Meet Our Team Trusted Veterinarians in Essexville, MI
At Bay Animal Hospital, we are proud to have built a team of dedicated professionals who share a passion for veterinary excellence and compassionate care. Serving pets and their families in Essexville, Bay City, Midland, Saginaw, and surrounding communities, our team is committed to delivering exceptional veterinary services with honesty, expertise, and heart.
Meet the veterinarians, leadership team, licensed veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, client service representatives, and patient care team members who make Bay Animal Hospital a trusted name in veterinary care.
Our Veterinarians
Bruce Francke
DVM- Medical Director
A lifelong Essexville resident and Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine graduate, Dr. Francke has served the Bay Animal community since 1993. He has special interests in internal medicine, dermatology, endocrine disorders, and cancer treatment, and remains dedicated to delivering state-of-the-art care with compassion.
Steve VanOchten
DVM, Medical Director
Dr. VanOchten has been a valued member of the Bay Animal Hospital team since 1996. A Michigan State University graduate, he focuses on internal medicine, surgery, and preventive care. He is an active member of the MVMA, AVMA, and SVVMA.
Hanna Vecsernyes
D.V.M.
Dr. Vecsernyes earned her veterinary degree from Michigan State University and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan-Flint. She has a deep appreciation for outdoor life and a commitment to providing quality, compassionate care.
Cheyenne Vivian
D.V.M
Dr. Vivian, a Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine graduate, brings a passion for preventive care, neurology, and dentistry. She began her journey at Bay Animal Hospital as a kennel attendant and is proud to now serve as a veterinarian on the team.
Kelsey Parrish
D.V.M
Dr. Kelsey Parrish attended veterinary school at Colorado State University, and began her career as a general practitioner. Dr. Parrish enjoys the varied nature of general practice, but especially enjoys dermatology, preventative medicine, and client education and interaction. Outside of work, Dr. Parrish is a tabletop and console gamer, as well as an avid sports fan. When at home, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her partner, Cory, and their three dogs, Bradley, Logan, and Oswald.
Management Team
Michelle, LVT
Practice Manager
With a career at Bay Animal Hospital beginning in 1998, Michelle brings a wealth of experience in veterinary technology and practice management.
Jessica, LVT
Assistant Practice Manager
A Michigan State University graduate, Jessica has extensive experience in ultrasound, anesthesia, and dentistry, and plays a key leadership role within the team.
Peter
Chief Human Resources Officer
Peter, a spirited feline team member, ensures Bay Animal Hospital remains a welcoming and supportive environment for both staff and visitors.
Leadership Team
Jenna, Technologist
Licensed Veterinary Technologist
Jenna graduated from Michigan State University and is passionate about emergency medicine, behavior, and patient care.
Paige, Technician
Technician, Inventory Specialist, Team Lead
Paige oversees inventory and provides leadership and expertise in animal behavior and physical rehabilitation.
Katie
Social Media and Marketing Coordinator, CSR Lead
Katie oversees client communications and social media marketing and leads the client service team with a strong focus on hospitality and client education.
Licensed Veterinary Technicians
Tiffany, Technologist, Educational Director
Director of Education
Tiffany, an MSU Veterinary Technology graduate, specializes in emergency medicine, critical care, and ultrasonography. She leads the hospital’s continuing education initiatives.
Heather, Technician
Technician
Heather specializes in pet obesity management, training, and responsible breeding education, bringing a strong background in both equine and small animal care.
Marissa, Technician
Technician
Marissa delivers attentive patient care and is passionate about learning and growing within the field of veterinary medicine.
Courtney, Technologist
Technologist
Courtney has a special focus on nutrition and physical therapy, bringing a strong foundation in animal science and veterinary nursing.
Leah, Technician
Technician
Bio coming soon!
Veterinary Assistants
Laura
Bereavement Coordinator and Veterinary Assistant
Laura provides compassionate support to families through the bereavement process and assists in complex medical cases.
Hannah
Veterinary Assistant
Hannah is working toward becoming a Licensed Veterinary Technician while delivering skilled support to the veterinary team.
Lindsi
Veterinary Assistant and Client Service Representative
Lindsi is a Certified Veterinary Assistant and supports both clinical and client service operations.
Samantha Y.
Veterinary Assistant
Samantha is working toward becoming a veterinarian and values the hands-on experience she gains at Bay Animal Hospital.
Natalie
Veterinary Assistant
Natalie is preparing for veterinary school and enjoys contributing to the positive and supportive hospital culture.
Annabelle
Veterinary Assistant
Annabelle started on our team in 2022, after finishing the Veterinary program at the Bay Arenac Career Center through Central High School. She currently attends Delta College, pursuing her associate degree in science.
Annabelle is passionate about taking care of both animals and their people. She loves being at BAH because her coworkers make coming to work easy.
When she’s not working, Annabelle enjoys being active at the gym and playing pickleball. She plans to graduate from college and pursue sonography/radiology.
Annabelle has a Shih Tzu named Besse, and three cats – Baby Kitty Soft Paws, Pepper, and Earl.
Ryan
Veterinary Assistant
Ryan started at the Bay Arenac ISD’s veterinary science program. His special interests in the industry are preventative care and surgery. He loves the passion BAH has for quality medicine and client education. He plans to continue his education and become an LVT in the near future. His hobbies are playing video games and boating with his family. He has three dogs: Daisy, Sunny, and Penelope.
Client Service Representatives
Anna
Client Service Representative
Anna brings creativity and warmth to the front desk team and is also a talented artist who lends her skills to hospital projects.
Brea
Client Service Representative
Brea has a strong background in animal welfare and is dedicated to making every client experience positive and welcoming.
Alexis
Veterinary Assistant
Alexis brings a passion for enrichment and a goal of working with exotic species in zoological settings.
When she’s not assisting with appointments, she enjoys greeting and helping clients at the front desk and answering any questions on our phones.
Alice, Technician
Technician and Angel Pet Fund Chair
Alice leads the hospital’s Angel Pet Fund, helping support pets in need and providing compassionate care to patients and families.
Alice utilizes her wealth of knowledge as an LVT when assisting our clients at the front desk and in our call center.
Samantha M.
Patient Care Team
Samantha is passionate about rescue and rehabilitation and provides attentive care to hospitalized patients.
Patient Care
Brylie
Veterinary Assistant
Bio coming soon.
Olivia
Patient Care Team
Olivia has a passion for caring for pets and treating them as her own while in our hospital’s care. She attends CMU and enjoys running. She has two dogs, Lola, a beagle, and Lainey, a redbone coonhound.
Committed to Excellencein Veterinary Medicine
At Bay Animal Hospital, our team works together to ensure every pet receives exceptional care rooted in compassion, professionalism, and trust. We proudly serve pet families throughout Essexville, MI, and surrounding communities, and we look forward to welcoming you and your pets into our family.