Meet Our Veterinary Team

Veterinarian and Founder

Dr. Sainsbury has always known a passion and love for animals. When she was only 3 years old her mother was alarmed to find her petting her uncle’s bull while he munched on hay; seemingly enjoying the curious toddler talking to him! As a young child, she convinced her dad while trick-or-treating to take a “free puppy” from a house. This is the dog she knew as a constant companion until, sadly, he was put to rest at the ripe old age of 16!

She chose to open the Byron Center Animal Hospital in 2006 with the goal of providing all animals with the highest quality, most compassionate care possible. She is extremely dedicated to her patients and human caregivers and feels very strongly that like us, our pets deserve optimum health and happiness. She thrives on the bond she creates with both her patients and clients!

Prior to opening the Byron Center Animal Hospital, Dr. Stephanie worked doing emergency and critical care at a 24-hour care facility. She completed her undergraduate degree from Lake Superior State University and her veterinary degree from the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Ontario. Her hometown is in Canada, but she now lives here with her husband, Jeff, who has always called Grand Rapids home. They have one son, Zach, whom they welcomed into their family in 2013. To keep him company, they have Cliff, a rescued mastiff mix, and a cat named Jack. Dr. Sainsbury loves to watch Zach giggle and play with his four-legged siblings! Dr. Sainsbury enjoys mountain bike racing, hiking, and reading in her spare time. She has always had a love of the outdoors and nature. Whenever she is able, she will gather up Zach, Cliff, and Jeff and head outside!

Veterinarian

Dr. Phoebe Miedema joined BCAH in August 2018. Dr. Phoebe grew up in Portage, Michigan and has always had a deep-rooted love of animals and a passion for the human-animal bond. She grew up showing horses in 4-H, a hobby that carried over to the MSU Equestrian team during her undergraduate years.

Dr. Phoebe and her husband, Alex, enjoy spending time outside together. On the weekend, they can usually be found on the lake, hiking or in Spartan Stadium for MSU football games. They have one dog, Bailey, a foxhound mix who knows every trick in the book! Dr. Miedema also has a Quarter Horse gelding named Zip and enjoys trail riding in Northern Michigan.

Dr. Phoebe attended Michigan State University for both undergraduate and veterinary school. She found her true passion in small animal medicine during her final year of clinical rotations with a special interest in behavior, and internal medicine. Before joining the team at BCAH, she practiced at a small animal hospital in North Muskegon. Dr. Phoebe is committed to helping your pet live a long, healthy, happy life and is excited to meet you and your four-legged companion!

Jen joined BCAH in October 2016 and has added a lot of experience to our team and truly enjoys creating lasting relationships with clients and their furry family members!

Jen grew up watching her aunt work at the zoo and then go on to become a veterinarian. Jen’s passion grew out of her aunt’s passion and she knew from a young age that she wanted to work with animals!

Jen got her start volunteering at the local animal emergency hospital in high school and then worked her way up to head veterinary technician at a day practice. Jen is an experienced veteran in the field of veterinary medicine with over 20 years of work. She said the time has flown by because she has always done work she loved.

When Jen isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her family (especially her adorable nieces!) and friends. She spends a lot of time up north at her family cottage, fishing, going on pontoon rides, and relaxing around the campfire. Jen has been blessed with many cats over the years and a beloved Pekingese named Sam, all of whom have since passed on. Jen’s family, both two legged and four, is everything to her and she wouldn’t change a thing!

Bethany joined our team in the summer of 2019 and her extensive experience in the field has further elevated the care we provide to our patients.

Bethany became interested in veterinary medicine in high school and began college with that major. During that time, she started working as a veterinary assistant at a clinic in Hastings, Michigan, and stayed there for over four years. While at this clinic, Bethany learned her love for the nursing and laboratory aspects of the field and enrolled in Michigan State University’s Veterinary Technology program. Upon graduating with her bachelor’s degree in 2010, Bethany joined a clinic in Owosso as a licensed technician and stayed there for nine years. She grew professionally and came to love the clientele and patients in Owosso.

Companion medicine and veterinary nursing are a passion of Bethany’s; however, she also loves spending time off the job on a few hobbies. When she is not caring for your furry family, she is at home with her cockapoo Benji, her cat Rosie, her husband Aaron, and their five children. Bethany’s family just recently moved back to the area and are excited to begin a new chapter of life here. Bethany and her family enjoy camping, kayaking, visiting extended family and occasionally going on road trips together. Bethany is happy to become a part of the BCAH family and looks forward to getting to know and care for your beloved pets.

Veterinary Technician

Jason joined the BCAH team in August of 2021. Growing up in rural northeastern Indiana, he spent most of his childhood outside investigating everything from stray cats to snakes! After attending Brown Mackie College and graduating with an associate degree in Veterinary Technology, Jason journeyed to Maine where he spent a few years working in a research setting. He has since obtained his LVT license and returned to the Midwest to be closer to family. Jason has several years of veterinary experience in both laboratory animal medicine as well as small animal general practice and emergency triage. Currently, he shares his home with his elderly dog, Beethoven, and his cats Hannibal, Tolstoy, and Elwood as well as his ball python, Poltergeist. Jason’s professional interests include genetics, zoonotic diseases, and exotic animal medicine.

When not working, Jason enjoys spending his time outdoors whenever the weather is good. His other hobbies include drawing and painting, Dungeons & Dragons, playing the French horn, and practicing his German longsword technique.

Andrea moved to Holland and joined BCAH in the Fall of 2020 after Graduating from Baker College of Cadillac with an Associate’s degree in Veterinary Technology, and completing internships in Grand Rapids and Rockford.

She grew up in the Upper Peninsula surrounded by wildlife, farms, and lots of family pets. She has always had an interest in animals, science, and the medical field. This combination of interests eventually led her to the veterinary technician career.

Although she loves the Upper Peninsula, Andrea feels most at home below the bridge since moving down for college in 2018. When she’s not at work, Andrea enjoys photography, reading, playing video games, and relaxing at home with her cat, Ash. During the warmer months she enjoys spending time outside hiking and camping with her friends.

Bio coming soon!