Meet Our Veterinarians
At Good Hope Animal Hospital, we aim to build life-long relationships with our patients and their people. With this in mind, we want you to LOVE your vet. So, we put the following videos together to help you get a better sense of who our vets are. If you have a preference for a particular doctor, please let us know when scheduling your appointment. And remember, you’re welcome to try a different vet any time you like. Just ask!
Robert Heidecker, DVM
Dr. Heidecker is the owner of Good Hope Animal Hospital. He grew up in Boiling Springs, graduating from the Boiling Springs High School in 1985. He attended Penn State University, graduating in 1989. His next step was the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, where he was a 1993 graduate. He worked each summer during college for Dr. Barnett, at the Carlisle Small Animal Veterinary Clinic. He now resides in Mechanicsburg with Jennifer, his wife, and two cats, a Himalayan and a Ragdoll. He enjoys working with the dogs, cats, and pockets pets that he sees daily as a veterinarian. He has a strong interest in veterinary ultrasound.
Sara Michler, DVM
Dr. Michler graduated with a degree in Animal Science from Delaware Valley College. She then went on to the Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine to earn her DVM. In January 2008, Dr. Michler joined as a full time doctor at the Good Hope Animal Hospital. Dr. Michler’s special interests include internal medicine, radiology, and pain management. When she is not at work, Dr. Michler enjoys spending time with her cat, “Orion”, her dog, “Linus”, her daughter, her son, and her husband, Tim.
Nina Mantione, VMD
Dr. Mantione grew up in Mechanicsburg and graduated from Cumberland Valley High School in 1987. She attended Franklin and Marshall College and earned a degree in studio art. She graduated from the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine in 1995, and stayed there to complete a one year medicine and surgical internship. After working in private practice in center city Philadelphia for 6 years she returned to this area to join Good Hope Animal Hospital in 2001. She now lives in Enola with her husband and four children, as well as their three dogs and three cats. She enjoys riding horses, watching her kids play soccer, and gardening in her spare time.
Takis Weekes, VMD
Dr. Weekes graduated with a degree in Biology from the University of Arizona. He then continued his education at the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. The following year, he completed a one year medical and surgical rotating internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey. After working at a private practice in New Jersey for 3 years, he joined Good Hope Animal Hospital in 2015. He has a great passion for surgery and exotics care. In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf, tennis and working out along with spending time with his wife Natalie, his two cats and their bearded dragon.
Julie Konetski, DVM
Dr. Julie Konetski grew up in Lancaster and graduated with a degree in Pre-Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science from the University of Delaware. She continued her education at Virginia Tech (Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine) where she earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2015. After graduation, Dr. Konetski moved to the suburbs of Philadelphia where she spent time working in private practice and providing at-home euthanasia services and hospice care. In May 2018, Dr. Konetski joined Good Hope Animal Hospital as a full time doctor. When not at work, Dr. Konetski enjoys spending time with her husband, Nick, their sweet young daughter, Rory, and their 2 pets (a Fox Red Lab named “Mona” and a cat named “Crash”).
Steve Kaylor, DVM
Dr. Steve Kaylor was born and raised right here in Mechanicsburg, PA and is thrilled to be practicing veterinary medicine back in his hometown after returning to the area from Myrtle Beach, SC! He is a 2006 graduate of Lebanon Valley College and a 2011 graduate of Kansas State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. He has three spoiled and spiteful pets at home – a Maltese-Pomeranian mix named Savannah and two house cats named Biloxi and Bladen. In his spare time, Dr. Kaylor enjoys serving at church, watching his beloved Atlanta Braves and Clemson Tigers, playing tennis, antiquing, and spending quality time with family.
Samantha Kelley, DVM
Dr. Kelley grew up in New Hampshire and graduated with a degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of New Hampshire in 2017. She then went on to the University of Missouri where she graduated in 2021 with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Kelley joined Good Hope Animal Hospital as a new graduate excited to care for her patients and their owners as she gets the privilege to be part of their story.
Dr. Kelley has a passion for dermatology, nutrition, dentistry, and preventive medicine. She has a soft spot for cats and exotic small mammals. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband Ben, reading, cooking, and spending time in God’s creation no matter the season.
Joseph Hauser, VMD
Dr. Hauser attended The Pennsylvania State University as an undergraduate, and received his V.M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He is the previous owner of Timberview Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Hauser currently resides on a farm in Dillsburg with his wife, Helene. Together they care for a variety of animals on the farm including two dogs, “Lucy” and “Natty”, several cats, birds, salt water fish, six horses, and a turtle. Besides caring for the farm, Dr. Hauser enjoys ballroom dancing, traveling in Central America, and deep sea fishing.
