Eastside Animal Medical Center - Staff

Veterinarians

Lynda Bacon, DVM
Dr. Bacon received her bachelor's degree from Berry College and her D.V.M. from the University of Georgia. Her special interests include behavior, dermatology, and pain mangement. Dr. Bacon is on the Board of Directors of the Gwinnett County Veterinary Medical Association and is a member of Veterinary Information Network. Her family includes her husband, Wade, and their two children. She has a lab named Athena, a fish, and a cat named Archie. Her hobbies include running, martial arts, and cooking.

Celeste Baker, DVM
Dr. Baker received her undergraduate degree from Presbyterian College and her D.V.M. from the University of Georgia. She maintains a keen interest in orthopedic medicine. her family includes her husband, Chip, and their two children. Both coaching and playing soccer are her favorite hobbies. Her other 'kids' include a Jack Russell (Pele), a German Shepherd (Tango), two Labrador Retrievers (Tank & Chloe), five cats (Boomer, Jigsaw, Thomas, Gus, & Cookie), and one horse (Jazz).

Jay Hancock, DVM
Dr. Hancock received his bachelor's degree in Animal Science and his D.V.M. both from the University of Georgia in Athens. He has an interest in surgery and neurology. Outside of work, he enjoys playing golf and going fishing. Currently he has two Jack Russell terriers (Nike and Jill) and a couple of hunting dogs.

Joel Landrum, DVM
Dr. Landrum is originally from California but grew up in the South. He spent ten years as a chef before attending UGA College of Veterinary Medicine. In 2009, he graduated with honors and was named the most outstanding student in the fields of emergency and critical care, radiology, and clinical pathology. Dr. Landrum was also one of the top students in overall clinical proficiency. Cases of particular interest to him are surgical and trauma. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society. He is married to Kim and has one great son, Aidan. Dr. Landrum also shares his home with three Border Collies and three cats.

Amanda Slider, DVM
Dr. Slider received her bachelor's degree in Biology from Georgia Southern University and her D.V.M. from the University of Georgia. She has an interest in emergency, critical care, feline, and shelter medicine. Her hobbies include scuba diving, water sports, traveling, snowboarding, and spending time with her family, including seven nieces and nephews. She is married and has two energetic orange tabby cats, Zeke and Kiah.

Veterinary Technicians

Allison Calder, RVT
Allison is a registered veterinary technician with the state of Georgia. She received her associate's degree in veterinary technology from Gwinnett Technical College in 2002. She is a member of the advisory board for the veterinary technology program at Gwinnett Technical College. She also maintains membership in the Georgia Veterinary Technician and Assistant Association and the National Association of Veterinary Technicians. She is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree online, in Veterinary Hospital Management, from Saint Petersburg College in Florida. Allison has been working at Eastside Animal Medical Center since it first opened in 2002. She lives with her husband and their four pets: Lucy, a 10-year-old German Shepherd, Sammi and Freddie, 5-year-old Siamese cats, and Ella, a 4-year-old Siamese tabby mix that was adopted from a rescue group.

Stefany Helms, RVT
Stefany is a registered veterinary technician and graduated from Gwinnett Technical College in 2001. Since her graduation, she has obtained her license as a RVT and a CVT. She has worked in ophthalmology, general, and emergency practices. Her home is run by Mavrik the dachshund, Mason the mutt, Millie the chihuahua, and the cats Mattie and Autumn.

Missy Johnston, RVT
Missy is a registered veterinary technician. She received her degree from Abraham Baldwin College in 1988. She has worked in both day and emergency practices, as well as, teaching in the veterinary technology program at Gwinnett Technical College. She is married and has two daughters, two cats, and a dog. She enjoys camping and boating.

Rebecca Owenby, RVT
Rebecca has been working at Eastside Animal Medical Center since July 2005. She is a graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Math Education and a graduate of Gwinnett Technical College with an Associate's degree in Accounting. After teaching for four years and doing accounting for three years, Rebecca still enjoys the veterinary field best. She has almost 5 years experience as a veterinary assistant and will be able to become a registered technician next year. She resides in Loganville with her husband Terry and daughter Ansley. They have four dogs, one cat and two goats.

Jessica Rowe, RVT
Jessica is a registered veterinary technician with the state of Georgia. She received her Associate's degree in Veterinary Technology from Gwinnett Technical College in 2006. She maintains active membership in the Georgia Veterinary Technician and Assistant Association, the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, and is a Hill's Veterinary Nutritional Advocate. Jessica has been working at Eastside Animal Medical Center since July 2006. She resides in Monroe, GA with her three cats (Daisy, Macavity, and Lexus), two dogs (Dixie and Jack), and one angel fish.

Brad Rollins, RVT
Brad has been employed at Eastside Animal Medical Center since October of 2002. He is a graduate of Reinhardt College with an Associate's degree in science. He has been working in the veterinary field since 1995. He has four cats (Emma, Heather, Austin, and Cena), and a dog Carmen. He enjoys reading, writing, drawing and watching wildlife outdoors.

Veterinary Assistants

Jessica Flanagan
Jessica is a veterinary assistant at Eastside Animal Medical Center. She has been working in the veterinary field since 2002. Her mother is a groomer, so she has been involved with animals her entire life. She has also been exposed to a variety of wildlife. She currently lives in Winder, GA with her husband, two labs, two cats, and two horses. It seems everything comes in pairs.

Samantha Knight
Samantha has been a veterinary assistant at Eastside Animal Medical Center since August of 2004. She works on both day and emergency practice hours. She runs a pet sitting business, Animal Friend Petsitting, in her spare time. She is currently studying for certification as a medical transcriptionist. She has one son, Jensen, a dog, two cats, a snake, and two fish.

Shaina Knight

Susan Scott
Susan has been working as a veterinary assistant at Eastside Animal Medical Center for three years. She is currently attending Gwinnett Technical College to earn her degree as a Veterinary Technician. She has always loved animals and wanted to work with them but never knew what she wanted to be until she started working at Eastside and learned of the profession Veterinary Technician, a nurse for animals. She owns one dog (Cooper), 5 cats (Smokey, Leo, Emma, Maui, and Rags), 2 chinchillas (Luke and Linus), a ferret, and an angel fish. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, spending time with friends, and fostering kittens. She, also, has enjoyed working at Eastside with her wonderful boss, co-workers, clients, and excellent working environment.

Alexandra Ditomaso
Alex has been working as a veterinary assistant since April 2008. She has always loved animals and currently lives on a horse farm where she teaches kids how to ride. She owns three horses, Caracondo, who she competes, Johnny, her yearling, and Patton, her retired show pony. In her spare time she likes to show horses, trail ride, read, fish (especially deep-sea fishing), hunting, and just hanging out with her friends at the barn.

Receptionists

Lori Davis
Lori is a Licensed Veterinary Technician and graduated from Michigan State University. Lori also has a degree in human health and nutrition. Lori and her husband, Garland, reside in Loganville, along with three cats: Simon, Lucy and Mia, two dogs: Ruby and River (Australian Shepherds), and Andie, the Orange-Winged Amazon parrot. Lori began working at Eastside Animal Medical Center in March 2008 and currently works as a receptionist and a Veterinary Technician. Her favorite hobbies are working with animals, especially horse and dog training.

Kasie Ingram
Kasie is a stat at home MOM who works part-time on the emergecy staff. She has been part of the team since September 2006. Kasie has been married to her husband, Robbie, for nine years. They have two children, Jolee and Jaden, and 3 furry kids (2 boston terriers, Sassy and Sooner, and 1 lab, Haley.) Kasie loves animals of all kinds and enjoys helping them in times of need. Most of all, she loves being part of Eastside Animal Medical Center.

Megan McCormick

June Morrison
June has been an environmentalist and animal advocate her whole life. She graduated from GA State University with a Bachelor of Science and is a member of Greater Atlanta Veterinary Managers Association. June loves her job, happy clients, purring kitties, and wagging tails!

Melanie Richardson
Melanie was formerly a client who joined our staff as an emergency receptionist in May of 2007. Previously a "people" nurse, she now helps out with patients of the four-legged variety. She has two Yorkshire terriers (T-Bone and Lily-Mae), a mixed breed (Samson), two polydactyl kitties (Berkley and Fergus), and a rescue kitten, Mason-Riley. Her husband's name is Jeff and they have three sons; Brandon, Stephen, and Josh.

Clinic Pets

Cleo
Cleo is another team player since August 2009. He is a black and white domestic short-hair with a great personality. We look forward to many years and good times.

Dori
Dori is an asset to the team, just joining in June 2008. She is a Siamese who is full of personality and loves to express herself freely. We look forward to many years with her and lots of memories!