Meet Our Veterinary Team
Meet the veterinarians & care team of Companion Veterinary Hospital.
Get to know our team!
We are solely dedicated to your pet’s care! We look forward to getting to know you, and we hope you’ll take the time to scroll down and get to know us.
Paula Sommerville, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. Sommerville earned her doctorate from Washington State University in 1995. She is from West Seattle and has lived in Olympia since 1998. She has two dogs, Isis and Skye, and loves to spend time at the ocean.
Carol Hoaglund, DVM
Veterinarian
Bio coming soon!
Jennifer Weick, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. Jennifer Weick was born in Frankfort, KY. She attended the University of Louisville for her undergraduate studies and earned a B.S. in Biology and Minor in Studio Art. After volunteering with local groups in the community helping animals, Dr. Weick decided to go back to school and pursue a career in veterinary medicine. She received her doctorate from Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2019. Her interests include feline medicine, surgery, and animal behavior. She lives with her boyfriend and their three cats, Edward, Anchovy and Zeus. Dr. Weick loves traveling and experiencing new places and trying new foods. In her downtime, she enjoys hiking and being outdoors.
Shelley, LVT
Hospital Manager, LVT
Looking to beat the heat, Utah native Shelley moved to Washington with her spouse, Karstin. Their four-legged family includes three cats, Frances, Shorty and Weasel. While their permanent address is in Olympia, their love of camping and hiking takes them to temporary homes all over the Northwest. Shelley graduated from Westminster College in Utah with a Bachelor of Science in biology, began her career in animal care at the Tracy Aviary, and later earned her veterinary technician degree. Though her focus is on domestic pets, Shelley has experience in wildlife rehabilitation, having worked with everything from hawks and herons with broken wings to bobcats and Burmese pythons with respiratory issues. She joined CVH in 2009 and became our Hospital Manager in 2022.
Teresa, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
After living in Kapolei (Hawaii) and Las Vegas, Teresa returned to the beautiful PNW with her two kiddos and a couple of kitties. She graduated from Pierce College in 2011 and has been a practicing LVT ever since. In her spare time she enjoys playing outdoors (hiking, kayaking, etc.). She also likes lounging indoors and is guilty of TV watching and movie binging…and reading.
Penny
Office Manager
Penny is a Southern California native who has lived in Washington since 1991. She has two grown children and two fabulous, very energetic grandkids. Penny’s hobbies include motorcycles, reading, listening to music and hanging out with friends.
Susan
Receptionist
Susan lives in Olympia and is originally from Hayward, CA. Susan has been in the veterinary field off and on since 2000. She has a full house of furry family members. Her “pet pourri” includes two cats, Baby and Bob, and two dogs, Bodie and Paige. Susan’s passions include wildlife rehabilitation, trail walking and reading family drama, real crime and animal stories (“Marley and Me” is a favorite). She’s a big Minnesota Vikings fan and loves all things Star Wars.
Karen, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Karen was born in Seattle and currently lives in Olympia with Bill, her husband since 1995. She earned her Veterinary Technician license from Pierce College in 1985. Partial to beagles, Karen owns two of them. Buddy (aka “Buddy-Wuddy”) has advanced digging skills, a talent that prompted his family to briefly consider offering him as a cheap replacement for West Seattle’s “Bertha” project. Millie, a nine-year-old beagle mix, was rescued from a hoarder’s house, which included a collection of 26 dogs(!) “Millie-Willie” turns her back on people she doesn’t know, a penchant that has earned her the title of Professional Snubber. Karen’s interests include photography, gardening, reading Christian and other fiction, and all things Montana.
Natalie
Veterinary Assistant
Natalie has over 20 years of experience in the animal care field. Originally from Seattle, she lives in Roy with her husband (retired military), and has family in Puyallup. Natalie first worked in veterinary medicine in Hawaii in 1995, and continued her career for 13 years in Kentucky. Her stable of pets: “Lucy Lulu Laverne,” a beagle who can play dead, carry a hula hoop around, and beg on her butt for long periods of time; a cat named “Katie Bug,”; and five horses (two quarter horses and three minis). Natalie’s interests include barrel racing, camping and four-wheeling.
Yessy
Veterinary Assistant
Yessenia (“Yessy”) was born and raised in Chicago, where she lived for 22 years. She graduated from a veterinary technician program, earned her degree and briefly lived in Minnesota until moving to Florida, where she practiced for five years. Yessy lives in Chehalis with her significant other, Tommy, and three cats, Buddy, Ozzy and Savannah. In her spare time Yessenia likes hiking and other outdoor activities.
Elisa
Veterinary Assistant
Elisa, who grew up in Washington state, has one leopard gecko, one African fat tailed gecko, and a chihuahua mix. Her hobbies include horse riding, drawing, singing, hiking and being with her pets. Elisa is studying veterinary medicine and loves her career because it combines science and animals. She enjoys making a difference in pet parents’ (and their pets’) lives.
Preana
Veterinary Assistant
Preana was born in the Sunshine State, but has resided in the PNW for over a decade. She studied veterinary medicine for assisting at Pima Medical Institute and joined Companion as a veterinary assistant in July of 2021. Pre currently lives in Lacey, Washington with her fiance Daniel and their three pets: “Rockeem,” a friendly miniature pinscher who prefers carrots over any dog treat and can jump to great heights; “Shere,” a DSH tabby named after the ferocious tiger from The Jungle Book, but who is a very curious and gentle creature; and “Hippo,” a super cuddly skinny pig (hairless Guinea pig) who’s velvety soft, squeaks when spoken to and gets the zoomies just as much as the dog! Pre’s interests include spoiling loved ones, eating good and watching anime and crime documentaries.
David, MBA
Hospital Administrator
David Jinks earned his MBA from Washington State University in 1992. He worked at Amazon.com in Seattle before joining Companion Veterinary Hospital in 1998. Dave enjoys soccer, drumming and reading books about the paranormal.
Stella
Stella, a reddish-tan/cream tabby, is Companion Veterinary Hospital’s “clinic cat.” She’s a little reserved, but once you have gained her trust she will show you her sassy-self. She lives for treat time and has learned a few tricks, such as sit, stand and roll over. She likes to think she helps a lot with filing and laundry, but mostly she just sleeps on warm printers and spies birds from the window.