Meet Our Team in Millis, MA

Our veterinarians and support team are proud to serve the Millis, MA area for all things pet-related–and we do it all with love and respect for the human-animal bond. As a locally-owned hospital, we have deep ties to our community and the people and pets who share it with us.

Allow us to introduce ourselves, and reach out at (508) 376-5317 or schedule an appointment online to see our team in person. We can’t wait to meet you!

Dr. Kayla Hasemann

Veterinarian

Dr. Kayla Hasemann grew up in the small town of Douglas, MA. She attended Boston College and obtained her bachelor’s degree in biology in 2018. She will graduate from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in May 2022. She is very excited to come home to the East Coast to practice medicine!

Her love for veterinary medicine was destined to be, growing up with two veterinarian parents! She has always been inspired and dedicated to pursuing this amazing profession. Her interests include preventative medicine, soft tissue surgery, and dentistry.

She loves being outside and reading books. She lives with her fiancé, Brian, and their two wonderful cats, Pickles and Draco.

Dr. Heather Cochran

Veterinarian

Dr. Heather Cochran has practiced in the Millis/Medfield area since 1999. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Wellesley College and graduated from Tufts Veterinary School in 1996. She completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston.

Dr. Cochran lives locally with her husband, three children, three rescue dogs and two “foster failure” kitties. She is dedicated to helping animals in need and has fostered over twenty-five dogs and cats to help out area shelters.

In her free time Dr. Cochran enjoys hiking, kayaking, gardening, and training her dogs.

Dr. Daphne Flessas

Veterinarian

Dr. Flessas is the new owner of Millis Animal Hospital, and the current owner of Acton Animal Hospital in Acton, MA. She previously practiced in the area at Banfield in Bellingham. She is a 1996 graduate of Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and has spent her career working in Massachusetts. Dr. Flessas has interests in dermatology, nutrition, and dentistry, as well as soft tissue surgery and internal medicine. She is passionate about education and enjoys teaching and mentoring. She and her husband have three children, and share their home with Monkey and Pickles (who show up regularly on Facebook!), in addition to three cats Trouble, Max, and Ruby. In her free time, Dr. Flessas is a soccer and gymnastics mom and loves to travel with her family.

Courtney Polo

Practice Manager

Courtney is a compassionate and loving individual who has had an attachment to animals since she was young. Her entire life she grew up caring for her pets and giving them the extra love and care they deserve. As she got older, she knew that it was her calling to continue caring for animals and build a career in the veterinary medicine field.

Courtney obtained an associate’s degree in veterinary technology from Becker College in 2011. She has continued her education and is enrolled in the Pre-Veterinary concentration at Becker College and hopes to achieve her bachelor’s degree in the near future. While working full-time and raising her son, she also is taking courses to succeed in becoming a veterinary practice manager. Courtney‘s main interests in veterinary medicine are surgery and anesthesia as well as client education. While away from work, she loves to spend quality time with her son and caring for her first child…her cat, Kahli.

Emily Ethier, CVT

Certified Veterinary Technician

Emily is a devoted animal lover who is compassionate about veterinary medicine and quality animal care. She has always had a strong connection with animals since she was young. Emily received an associate’s degree in veterinary technology in 2011 and has worked at various animal hospitals since then. She became a Certified Veterinary Technician in 2014. In her free time she enjoys painting, baking, running, and spending time with her pets at home.

Elyse Gilmore

Veterinary Receptionist

Elyse joined our team after having met Dr. Flessas at a coffee shop where she worked as a barista. A life-long animal lover, she enjoys pet sitting and spending time in horse barns whenever she can. Her furry family consists of two cats – Tavin and Rogue – and a cattle dog mix named Sloane. All three accompanied her on her recent cross-country move.

When she’s not working, Elyse can be found in the great outdoors, hiking and kayaking, usually with her dog. She also loves spending time with friends and family.

Lauren Drainville

Veterinary Technician

Lauren came to us from Becker College’s veterinary technology program. She has always known that working with animals was her calling. At the age of 14, she began her career in the veterinary field at a doggy daycare. At home, she has two cats – Bella and Teddy – a horse named Ty, and her pride and joy, Austin, a Portuguese water dog and former service animal. In her free time, Lauren enjoys hiking with Austin, painting, and singing.

Shawn Gearhart, CVT

Certified Veterinary Technician

A native of central Mass, Shawn got started in the veterinary field working for a breeder of English Bull Terriers and as a kennel attendant. She’s a graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst where she studied animal science and earned her CVT.

Shawn is very active in the rescue and fostering communities and is a proud caretaker to several dogs, two cats, and a flock of backyard chickens. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering and watching her son play sports and participate in Boy Scouts. She also loves to garden, work with her chickens, and do agility training with her dogs.