Meet Our TeaM
At South Side Animal Hospital, your pet is cared for by a dedicated team of veterinarians, registered veterinary technologists, veterinary assistants, receptionists, and grooming professionals.
We are proud to have a team that brings experience, compassion, and genuine love for animals into every appointment.
Owner and Director
Dr. Heather Steele, DVM
Dr. Heather Steele grew up in Camrose, Alberta. She attended Augustana and the University of Alberta before graduating from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon in 2000. She also holds a Veterinary Practice Management certificate from Olds College.
Dr. Steele became a veterinarian because her father was a government veterinarian and helped inspire her love of medicine, surgery, animals, and helping people. She loves all animals, but especially senior pets. She also enjoys winning over nervous pets and teaching them that not all vet visits are scary.
At home, Dr. Steele shares her life with two cats, Jack and Hazel, and two dogs, Rolo and Budward. All of her pets are rescues. Jack was caught in a trap and is missing his ear tips and three toes. Hazel came from a feral colony and loves to scale walls like a guard cat. Budward was found wandering the streets with an old war wound on his side. Rolo was taken from a neglect situation and is just learning to be a regular dog and not bite at his kitties.
Outside of work, Dr. Steele is a competitive curler and also enjoys golf, lawn bowling, and spending time with family and friends.
Our Veterinarians
Dr. Luning Zhou, DVM
Dr. Luning Zhou graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2015 and has been practising in her hometown of Edmonton ever since.
Dr. Zhou’s favourite part of being a veterinarian is the variety each day brings. She enjoys dentistry, medicine, and surgery equally and is passionate about helping animals and the people who care for them.
At home, Dr. Zhou is kept entertained by Edna, an overweight rescue pug who proves every day that dogs do not need teeth to live happy, thriving lives.
Dr. Maria Sung, DVM
Dr. Maria Sung graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010. She has been working in small animal companion practice in Edmonton since she graduated.
Dr. Sung was born and raised in a small town in Alberta. She enjoys the challenges and variety of veterinary medicine, along with getting to know pets and their families.
When she is not working, Dr. Sung enjoys traveling around the world, sampling new flavors and dishes, and replicating them at home for friends and family.
Dr. Elizabeth Hodges, DVM
Dr. Elizabeth Hodges graduated from the University of Calgary’s Veterinary Medicine program in 2016. She also holds an MSc in Biology from the University of Alberta.
Dr. Hodges has been working at South Side Animal Hospital since 2017.
She shares her home with her husband, Keith, her cat Earl, goldfish Jerry, and their Great Dane mix, Daisy.
Dr. Lauren Sherwood, DVM
Dr. Lauren Sherwood joined the team in January 2024. She graduated from the Veterinary Medicine Program at the University of Calgary in 2019.
Dr. Sherwood worked in small animal practice in Calgary for a couple of years before moving to Edmonton. She has wanted to be a veterinarian since she was a young child.
Dr. Sherwood enjoys spending time outside, listening to podcasts, and checking out local restaurants. She lives with her cat Louie, who requires sedatives to be handled at the office, her partner Justin, and her daughter Amelia.
Our Registered Veterinary Technologists
Marnie, RVT & Office Manager
Marnie is South Side Animal Hospital’s longest-standing team member. She has been with the clinic since 1991 and is dedicated to the clinic, patients, and clients.
Marnie completed two years of an undergraduate science program at the University of Alberta before switching into the Animal Health Technology program at the Northern Alberta Institute for Technology. Before graduating in 1991, she completed her practicum at South Side Animal Hospital and enjoyed the people and working environment so much that she accepted a permanent position and never left.
Marnie became an Animal Health Technologist because she enjoyed working with animals and was interested in medicine. She found this career gave her the perfect balance of both. As office manager, she has also added skills in management, accounting, and clinic organization. She is truly a jack of all trades and helps keep the clinic running smoothly.
Marnie loves all types of animals. When asked which animals she likes best, she says “the cute ones,” which covers almost all animals in her eyes. In her free time, Marnie is a talented Ukrainian and Polynesian dancer. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids. Her family lives in Edmonton and shares their home with two dogs.
Melissa, RVT
Melissa graduated from NAIT’s Animal Health Technology program in 2001.
She became a veterinary technologist because she cares deeply about helping animals live the best and most comfortable lives possible.
Melissa shares her life with Milton, a 3-year-old male orange tabby, and Tucker, an 18-year-old male long-haired tuxedo. She loves pets because they offer a kind of unconditional love that is rare. They have a special way of lifting our spirits, making us laugh, and comforting us without saying a word.
Fun fact: The last year Melissa did not have at least one male orange cat as a pet was 2003.
Cynthia, RVT
Cynthia was born and raised in Edmonton and graduated from the NAIT Animal Health Technology program last century.
She has been working at South Side Animal Hospital part-time since just before COVID, and she has been a mom full-time since 2007.
Cynthia has experience with all sorts of pets, but her first love is cats. She is looking forward to getting two more this summer. When she is not at the clinic, she is usually at home with her family, at a glass studio, or on the farm.
Vi, RVT
Originally from Brazil, Vi decided to make Edmonton their home in 2021 and joined the team as a veterinary assistant. In 2024, they graduated from the Animal Health Technology Program at NAIT and became one of our Registered Veterinary Technologists.
Their favourite aspect of the job is helping patients feel better and seeing them return home to their families. They have a special interest in exotic animal medicine.
Vi shares a home with their partner, three birdies, Popcorn, Peanut and Pickle, a tarantula named Sol, a jumping spider named The Beast, and a Schnauzer/Poodle mix named Ramon.
RHONDA, RVT
Rhonda has always had a passion for the well-being of animals. She would never miss a chance to help an animal in need.
She graduated from the Animal Health Technology program at NAIT in 1992 and has used her skills to help many animals ever since.
Rhonda’s favourite part of the job is working with senior pets and trying to keep them healthy and comfortable for as long as possible. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her kids, her cat Lexi, family, and friends. She also loves going to the movies and traveling.
Danielle, RVT
Danielle started volunteering at South Side Animal Hospital in 2007 and graduated from NAIT’s Animal Health Technology program in 2010. After graduation, she became a full-time employee.
Danielle has always loved animals and was drawn to South Side because of the team’s passion for excellent patient care and compassion for all creatures. She particularly enjoys working with rabbits and has a soft spot for all black cats and any “long but short” dogs.
She shares her life with her horse, Kali, two dogs, Oznik and Brynn, and two cats, Marley and Marshall Mallows. When she is not at the barn riding or doing mounted archery, she loves spending time outdoors, camping, hiking, and paddleboarding.
KAYLA, RVT
Kayla, who graduated from NAIT, became a member of the veterinary community because she has spent her whole life loving and caring for pets. She has always known she was going to work with animals.
Kayla shares her home with a Bengal named Dolly and three hermit crabs named Shark, Toupie, and Biggie. She likes to keep the old, weird pets that often go unnoticed and uncared for. As someone who prefers exotic pets, she never planned on adopting a cat until Dolly showed up on her doorstep injured and in need of a human to spend the rest of her life bossing around.
Fun fact: Hermit crabs can live for over 30 to 40 years in captivity with proper care and husbandry. They are one of the most chronically neglected and abused animals in captivity.
Selena, RVT
Selena graduated from the Veterinary Technology program at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ontario, in 2019. She grew up in Southern Ontario and now lives in Edmonton.
Although Selena loves cats and dogs, she has a special place in her heart for exotics. She has experience caring for many different species, from tiny little mice to penguins and sea lions. The more animals she can help, the better.
Selena is also our resident bulldog lover. If there is a squishy face in the clinic, Selena will be there for snuggles. She lives with her husband, Evan, and her furry family members, Chester the boxer and Mouse and Cheese the cats. In her spare time, Selena enjoys fostering animals, traveling, playing video games, and trying new foods.
Our Veterinary Assistants and Receptionists
Alex, Vet Assistant
Alex has loved animals since she was young. Because her family has allergies, she started out with fish and slowly moved her way up to fostering small animals, like bunnies, and eventually getting a standard poodle.
Alex and her poodle, Jasper, love adventuring outside and training together. Jasper helped further her love of animals and inspired her to consider a career in veterinary medicine.
Alongside working at South Side, Alex also has experience with wildlife and production animals and continues to seek out more experiences. She is currently in her third year at the University of Alberta and hopes to get into veterinary school in the coming years. Including Jasper, Alex and her partner have expanded their pack to include tarantulas, ants, millipedes, shrimp, and a snake.
Jesse, Vet Assistant and Veterinary Technology Student
Jesse began at South Side Animal Hospital as a volunteer and is currently working through the home stretch of the Veterinary Technology program at NAIT.
She shares her home with two dogs, Tucker and Roo, a king snake named Mac, and David, a forever foster through Alberta Homeward Hound.
For the past couple of years, Jesse’s hobbies have included school, school, and more school. She is looking forward to getting back to reading, silversmithing, travelling, and doing agility with all three dogs. Mac unfortunately does not get to come, but he has his own weave poles and is very good at them.
Rosa, Vet Assistant and Receptionist
Rosa started her journey at the clinic in 2019 when she was hired as a part-time assistant after finishing her practicum. She has now transitioned into her full-time receptionist role.
Rosa enjoys seeing all the animals who come through the clinic, but her favourites to see are all of the bunnies.
Rosa currently has two pets: a Ball Python named Steven and a cat named Sasuke. In her spare time, you can catch her curled up with a good book or spending time with her husband and two kids.
Deanne, Receptionist
Deanne joined the team as our main receptionist in April 2015. Before entering the world of veterinary medicine, she earned her degree in Sociology and a diploma in Law and Security.
Deanne chose to join South Side because we are a small, privately-owned clinic that focuses on the well-being of our patients. She loves being part of helping sick and injured pets recover and return home to their families.
When she is not busy at work, Deanne enjoys spending time with her dogs Atlas, Rosie, and Wynn. She enjoys spending time with friends, traveling back to Ontario to see family and friends there, sports, and watching true crime documentaries and cooking shows. She also has a special interest in animal behaviour and spends time expanding her knowledge in this area.
Our groomer
Darlie, Groomer
Darlie has been with South Side Animal Hospital since January 2023 as our on-site groomer. She brings 14 years of grooming experience, with the last 8 years working within a veterinary setting.
Working in a veterinary setting allows Darlie to work with pets who have special needs and may require medical attention. Her previous career in Emergency Medical Services, although working with people, still gives her background knowledge of medicine and the ability to work under pressure. She made the transition from helping people to working with animals because it had always been something she wanted to do since she was young.
Darlie has also studied dog behaviour training and was mentored by Cheri Lucas and Brian Agnew. This knowledge is used daily with pets who need extra coaching through the grooming process. Growing up on a small hobby farm, Darlie tended to cats, dogs, horses, chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, and one pig.
She currently tends to her little princess Penny, who comes to work with her every day unless it is too cold out. Penny makes this choice all on her own once she goes out to check the weather. Darlie and Penny also enjoy having other furry guests for occasional dog sitting when friends and family need to be away on vacations.
Our FuRry team – ‘THE BOSSES’
Static
Static is a neutered male domestic short-haired cat who came to South Side Animal Hospital in December of 2017 when he was looking for a new home.
He quickly fit into our hospital crew, won over the staff with his “cat-titude” and handsome smile, and decided that he did not want to leave the comfort of the hospital.
As the only clinic cat, Static has taken over the role of clinic boss. He can often be found in the office trying to convince people to pet him instead of working on their computers, or sitting on the front desk entertaining clients and reception staff alike. He is a sweet-natured boy and we are fortunate to have him on our Fur-Team.
Our ANGELS
Zoe
In the spring of 2018, Zoe became quite ill from kidney failure and the team sadly had to say goodbye to their sweet girl. Zoe lived at South Side Animal Hospital for the majority of her 18 years, coming to the clinic in 2002 as a stray cat. She is missed for her torti cat-titude and funny nature.
Jeronimo
In December of 2017, Jeronimo’s kidney disease progressed and the team had to say goodbye to their kind and gentle boy. He is missed for the sweet little noises he would make for attention and his ability to give the best cuddles. The team is grateful that Jerry was able to spend his retirement years at South Side Animal Hospital.
Jasper
Jasper was sadly lost in February of 2014. He was a sweet and kind cat who succumbed to pancreatic disease. He remains part of the team in spirit.
Holstein
Holstein was the original South Side clinic boss and was known for his gentle nature and his desire to parent any kittens that came to see the team. He passed away in 2003 at the ripe old age of 23.