Lake Emma Animal Hospital

by Jill Duff-Hoppes

Lake Emma Animal Hospital in Lake Mary prides itself on consistently doing all it can to help serve the pet-care needs of the community. With that goal in mind, the practice recently added two veterinarians to its team of about 50 employees – which includes doctors, support staff, and administrators.

“We do the best we can every day to safely care for as many patients as possible,” says Jen Grefenhaus, Lake Emma Animal Hospital’s practice manager. “The veterinary industry in general has been overwhelmed for several years due to the influx of new pet family members and the shortage of doctors and veterinary team members. It is very helpful when we can add new veterinarians to serve our growing community.”

The additions to the team are Dr. Melissa Tolson, who came on board in October 2023, and Dr. Tiffany Eastman, who joined in March ‘23. However, to some clients at Lake Emma Animal Hospital, Dr. Eastman was already a familiar face. That’s because she has worked there since 2018 as a relief veterinarian, helping fill in when other doctors had time off.

Dr. Tolson and Dr. Eastman have both loved animals since they were kids, but Dr. Tolson started on a veterinary career path a bit earlier than her colleague.

An Eruption of Talent

Born in Long Island, New York, Dr. Tolson grew up in Connecticut. At age 16, she began working as a kennel attendant and then as a veterinary technician at a local animal clinic. She worked at the clinic until graduating from high school, when she left the Northeast to earn a bachelor’s degree in biology at Florida State University.

In 2017, Dr. Tolson earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine on the island of Saint Kitts in the West Indies.

“There were monkeys and goats everywhere in Saint Kitts,” Dr. Tolson says with a smile. “I got to hike up a volcano there – who gets to say that?”

Dr. Tolson then worked at veterinary practices in Lake Mary and DeLand before joining Lake Emma Animal Hospital’s staff. A resident of Lake Mary, she has two mini-Australian shepherds and two cats.

“Lake Emma Animal Hospital offers a really high standard of care,” says Dr. Tolson. “Our clients definitely are willing to go above and beyond for their pets. We’re trying to make sure we’re doing everything we can for these animals.”

Gator Alert!

Dr. Eastman, who grew up in Miami, initially majored in business at the University of Florida but decided to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian instead. During her sophomore year, she volunteered at an animal hospital and switched her major to animal sciences. At UF, she also earned a master’s degree in management followed by her DVM in 2013.

Dr. Eastman then worked at private practices in St. Petersburg and Oviedo before moving into veterinary relief work in Central Florida. A Sanford resident, she is married with three children. Her family has two beagle/bluetick coonhound mixes and a cat even though Dr. Eastman is allergic to kitties.

She is thrilled to now have a permanent position at Lake Emma Animal Hospital. Of all the places she has worked during her time as a relief veterinarian, Dr. Eastman says this hospital offers the best quality of medicine and is the best-managed practice.

“It’s a well-respected, long-standing practice, and the well-being of the staff is highly valued,” says Dr. Eastman. “They put effort into staying up to date with advancements in medicine and having the best options available for their clients and patients.”

Lake Emma Animal Hospital was reaccredited in December by the American Animal Hospital Association. It is also a certified Cat Friendly Practice, a program established by the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the International Society for Feline Medicine.

To learn more, visit LakeEmmaAnimalHospital.com.