ACACIA ANIMAL HOSPITAL - Key Persons
Dr. Devon Atria was born and raised in south Florida and received his veterinary degree from the University of Florida. He moved back to south Florida after graduating, where he met his beautiful and lovely wife, Daphne, also a Florida Gator and Florida native. He started working at Acacia Animal Hospital in 2015 and became an owner in 2021.
Dr. Atria strives to provide the best, most compassionate, care at all times to his clients and patients. He has two wonderful children, Alessia and Isabella, as well as a dog (Dug), two cats (Chinchilla and Huffalump), and a turtle (Leonard).
Dr. Laurie Phillips is a native Floridian from the central part of the Sunshine State. She attended the University of Florida for undergraduate training and continued at the University of Florida to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1989. Dr. Phillips is proud to be a Florida Gator!
Dr. Phillips was an associate veterinarian at Acacia Animal Hospital from 1997-2012 and is happy to have returned "home" in 2018. She enjoys many aspects of general practice including complex medical cases and soft tissue surgery.
In her free time, Dr. Phillips spends as much time as possible with her children, Carter and Mallory. She enjoys reading, traveling, cooking, and working out. Her fur babies include 3 dogs and 4 cats.
Dr. Phillips is a member of BVMA, FVMA, and AVMA.
Dr. Marie-Andree Fecteau is an Associate Veterinarian at Acacia Animal Hospital. She earned her Bachelor's Degree at the University of Florida in 2003, and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from St. George's University in 2007. Dr. Fecteau also attended Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital and the ASPCA for a rotating internship. She also attended New York Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center for her surgical internship. Her areas of professional interest include internal medicine and surgery.
Originally from Canada, Dr. Fecteau grew up in South Florida and currently lives there with her husband. When she is not providing veterinary care, Dr. Fecteau enjoys spending time with family and friends, and maintaining her reef tank. Dr. Fecteau says her inspiration for working in veterinary medicine is that she can advocate for patients that cannot advocate for themselves.
We are very excited to announce that Dr. Exene Lemesurier is joining the Acacia Animal Hospital team! Dr. Lemesurier received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from St. Matthew's University in the Cayman Islands. She completed her clinical training at the University of Minnesota and earned her certification in Fear-Free and MARVET.
Dr. Lemesurier has always known that veterinary medicine was her calling, as her love for animals goes back as far as she can remember! She enjoys internal medicine, dermatology, ophthalmology, surgery, dentistry, as well as both emergency and wellness/preventive medicine.
Dr. Lemesurier was raised in Montreal, Quebec, and now resides in Boca Raton with her one-eyed cat named Pi! She rescued Pi eight years ago when she found him roaming alone outside in the snow. When she is not practicing medicine, she enjoys the beach, snorkeling, traveling, spending time with her family, trying new restaurants, and interior decorating! Please help us to welcome Dr. Lemesurier to our practice!
Michelle grew up in Rochester, NY and earned her undergraduate degree at University of Buffalo. After that she spent 10 years in Manhattan working for a top Wall Street firm in their corporate Human Resources department. Michelle then moved to South Florida where she held other corporate HR positions and transitioned to veterinary management in 2007.
Michelle previously managed Acacia Animal Hospital from 2013-2019 and returned "home" in 2021. She enjoys the "family" culture at Acacia, which both staff and clients appreciate as well. Deep respect for the doctors and staff at Acacia - and the important work they do every day - is what inspires Michelle. She is proud to be part of such a great hospital.
Michelle is also a proud Mom of a Florida Gator, Class of 2023! Go Gators! She enjoys cooking and spending time with her family, friends and two rescue dogs, Mimi and Betty Boop!