Dr. Cheryl O'Neal, Veterinarian and Co-Owner
Dr. O'Neal founded the hospital with business partner Dr. Lisa Hillier in May of 2007. Dr. Hillier and Dr. O'Neal worked together at Roswell Animal Hospital for over 17 years before opening South Forsyth Animal Hospital.
Dr. O'Neal completed her undergraduate studies at Furman University, majoring in Biology, and went on to earn her doctorate from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. O'Neal is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association, the Forsyth County Veterinary Medical Association, the Gwinnett County Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Association of Feline Practitioners. Her professional interests include ultrasound and pediatrics.
"I value and enjoy the long-term bond that develops over time between myself and my clients. I love watching children grow up along with the pets, and I love being a part of strengthening the bond between families and their pets. I have many clients whose children I have known since they were very young that are now grown and bring their pets to me. I so enjoy following pets from puppy or kittenhood all the way through their senior years. I like getting to know their individual traits and quirks. I also enjoy the variety my career provides – no two days are the same. There are always surprises, good and bad."
For more than 15 years Dr. O'Neal has also provided another service to the local pet owner community by hosting puppy socials – informal evening gatherings for clients with new puppies, where attendees discuss early training and any problems. "One family confided in me after they had attended that they had been considering finding their puppy a new home because they were so frustrated over their training attempts," Dr. O'Neal remembers. "Later, they said the advice they heard at the social really helped, and their dog was now a much-loved family member."
Dr. O'Neal is married to George O'Neal, Jr., who works in Customer Service at a laboratory equipment company. Together they have three children: Brianna, Grady and Shane. In her free time, Dr. O'Neal enjoys hiking and traveling with her family, paddle boarding, running, reading, cheering her children on at various sports activities, and anything related to the outdoors. She is the pet parent to two dogs: a yellow Labrador Retriever named Logan and a Cattle Dog mix named Kate.
Dr. Lisa Hillier, Veterinarian and Co-Owner
Dr. Lisa Hillier has been a colleague of business partner Dr. Cheryl O’Neal for over two decades and has spent nearly her entire life as a passionate lover of animals.
Dr. Hillier was born in Lynchburg, Virginia and credits much of her eventual career path to frequent early exposure to a wide variety of animals. She spent a good bit of time as a child visiting her grandmother’s dairy farm and her godparents’ home, where she spent time with cats, dogs, chickens, cows and birds. Dr. Hillier’s mother and father also fostered many pets, often taking in sick or injured animals for rehabilitation. It was no surprise that she knew what career she wanted to pursue by an early age. “By the time I was nine, I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian,” Dr. Hillier says.
From the age of 16, Dr. Hillier worked in veterinary hospitals, cultivating a wide range of experience with small and large animals. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Georgia, graduating cum laude, and went on to earn her doctorate from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Hillier’s professional interests include geriatric medicine, feline medicine, and dentistry. She is a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association, the Forsyth-Dawson Veterinary Medical Association and the Gwinnett Veterinary Medical Association. She also has a National Veterinary Medical Accreditation.
“I enjoy building long-term relationships with families and their pets and providing them veterinary care that is equivalent or superior to human care,” said Dr. Hillier. “I like treating every aspect of the patient, from nutrition to behavior. Most importantly, I want to prevent illness from occurring with proper nutrition, exercise and supplements and to provide compassionate, individualized care when serious illnesses arise.”
Dr. Hillier is married to Nick Hillier, who works with DLP Construction Company and oversaw the building of our new facility in 2014. Together, they have four children. Their son Case is in Veterinary school at UGA; their daughter Townes is in Veterinary school at Mississippi State University; their daughter Halston is playing Volleyball for Troy University; and their daughter Carleigh is an undergraduate at UGA. In her free time, Dr. Hillier enjoys working out, hiking and gardening. She’s also the pet parent to five dogs, as well as three cats.
Dr. Miranda Merz, Veterinarian
Dr. Miranda Merz joined our staff in May 2017. A graduate of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Merz has worked at SFAH during summer and other school breaks since 2011, serving first as a veterinary assistant and later as a veterinary technician. Dr. Merz earned her undergraduate degree in journalism at the University of Georgia in 2009 and worked in the field for two years before realizing, after working one summer at SFAH, that her passion was in veterinary medicine.
“From the moment I started working at SFAH, I knew I wanted to practice veterinary medicine alongside Dr. Hillier and Dr. O’Neal,” said Dr. Merz. “SFAH provides superior care to every animal that comes through the door, and I feel privileged to help provide that care. We form sincere relationships with each client and their pets and will be there for your animal every step of the way. I cannot imagine being in any other profession…helping animals is my life calling.”
Dr. Merz’s special interests include feline medicine, ophthalmology, neurology and dermatology. She also enjoys working with clients on behavioral issues, including focusing on helping make veterinary visits less stressful.
“We couldn’t be happier to have Dr. Merz in the SFAH family,” said Dr. Cheryl O’Neal. “She is a great asset to us in continuing to fulfill our mission of offering the highest-quality veterinary care, excellent client communication and a warm, caring environment. Dr. Merz’s knowledge and skills, paired with her compassion and understanding, fit perfectly with our focus here at South Forsyth.”
Giving back to the community plays an important part in Dr. Merz’s life as well.
At home, Dr. Merz and her husband, Paul are raising their beautiful daughter, Hazel, three Chihuahua mixes, Archie, Leo, and Kiki and two mischievous cats, Clementine, and Carlos. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, running, reading, and cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs.