical directorship and moved back to day practice. He lives in Buford, Georgia with his two guinea pigs, Gertie and Butters. His interests are cooking, going to movies and comic/toy collecting. Growing up I knew few things outright at a young age, but two of those things were: 1. I was going to be a doctor when I grew up and 2. I was really fascinated by animals. I knew the first one because my grandmother told me so, constantly. I knew the other because I spent a good deal of time with my grandparents on their farm in south Georgia with my own pony, a mustang named Blackie, and thirteen dogs, at least one of whom was also named Blackie. Also, because my favorite show was Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom and Marlin Perkins was my hero. What I didn't know then, or really give any thought to, was that I could make both myself and my grandmother happy in one swoop, by becoming a veterinarian. It had never occurred to me then. I didn't realize this until I met Greg Serra. Greg lived across the street from my aunt in Pennsylvania, where I moved to in high school for a couple of years. He was my age, in the same grade, a friend of the family and worked in an animal hospital, along with his brother, as a kennel boy. He was a meek, friendly, math whiz of a kid with blazing red hair and a Ford Falcon. We became fast friends and shared many a late night battling it out in Risk and playing baseball on his ColecoVision. Not long after meeting he asked me if I'd like a job replacing his brother who was leaving for college and I thought the extra money could come in handy. I said of course, so at the age of fifteen I got my first real clock-punching job and started working the kennels with Greg. By the time I turned sixteen, I announced to my grandmother and my aunt that they could still have a doctor in the family, but it'd have to be on my terms. Despite the noise and the smells and the back-breaking labor in the kennels, I knew I had found my calling. My usually hard to please grandmother took it in stride and in her broken English, Greek-laden accent took to calling me Dr. Dog�. By seventeen I was accepted into Auburn and started my journey towards fulfilling my dream. Eventually, I moved back to Alabama and soon after starting my second year of undergrad, I got a phone call telling me that Greg had died in a car wreck, alone on a dark and winding Pennsylvania back road. I was eighteen. It was the first time I lost someone so close to me in age and in spirit, and I have never stopped mourning that day. Two years later, I got my acceptance letter from Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine and 25 years later, here I am, practicing the craft I had finally chosen and chased so many years. So to answer why it is I do what I do, you can definitely appreciate both my grandmother, GiaGia Fannie, and Marlin Perkins for laying the groundwork. You can thank all the vets who encouraged me along the way. You can give a shout out to the many clients and pets that have touched and affected me on my journey. But the one person who deserves the most credit, all of my thanks and my eternal gratitude is my friend Greg, who put it all together so many years ago and gave me the one gift I never knew I wanted. For without him, I don't know where or what I would be, but it most certainly would not be a successful and blessed veterinarian. Thanks, Greg. You are missed.

• Brian Davidson

  DVM

  Dr. Davidson was born and raised in Alabama. He attended the University of Alabama and received a bachelor's degree in biology. Dr. Davidson received his veterinary degree in 2010 from St. Matthew's University College of Veterinary Medicine following a one-year clinical program at Purdue University. He then worked at a small animal practice in the Chicago area. Dr. Davidson joined the VCA Pets Are People Too team in December of 2011. He enjoys all aspects of small animal medicine and surgery. Dr. Davidson lives in Atlanta with his two cats - Noni and Olive. His hobbies include reading, traveling, and cooking. "This profession has allowed me to combine my love for animals with my passion for science and medicine. I strive everyday to be an advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves and I am proud to be a part of an amazing team.".

• Brian Davidson

  DVM

  Dr. Davidson was born and raised in Alabama. He attended the University of Alabama and received a bachelor's degree in biology. Dr. Davidson received his veterinary degree in 2010 from St. Matthew's University College of Veterinary Medicine following a one-year clinical program at Purdue University. He then worked at a small animal practice in the Chicago area. Dr. Davidson has been working in the Atlanta area since December 2011 and he joined our team in January 2013. He enjoys all aspects of small animal medicine and surgery. Dr. Davidson lives in Atlanta with his boxer Jezebel and his two cats - Noni and Olive. His hobbies include going to concerts and films, art, traveling, and cooking. "This profession has allowed me to combine my love for animals with my passion for science and medicine. I strive everyday to be an advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves and I am proud to be a part of an amazing team."

• Natalia Gracia

  DVM

  Dr. Natalia Gracia has been with VCA Pets are People Too since February 2012. Dr. Gracia grew up in Puerto Rico. Dr. Gracia attended the University of Wisconsin where she received her degree in veterinary medicine. Her professional interests include internal medicine animal behavior, and dentistry. When she is not working she enjoys spending time with her husband Stephen, daughter Marina, and son Jonathan. Her hobbies include sewing, scrap booking, reading, crafting. "Ever since I was very young I've wanted to work with animals, ease their suffering, and help their owners have wonderful lives of companionship with their pets. The human-animal bond is a magnificent reality, and to witness it everyday at work is extremely rewarding. Being a veterinarian is not only a job for me but a vocation; it is the most important way that I serve others in my community.".

• Jennifer Wilson

  DVM

  "Being a veterinarian has always been my life's passion and I couldn't imagine doing anything else! VCA gives me the opportunity to provide the highest quality medical care for all of my patients and treat them as I would my own pet. I feel very fortunate to be in a rewarding profession with a great hospital and caring staff!"

• Stephanie Cruz

  DVM

  Dr. Stephanie Cruz grew up in New Jersey where she was a Veterinary Technician for over 10 years before graduating from Tuskegee University as a Veterinarian. Although she grew up in the north, she has made Georgia her home. Her special interests include internal medicine, ultrasound and soft tissue surgery. She shares her home with her 4 dogs Milo Jet, Chase Jack, Luna, and Pinky. In her spare time she enjoys reading, snorkeling, horseback riding, cooking, dancing and living life to the fullest. "I pride myself on treating each of my patients as if they were my own to ensure I provide them iwth the best care possible." .