Meet Our Veterinarians in Virginia-Highland, GA
At The Village Vets Virginia-Highland, our veterinarians are one-of-a-kind They are talented, experienced, and dedicated to your pet’s health. Part of that dedication is ensuring you have a full understanding of your pet’s health and any illness so that you can make informed decisions for their health care. Find out more about our team below and be sure to make an appointment soon to meet us in person!
A team with over of combined experience:
Dr. Anneke Lothridge
Since 2011
Dr. Lothridge, originally from Athens, GA, did her undergraduate studies at the University of Georgia before graduating in 2009 from Colorado State University's veterinary school.
She now lives in Decatur's Oakhurst neighborhood with her husband, Britt, their children, Anna and Grady, and their rescue dog, Bishop, a Boston Terrier. In her spare time, Dr. Lothridge enjoys yoga, reading, sewing, spending time outdoors - especially at the beach, and running, which over the last several years, tops the list of her favorite things to do!
Dr. Alissa Stephens Medical Director/Operations Director
Since 2011
Dr. Alissa Stephens grew up in East Brunswick, New Jersey. In 2008, she graduated from Rutgers University and moved to Atlanta to complete an internship at Zoo Atlanta. She began vet school in 2011 at the University of Georgia and during the summer and winter breaks, worked as a vet assistant at TVV Buckhead. Dr. Stephens joined us as a vet in 2015. She is currently completing her certification in veterinary acupuncture at the Chi Institute in Florida. Her special interests include general surgery and acupuncture.
Dr. Stephens and her husband, Chris - practice manager at TVV - live in Canton with their four rescue dogs: Stitch, a Lab mix; Virginia, a Boxer/Anatolian Shepherd mix; Madison, a Pitbull mix; and Captain Jack, a German Shepherd mix.
Dr. Louise DeLong
Since 2023
Dr. DeLong is originally from Gainesville, Georgia and spent 8 years in Athens graduating from The University of Georgia with a bachelor's degree in Biology, as well as a DVM degree. Following vet school, Dr. DeLong spent time in both Washington, D.C. and Chapel Hill, NC where she worked as a small animal veterinarian. She returned to Atlanta in 2013 and began working at The Village Vets in Stone Mountain for the next 3 years. After having her first child, Dr. DeLong worked at a local veterinary hospital for 7 years before returning to The Village Vets team at their Virginia Highland hospital in 2023.
Dr. DeLong lives in Ansley Park with her husband, Johnny, and their two kids, Tee and Wren. They have two dogs, Surrey and Pepper, and two cats, Donut and Hopscotch. When not in the office, Dr. DeLong can be found playing tennis, volunteering at her children's school, attending barre class and spending time with friends and family. She loves time in the North Carolina mountains and hiking trails with her dogs.
Dr. Tristan Stoffle
Since 2024
Dr. Stoffle grew up in Newnan, Georgia as the son of two veterinarians, sparking an early interest in the field. He attended the University of Georgia for his undergraduate studies, graduating in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in biology. Dr. Stoffle then went on to attend Lincoln Memorial University’s veterinary school for his DVM degree, graduating in 2024. His special veterinary interests include surgery and internal medicine.
Dr. Stoffle currently resides in Newnan, GA with his dog, a black lab named Miller. When outside the office, Dr. Stoffle can be found spending time with his friends and family, being a big fan of Atlanta Braves baseball and Falcons football, spending time outdoors via golf, snowboarding, or at the lake with Miller, and helping to care for some of the animals at his local animal shelter.
Dr. Françoise Tyler Practice Director
Since 2000
Françoise "Dr. Fran" Tyler is an Atlanta native and a 1984 Woodward Academy graduate. She attended University of Georgia (UGA) for undergraduate studies, and then Tuskegee University in Alabama for her DVM (received in 1991). Before moving back to Atlanta, she completed a small animal internship at UGA. She loves dermatology, internal medicine, and exotic animal medicine. She married Dr. Will Draper in 1993, and together they founded The Village Vets in 2000 with the purchase of Cedar Village Animal Clinic.
Dr. Tyler has been ranked as a FIVE STAR Veterinarian in the Atlanta magazine– which only 7% of the veterinarians in the metro Atlanta area have received (one of which is her husband, Dr. Draper). She enjoys listening to jazz, reading, walking her dogs around her Inman Park neighborhood ( dubbed "Atlanta's first suburb" near downtown Atlanta), as well as spoiling her family members, friends, team members. She loves time at the beach, and traveling anywhere her passport allows her to.
She and her husband have four children, David, Tyler, Gabrielle, and Olivia; four dogs: Max, Louie, Frank, Bella and Beauford; and one cat, Charlemagne.
Dr. Will Draper Practice Director
Since 2000
“Dr. Will” grew up in Inglewood, California. He graduated from Morningside High School in 1984, then attended Tuskegee University in Alabama (4th generation) for both undergraduate and veterinary medical studies. He received his DVM in 1991, followed by a 1-year internship at North Rockville Veterinary Hospital in Maryland. He moved to Atlanta in 1992, married veterinary school classmate Dr. Françoise Tyler in 1993, and together they founded The Village Vets in 2000. His special veterinary interests include dermatology, internal medicine, and practice management.
He has received a number of accolades including being ranked as a FIVE STAR veterinarian in the Atlanta magazine—an honor bestowed to only 7% of the veterinarians in the metro Atlanta area (which also includes his wife, Dr. Tyler). He has served on the board of the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA), and presently serves as a director on the board of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)- the first African-American to do since the organization was founded in 1933.
Dr. Will lives with his family in historic Inman Park, "Atlanta's first suburb". He's a big fan of Atlanta Braves baseball, United soccer, and Hawks basketball. In his leisure time he enjoys playing golf (with as many strokes as he can so he gets his money's worth), acrylic painting ("No patience for oils"), and considers himself a better-than-average singer and interior decorator. He is a true lover of all music- his passion is following the Dave Matthews Band, having attended over 55 shows to date.
He and his wife have four children: David, Tyler, Gabrielle, and Olivia. Four-legged kids include dogs Louie, Frank, Bella and Beauford- as well as "the boss", feline Charlemagne (Charlie).