James G. Simmons, D.V.M. ; M.S.  

Dr. Simmons grew up in Bridgewater, Virginia. He received his B.S. in General Science from Bridgewater College.  He attended Virginia Tech and received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Georgia. While at Georgia he was elected to membership in the honorary societies of Gamma Sigma Delta, Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi Zeta and served two sessions on the Honor Court of the Veterinary  School.

He received an M.S. in Surgery from the University of Virginia Medical School. Before returning to the area, he was employed in small animal practices in Baltimore, Maryland and Charlottesville, VA and was employed at the University of Virginia Medical School as Assistant Director of the Vivarium and Assistant Professor of Surgery.  Dr. Simmons opened Ashby Animal Clinic in October of 1974 and has been continuously employed as a Small Animal Clinician since opening the practice.

Dr. Simmons is married, the father of two daughters and grandfather of 6 children and stepchildren. He has served in many capacities in the community and in the veterinary profession through memberships in VVMA, AVMA, Blue Ridge Veterinary Medical Association, D. C. Academy of Veterinary Medicine, Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club of Harrisonburg, and as an elder in the Presbyterian Church.

Deborah Carleton, D.V.M. - Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Carleton has been working at Ashby since August of 1999. She is a 1985 graduate of Iowa State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. She enjoys all aspects of small animal medicine.  Dr. Carleton finds surgery to be the most interesting part of her vocation.  She lives in Rockingham County with her two children and plethora of animal friends.

Currently residing with her family are a collection of chickens, rabbits, a horse, 2 dogs, 4 cats and a couple of ducks; as well as a couple handfuls of pocket pets. Outside of her work as a veterinarian, Dr. Carleton enjoys horse-back riding, reading and catching most of the latest movies.

Dr. Sarah Whitman, D.V.M., M.S. - Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Sarah Whitman has been working at Ashby Animal Clinic since July of 1991. Dr. Whitman received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Virginia Tech in 1989 and her Masters in Bovine Reproduction from Virginia Tech in 1984.  Dr. Whitman enjoys the medicine side of small animal practice. She works part-time at Ashby Animal Clinic and part-time at Ashby Herd Health Services in embryo transfer services.

Dr. Whitman and her husband, Dr. Dan Hadacek, and their two sons live on a farm in Augusta County and raise beef cattle and sheep. Dr. Whitman enjoys spending time with her family, horse-back riding and gardening.

Dr. Lisa May Moran, D.V.M., M.S. - Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Lisa May Moran has returned to Ashby Animal Clinic as an Associate Veterinarian. Dr. May, who goes by her maiden name professionally, is a graduate of Virginia Tech. She received her veterinary degree from Purdue University Veterinary School in Indiana. Dr. May practiced large animal medicine as well as small animal medicine at Ashby Animal Clinic beginning in 1987.

She is returning to AAC with an emphasis on small animal medicine. Dr. May is a native of Broadway. She resides in Rockingham County with her husband, Chris, and 3 sons. Her animal family includes a Boston Terrier, Pudge, and Ginger, a tabby cat. Outdoor animals vary with her son’s projects and include heifers, lambs, chickens and geese.

Linda Landes - Licensed Veterinary Technician

Linda graduated from Blue Ridge Community College's Veterinary Technician program in May, 2004. She began work at Ashby in the fall of that same year. She works part-time and enjoys working with the clients and their pets, the doctors and staff.  She believes that Ashby is a great place to bring your pets!!  Linda resides in Rockingham County and shares a home with her husband, 3 dogs, 2 Siamese cats and lots of fish.

Her fish tank hold 6 angel fish and she LOVES Siamese cats. Linda also has 3 grown daughters.  In her free time, Linda enjoys running with her dog, Caitlin Blue, playing tennis and sewing 18th Century clothing. She likes gardening and painting. She also loves a good bible study and teaching Sunday school at her church. God Rocks!!

Whitney Williams - Licensed Veterinary Technician

Whitney joined the Ashby team in September 2007. She is a 2007 graduate of the Veterinary Technology Program at BRCC. She is a native of Shenandoah, VA and lives there with her SPCA adopted Chow/Lab Mix, Scooter, and her rescued stray kitty, Greyson. Whitney enjoys interacting with the patients and their families. Her most favorite aspects of her work are surgery, dentistry, and cytology.

Outside of work, she enjoys going to country concerts, going to dinner and the movies and four-wheeling on the weekends.

Michelle Skinner - Veterinary Technician Student

Michelle Skinner is a native of Georgia, but calls the Valley her home. She graduated from Harrisonburg High School. After spending a decade in retail management, Michelle decided to switch gears and pursue her degree in Veterinary Technology. She will graduate in May, 2008. Michelle's main interests in Veterinary Medicine include anesthesia, behavior and microscopy.

In her spare time, Michelle enjoys taking day trips, writing, spending time with family and friends, and participating in the Order of the Eastern Star. She also enjoys going to Dave Matthews Band concerts (HE ROCKS!) AND Baltimore Ravens Football games. Michelle lives in Rockingham County with her husband, her standard poodle, Picasso, and her Quaker parrot, Harpo. She has had a plethora of pets in the past, including many exotic varieties.

Mindy Barnette- Veterinary Assistant

Mindy has recently returned to Ashby after working in medical research at the University of Virginia for the past two years. She has a bachelor's degree in Biology from Bridgewater College and hopes to enter graduate school soon.  Mindy originally started at Ashby Animal in May of 2001 as a veterinary assistant. She loves all aspects of her job, especially surgery and client education.

She owns a house near Rawley Springs with her husband and two sons, Jackson and Jacob, a bulldog named Lucy and a cat named, Jacoby. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering and horseback riding.

Tricia has been with Ashby Animal Clinic for over 10 years now. She received her Bachelor's of Business administration with a concentration in Management from James Madison University in 1993.  She also just received her Master in Business Administration, from JMU in August, 2005.

She enjoys working with the staff and doctors at Ashby to ensure that the clinic runs smoothly. Her objective is to maximize patient care and welfare through on-going staff education and keeping abreast of the latest medicine and technology available in the Veterinary field.

In her spare time, she shares a home in Bridgewater with her husband and their 4 children, one cat, and two dogs!  They enjoy riding bikes, playing sports, and attending church and school activities. One of their favorite escapes is taking the kids to Smith Mountain Lake for fishing, boating and swimming fun!!

Kaye Carter - Receptionist/Assistant Office Manager

Kaye, the "mother" of the clinic has been with Ashby Animal Clinic since 1987! Kaye considers Ashby a great place to work. She has enjoyed watching the puppies and kittens grow over the years and becoming friends with their owners.  Her favorite breed is the golden retriever.

She has 3 cats but no dogs at this time.  She likes watching surgeries when time allows.  She hails from Tennessee and went to Western Kentucky University. Kaye moved to Rockingham County with her family in 1982 when her husband, Tim Carter, began working as a professor at James Madison University. Kaye enjoys spending time with her two sons, Jeff and Jonathan, and their families, including 4 grandchildren. Since she lives a stone's throw from the National Forest, she really enjoys the outdoors. She also enjoys spending time with her "extended- family" at the clinic.

Danielle Tourje - Receptionist

Danielle has been a receptionist at Ashby since October 2002. She is a graduate of Fort Defiance High School and enjoys many activities including horseback riding, camping, skydiving, boxing and traveling. Danielle currently lives in

Dayton with her cousin and 3 cats but is looking for a house with land so that she can keep her longhorn cow, shire draft horse, and hound mix dog at home with her.

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