Dr. Jeter, DVM
Veterinarian / Owner
Dr. Jeter graduated from Millsaps College in Jackson Mississippi in 1992 with a degree in Classical Studies. After graduation his wife gave him a Basset hound puppy, and after several visits to the local veterinarian he decided to pursue a new career path. This led him to the University of Tennessee, where he graduated with his DVM in 1999.
He is married to Julie Jeter, a physician at UT in the Family Practice Department. They have two children, Emma and Wesley.
Dr. Pamela Hawkins
Veterinarian
Dr. Hawkins graduated from the University of TN at Chattanooga in 1993 with a degree in biology. It only took a short time working for a veterinarian after graduation to realize that being a vet was what she wanted to do. She graduated with her DVM degree from the University of TN in 2000.
Dr. Hawkins has been with us since 2012. She has four dogs-Champ, Roxie, Shiloh, and Little Bit and a cat named Jerry. She has two kids, Allyn and Garrett.
Dr. Kristi Sharpe
Veterinarian
Dr. Kristi Sharpe is from Robbins, TN which is about an hour northwest of Knoxville. She is a 2012 graduate of the University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary medicine, and has been with Rocky Hill Animal Hospital in some capacity since graduation.
Dr. Kristi resides on a farm in Robbins with her husband, Justin, with their two young children, a son, Matthan and a daughter, Thea. Living along with the family are two dogs, four cats, 12 Nigerian Dwarf goats, 15 chickens and one guinea.
In her spare time, Dr. Kristi makes homemade skincare products, enjoys working on the farm, and spending time with her family.
Dr. Andrea Paynter
Veterinarian
Dr. Andrea Paynter, or Dr. Andie as she introduces herself, was born in Texas but considers herself a Tennessean “as nowhere else feels like home”. She worked for a local vet for 6 years while obtaining her undergraduate degree before being accepted into vet school. She graduated from Ross University and completed her clinical year at the University of Tennessee. She previously practiced as a veterinarian about an hour away from her house and enjoys the idea of serving closer to home.
In her spare time, Dr. Andie loves to read or book shop for new additions to add to her growing library. She also hikes and participates in triathlons and marathons with a full Ironman on her bucket list to complete. She has a particular soft spot for collies and may pop into the room to say hi if she knows one is in the building.
Beth Eichhorn
Practice Administrator
Beth joined the practice in January 2018. Her work experience has varied from a family practice office manager, a banking officer, to owning her own business. Beth graduated with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from George Mason University in VA and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Frostburg State University in MD.
Beth is active in her church and enjoys yoga, paddle boarding, and traveling to visit her children and grandchildren.
Beth and her husband, Tim, have three grown children: Catherine, Caroline, and Blake.
Patty Peterson, CVT
Practice Manager
Patty joined the practice in May 2023 bringing a vast amount of veterinary management knowledge. She is a CVT of more than 30 years with 29 of those years in veterinary management. Patty graduated from St. Pete College in St. Petersburg, FL with an AS and Vet Tech degree.
Patty is an avid golden retriever owner that she refers to as the “Kids”. Currently there are 3 at home, Abbey, Ponee Keg and Moon Unit, along with a grumpy Ragdoll cat Bug!
Patty enjoys her garden, fishing and travel.
Patty and her husband moved to Tennessee in 2016 from Florida.
Kelsie Smith
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Kelsie grew up in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee. She graduated from Lincoln Memorial University with an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science in 2010. Shortly following graduation, she passed the VTNE to become a licensed veterinary technician. It has always been Kelsie’s dream to work with animals in some capacity, and her love for animals has only grown during her time working in veterinary medicine. Building meaningful, ongoing relationships with her clients has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her job.
Outside of work, Kelsie enjoys spending time with her husband, Josh, their two children, Calliope and Kingsley, and their 3 pets: Scout, Knox, and Amelia. They are a “Disney Family” and go to Walt Disney World in Orlando as often as possible!
Haley Coomes
Groomer
Haley’s career in grooming started when she was only ten years old and she began showing Papillions with her mom. She traveled around the country showing, handling, and breeding dogs of various breeds. At the age of eighteen, her full-time career as a Pet Stylist began. Haley completed the PetSmart Grooming Academy in 2006 and truly found her calling. Haley wants you to know, “Any pet that comes to me to be groomed will be treated with as much love and affection as if they were one of my own pets.”
Haley’s love for animals, however, goes far beyond just dogs. Currently, she has three dogs named Duke, Kaycee, and Kara, as well as two horses. She understands the importance of loving and caring for each pet at home, boarding or the grooming salon.
Jennifer Guidali
Receptionist
Jennifer adds some international flare to the clinic! Hailing from the Caribbean island of Barbados where she grew up, and Antigua where her parents still remain. At 16 she moved to Florida, graduating from Broward Community college with an A.A. Degree in Business Administration and then moved to Knoxville to be closer to her sister. Now she has a wonderful family with roots in the south, a sweet husband, Dan, and a horse crazy teenager, Leilu. Although she loves to visit the white sandy islands of her childhood, the Smoky Mountains offers a different sort of paradise.
Jennifer has a deep love and respect for all animals and considers herself lucky to have an opportunity to work with them daily. Currently, she has three dogs, Rogue, Ringo, and Rue. She also takes our clinic mascot, Rocky, home with her every night! Hopefully, you will meet some of them hanging out behind the front desk (they make great greeters!!) So if you see a little car with a Husky, a Malanois, a Pit Mix, or a very large, white Great Dane in the back, give her a wave.
Mara Briggs
Veterinary Assistant
Mara was raised in small town Virginia but moved to Tennessee after getting her Bachelor’s in Biology from Roanoke College in 2019. She was a high jumper in college but now she loves to go looking for critters while hiking and fishing with her boyfriend. When she isn’t on an adventure she spends time with her family and 6 fur babies (3 dogs and 3 cats). She strives to make every patient she comes in contact with feel like family.
Zach Kanipe
Veterinary Assistant
Zach was born and raised in Lexington, SC. He joined the United States Marine Corps at 19 and traveled the country and world for 4 years until deciding that he wanted to further his education. He attends UTK and is majoring in Animal Science with a pre-veterinarian concentration. Before joining the Rocky Hill family, he practiced as a vet assistant at an animal emergency room for 2 years. He has two lovely pups named Jax and Milo and three cat friends named George, Boots, and Ava
Brittany Hale
Vet Assistant
Brittany has worked for Rocky Animal Hospital as a vet assistant since 2022. She has a general associate of science degree from Roane State Community College. She loves anything animals, outdoors, and is also an artist. She does pet paintings on the side and other things as well. Brittany says “the doctors here are great and so is the staff–I love it here!”
Jordan Hall
Bather
Jordan was born in Tullahoma, TN, and grew up in Estill Springs, TN. She attended Motlow State Community College where she earned an associate’s degree. Jordan then moved to Knoxville in 2018 to attend UTK studying animal science (Bioscience concentration) along with wildlife and fisheries. While a student, she got the opportunity to intern at Zoo Knoxville where she worked with all kinds of birds that were a part of the Shows Department. Jordan graduated with a bachelor’s degree in May 2020. Before moving to Knoxville, she worked at Bubbles and Bow Pet Spa where she worked for the groomer and worked in kennels. Jordan started working at Rocky Hill Animal Hospital in August 2020 as a bather. When Jordan is not at work, she is most likely at home with her dog, Leo, and dwarf hamster, Cotton.
Kelsey Garrett
Receptionist
Kelsey was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. She moved to Johnson City Tennessee and got her bachelors degree in psychology at East Tennessee State University. She has one dog, who is her world named Rogue. She loves animals and loves to cuddle the patients when they come in.