Surprise Animal Hospital & Grooming

Our Doctors

Dr. Michele Johnson

Dr. Michele Johnson grew up on the plains of North Dakota where large and small animals were a very important part of her life. She graduated from the University of Mary in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Shortly thereafter, she stumbled into a rewarding career in business management that allowed her to travel extensively. Although this career was rewarding in its own respect Dr. Johnson always knew that Veterinary Medicine was the career for her. In 2000 she was accepted into the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at Colorado State University. Upon graduation in 2004, she moved to Arizona to start her new career and be closer to family. She loves medicine and surgery and has experience with exotics. She also enjoyed 16 years as an Officer in the Army Reserves. Dr. Johnson has a husband, a beautiful daughter, and two wonderful stepsons. The furry part of her family consists of five wild and crazy dogs, two cantankerous cats and a menagerie of fish. In her free time she enjoys doing anything with her family and they all enjoy snow skiing in Arizona's high country. She invites you to stop in and visit anytime at Surprise Animal Hospital.

Dr. Russell Johnsen

Dr. Russell Johnsen grew up in a rural setting outside of Beatrice, Nebraska. He played most of the sports at his High School, including basketball, baseball, tennis and track. A tennis scholarship led him to Hastings College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996. In 2006, his 1996 tennis team had the honor of being inducted into the Hastings College Athletic Hall of Fame. Russell graduated from Kansas State University in 2000 as a DVM. Soon afterwards, he started his Veterinarian career in Phoenix. He has experience and interest in medicine, surgery, and some exotics. Some of Dr. Johnsen's hobbies include riding motorcycles and quads, playing sports, and working out. And of course, he always enjoys watching Cornhusker football.

Dr. Sherry Hill

Dr. Hill received a Bachelor of Science in cell biology and physiology from Arizona State University in 2001 and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University in 2006. She has been involved in the animal medical field for many years, and has worked as a veterinary technician, receptionist and research assistant. She joined our team in 2009 after working three years at a sister hospital. She brings enthusiasm to our practice with a zeal for new techniques and approaches in both medicine and surgery. Dr. Hill was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. Her family raised Boston Terriers and she has been surrounded by animals her whole life. A passion for science combined with her love of animals initiated her pursuit of a career in Veterinary Medicine. Now she is happy to be able to aid in the health and care of your furry family members. Dr. Hill has a household full of pets, most of which are rescues. She has two large fish tanks, one for her Discus and the other for her Green Spotted Puffers. Her furry pets are a Chihuahua named Jem, two Chihuahua mixes named Scrappy and Dexter, and a wonderful cat named Tommie.

Dr. Brandon Young

Dr. Young grew up in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan and now lives in Phoenix with his wife Kim who is also a veterinarian, two dogs named Sparky and Pirate, one cat named LE, and two Bearded dragons named Cleopatra and Elizabeth. He graduated from Michigan State University where he attained his Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and received a Masters Degree in Information Systems from Walsh Business College, Troy, Michigan.

He attended Ross University of Veterinary Medicine, graduating with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2007, completing his clinical year at Purdue University, Indiana. He then completed a one-year rotating small animal internship in internal medicine and surgery at Sonora Veterinary Specialists located in Phoenix, Arizona. His professional interests include small animal endocrinology, neurology, infectious disease and orthopedic surgery.

Outside of veterinary medicine Dr. Young enjoys hiking, skiing, hockey, racquetball and camping with family.