Dr. Jennifer Hiniker
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal)
Dr. Jennifer Hiniker is a board-certified veterinary surgeon serving Alexandria, Virginia, and the surrounding areas. Based in Alexandria, she provides mobile veterinary surgery services to general practice and emergency animal hospitals throughout the Northern Virginia region.
Biography
Dr. Hiniker attended undergraduate and veterinary school at the University of Georgia, graduating in 1999 as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
After graduation from veterinary school, she entered Active Duty in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. As a Veterinary Corps Officer, she worked as a general practitioner and enjoyed assignments at Fort Bragg, NC; Taszar, Hungary; and White Sands, New Mexico. She even had the opportunity to provide veterinary support at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, UT. Dr. Hiniker was accepted into a Small Animal Surgery residency at Colorado State University in 2003. She completed her residency in 2006 and attained board certification in 2008.
As a surgeon in the Veterinary Corps, Dr. Hiniker provided care and worldwide consultation in the U.S. and abroad in her multiple roles in research, teaching, serving as Theater Veterinary Surgeon in Afghanistan, and as Chief of Surgery at the Daniel Holland Working Dog Hospital at Lackland AFB, TX, in San Antonio. Dr. Hiniker has lectured around the world to military and other veterinary and medical groups on topics including gastric dilatation and volvulus, emergency care of working dogs, wound management, and trauma management of working dogs.
After retiring from the Army, Dr. Hiniker worked as a surgeon in San Antonio, TX, for BluePearl. When her husband was reassigned to Fort Myer in Arlington, VA, she moved back to NOVA and worked at MEDVET NOVA in Manassas, VA, for almost three years. She and her colleague advanced the care provided at MEDVET to include minimally invasive procedures and many other advanced surgeries.
Dr. Hiniker has an interest in advanced techniques in wound management, trauma management, surgical oncology, and minimally invasive surgery, including laparoscopy and thoracoscopy.
She and her family enjoy camping, football, running, hiking, traveling, experiencing good food, and touring around on their motorcycle. Dr. Hiniker is excited to build relationships with the NOVA veterinary community as a mobile surgeon, while bringing specialty surgery to their clients and patients.
CV
- 2025
Joined MOVES - 2008
Achieved board certification through ACVS (Small Animal) - 2006
Completed surgical residency and Master of Science in Clinical Sciences (Surgery) at Colorado State University - 1999
Earned Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Cum Laude) from the University of Georgia - 1995
Earned Bachelor of Science in Biology (Cum Laude, Honors Degree) from the University of Georgia
Borden Institute Textbook of Military Veterinary Services, Chapter 3: Veterinary Care for Military Working Dogs; 2019. (Co-author)
“Trauma Management of Military Working Dogs”, Lagutchik, M. et al, Military Medicine, Volume 183, Issue suppl_2, September-October 2018, pp 180-189. (Co-author)
“Risk Factors Associated with Short-term Outcome and Development of Perioperative Complications in Dogs Undergoing Surgery Because of Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus: 166 cases (1992–2003)”, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association; Dec 2006; Poster presentation at 2005 American College of Veterinary Surgery Symposium, San Diego, CA.
“Acute, Fatal Portal Vein Thrombosis Following Splenectomy in Six Dogs”; Presented at 2006 meeting of the Society for Veterinary Soft Tissue Surgery; Beaver Run, CO.
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What is a board-certified veterinary surgeon?
Like most health care fields, the veterinary profession has become multi-tiered. Veterinarians may now specialize in various disciplines (including surgery), as recognized by the AVMA’s American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS). The American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) is the AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organization™ for certification of veterinarians in large animal surgery and small animal surgery.
If your animal develops a problem or injury requiring advanced care and procedures, your primary veterinarian or emergency room veterinarian may refer you to a veterinary surgeon.
A veterinary surgeon has undergone additional training after veterinary school in order to become a specialist. This training consists of a minimum of a 1-year internship followed by a 3-year residency program that meets guidelines established by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS).
During the residency there are specific training and caseload requirements that must be met. In addition to these requirements, applicants must perform research that is published in a scientific journal and then pass a rigorous examination.
Adapated from “What is a Veterinary Surgeon?” on acvs.org.