She traces her own passion for animals and aspiration to be a veterinarian back to the age of eight, when she met Harvey, a black lab owned by family friends.

Nancy Soares graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in veterinary medicine. While still a student, Soares helped found and direct the Pet Visitation Program at the University. Modeled after the human patient program at the University of Pennsylvania hospital, this program allowed for the first time owners to visit their hospitalized pets. The program honors the bond between pets and their owners and the integral role this connection plays in the healing process.

Soares has modeled the care strategy at Macungie Animal Hospital after this program. During her time at the University of Pennsylvania, Nancy Soares received the Student Award for Best Care of Animals and the Leonard Pearson Prize. In addition to her medical degree, Soares earned a simultaneous certificate in business from the prestigious Wharton School of Business.

With a mission to provide pets with quality, affordable medical and surgical care, Nancy Soares has designed and outfitted Macungie Animal Hospital with the most advanced technology to meet the needs of patients and ensure owners that their pets are receiving the best possible care.

In 2013, Macungie Animal Hospital was honored to receive the American Animal Hospital Association Practice of the Year Award. This award recognizes Macungie Animal Hospital’s contribution to the field of companion animal medicine and the outstanding achievements of the accredited practice team.

Nancy Soares is the President of the American Animal Hospital Association Board of Directors.  Soares is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) & American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP). Soares’ research on the use of chemotherapy treatment on dogs has been published in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association.

A native of New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, Soares now resides in Emmaus, Pennsylvania with her husband, teenage son & daughter, four dogs, 2 cats and a hamster named Lily.

She began her studies at Vassar College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry and went on to attend the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine, where she graduated with cum laude honors.Following her formal schooling, she participated in an extensive internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the prestigious Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, New Jersey.

Dr. Keehner has a special interest in veterinary dentistry and has attended continuing education at the Animal Dental Center in Maryland. She was instrumental in the hospital purchasing a digital dental radiology unit which increased our oral surgery capabilities. Currently, she is helping to develop our comprehensive veterinary dentistry program.

Dr. Keehner has been a member of the Macungie Animal Hospital team since 2009 and is a vital part of our associate doctor team. She is well liked by clients and comments, such as this one from a recent client survey “We love Dr. Keehner and value her professionalism and personal attention to our dog” attest to her client centered practice. Dr. Keehner lives in Macungie with her family and pets that include her boxer mix, Emmy and two cats, Humo and Duke.

While in veterinary school, her main focus areas were cats, dogs and exotic pet medicine. While at NCSU, she helped manage the Turtle Rescue Team to provide medical care to injured wild turtles and other reptiles.

After graduation, Dr. Boyer moved to Bethlehem, PA where she worked at a small animal clinic for several years and saw a wide variety of species of animals, including cats, dogs, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammal exotic pets.

Dr. Boyer and her husband now live in Macungie with their two cats, Sophie and Sheba.

Dr. Fillman moved home to Pennsylvania to practice as a large animal veterinarian on the many beautiful farms in and around her hometown. After a few years, the south called again and she moved back to NC to join her husband, Adam, who was serving in the Army. At that time Dr. Fillman made the choice to transition to small animal medicine and has been fortunate enough to work with some amazing doctors along the way who helped her with that transition.

Now Dr. Fillman and her husband are thrilled to be moving home once again! They look forward to catching up with their PA friends and family as well as seeing new faces in the area!

Dr. Fillman enjoys dentistry, preventive medicine, and client education. In her time away from the office Dr. Fillman loves traveling, cooking, and eating as she is a self-proclaimed foodie. She and Adam share their home with their beloved furries: Lily a Yellow Labrador mix (a.k.a. the cutest dog in the world) and Squeak a mischievous and clingy cat.

Please help us welcome Dr. Gina Tranquillo-Shade to Macungie Animal Hospital.  Dr. Shade is a Pennsylvania native. She spent her high school years riding horses in Berks County.  Dr. Shade knew from a young age that she wanted to be a veterinarian and after completing her Bachelors at Wilson College in Chambersburg, went on to receive her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School.

She began her career as an equine veterinarian working for 10 years in Lexington Kentucky.  Upon moving back to the Lehigh Valley, she began practicing more small animal medicine and before joining MAH, practiced at another small animal practice in our area. 

Dr. Shade has an interest in holistic medicine and in 2014 received her certification in veterinary acupuncture.  She also enjoys internal medicine cases, preventative medicine, strengthening the human-animal bond, and helping pets live their best life.

In her personal time, Dr. Shade enjoys spending time outside, walking, hiking, gardening, and enjoying her family and her dog and cat.  She still enjoys horses very much and rides at a local farm whenever possible.

Dr. Miller graduated with his DVM degree from The Ohio State University in 2023 and has a deep love of all creatures—big, small, furry, or scaly. His areas of special interest include canine and feline nutrition and the care of small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. He enjoys client education and implementing Fear Free techniques to establish positive associations with the vet’s office in young and fearful pets—he calls these “victory visits!” Got a nervous pet? Dr. Miller can help!

Dr. Miller lives with his fiancé McKayla, who is also a veterinarian and works with farm animals in Lancaster County. It should surprise no one that their home is filled with critters—dogs Solaire (golden retriever) and Revna (rescue mutt), a mouse named Mickey, a gecko named Kyoshi, and a Kenyan sand boa named Bayek.

When he’s not at work, Dr. Miller relishes spending as much time with his family and friends as possible. He enjoys traveling, fishing, watching baseball, and playing board and video games.