Our Staff
Doctors
J. Melvin Howard , DVM, Veterinarian, Practice Owner.
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Dr. Howard graduated from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1989. Originally from a small farm in Kentucky, he did his undergraduate work at Western Kentucky University and then attended AU-CVM. After graduation, he came to work at Atlantic Animal Hospital, buying the clinic from Dr. and Mrs. Needham in 1998.
Dr. Howard has always had a tremendous love for animals. Having been reared on a small farm, Melvin had many different pets while growing up. As a young boy, he always had a tremendous desire to be with animals and to help animals in any way. When the veterinarian would come out, he would shadow the vet and accost him with a barrage of animal questions.
Dr. Howard says that he loves his job! Everyday is a new adventure… a new opportunity to help a patient or a client! He feels that it is such a blessing to be around so many wonderful animals everyday. So many of the animals have such wonderful energy, just being around them enlivens him.
Currently, Dr. Howard has many pets of his own, including five dogs (“Dank” – a dachshund, “Fancy” – a little mix breed, “Wilson” – a Jack Russell Terrier, “Will” and “Grace” – two Maltese), five cats (all DSH’s – Nemia, Ettie, Ringo, Paul, Glenn) and two African Sulcatta tortoises (Geo and Sultan), a Blue Front Amazon (Alexander) and a Dusky Conure (Dusty).
Though not a Wilmington native, Dr. Howard with his partner Alonzo Wilson has made Wilmington his home and looks forward to many happy years treating the wonderful pets that live here with their humans.
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S. Michele Rohrer , BS, DVM
Her mother writes that Michele was born at Cherry Point, NC and lived in New Bern, except for three years that we were stationed in Tom’s River, New Jersey. Michele’s compassion and love for animals started very early. She was raised in a family that has a very big heart for animals. She cut her first tooth on their “rescue” dog Whiskers. She was biting on his tail, and he growled. She smiled with her tooth finally showing.
When she was five, Santa brought a Play School Pet Hospital. She doctored all the neighborhood dogs and told everyone she was going to be a vet. Whenever we took our pets to the vet, she listened to every word he said and always had a million questions. When we were out in the boat, she insisted the dogs wear their life jackets. During High School she worked as a kennel technician and did a lot of pet sitting. She graduated from NC State in 1999 and moved to Wilmington. Prior to joining the Atlantic Animal Hospital team in June 2004, she had several years experience in both private practice and emergency medicine.
Michelle and her husband Jeff (May 20, 2006) are in resident with their three dogs (Cain, Charlie, and Murphy) and the boss of the house Jackson the cat and his buddy Bailey the orange tabby.
When they are not working, they enjoy spending time at their beautiful new home at Oak Island.
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Karessa M Schaffer , BS, DVM
Dr. Karessa Schaffer , Zac (not Zach) and their 5 month old son Ian moved to Southeastern North Carolina in June 2006 after she had graduated from Iowa State CVM in May 2006. She had interviewed with Atlantic Animal Hospital several months prior and she decided that since they loves animals so much, Atlantic Animal Hospital should be where she would work. She started working as a full time veterinarian June 22, 2006.
Karessa hails from Madrid, a small town in Iowa. In high school, she started working in the kennel at a veterinary clinic and continued to work there for the next 9 1/2 years in a variety of positions eventually becoming a veterinary tech. She had always had a love for animals ever since Santa put a black-n-white spaniel mix puppy in her first Christmas stocking. Zac was her high school sweetheart and they married during her first year of vet school.
Karessa is very proud of her work, because she is responsible for strengthening the human animal bond by helping sick animals feel better and help healthy animals stay that way as long as possible. She enjoys working at Atlantic because every day is filled with new challenges for her and she enjoys the happiness and companionship that pets bring to their families.
Karessa (who is expecting a newborn in late Janurary 2009), Zac, and Ian share a home with two four legged family members – Mabel, SF, LH dachshund (d.o.b. 06/10/02) and Ruthie, SF, LH dachshund (d.o.b. 05/18/04).
When she is not working, the family enjoys participating in outdoor recreational activities, including running, hiking and camping. North Carolina is such a wonderful place to live with the beaches and the mountains. The Schaffers look forward to calling this area home for many years to come.
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Laurie A Parish , BA, DVM
Dr. Parish was born in Nashville, TN but her family moved to Wilmington when she was 6 weeks old; therefore she claims to be a native. After graduating from New Hanover, she moved to California to pursue her dream in photography (actually, she just wanted to get away). She returned to Wilmington to attend one year at UNCW and then transferred to UNC where she graduated with a BA in Art History. As the story goes, she was working at an art gallery in Chicago, when one day at lunch she had an occupational epiphany, realizing that she loves animals and she wants to dedicate her life to helping animals (there is an interesting story about a horse associated with this decision, you should ask her about it). She quit working at the art gallery and started working in the kennel at an animal hospital in Chicago; shortly thereafter, she started taking pre-veterinary courses. She transferred to NC State to finish her undergraduate requirements and apply to vet school. Dr. Parish graduated from NCS-CVM in 2006 and has been working at Atlantic Animal Hospital since June. She describes her job responsibilities as "vet stuff". She says that she enjoys her job because she loves being a part of the bond between owners and their pets. She is especially satisfied when she is able to really help an animal that is sick or suffering. She enjoys working with a great staff and the crazy colleagues at Atlantic.
She has a strong interest in aquatic medicine, especially sea turtles and marine mammals and has worked as an intern at several Sea Turtle Rescue and Marine Mammal Hospitals including Sarasota, FL, Sausalito, CA and Topsail Beach, NC.
Having grown up in Wilmington, Laurie is excited to once again call Wilmington home. She enjoys living close to her family. Her favorite summer past-times usually involve the water and she goes out on the boat as often as possible. She currently shares her home with "Puddin" a 1991 model SF grey tabby.
In addition to cats and dogs, Dr. Parish enjoys working with birds and pocket pets. | 
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Veterinarian Technicians
Receptionist
Mr. Jason D Pickard
Jason Pickard was born in Hillsboro, NC on September 20, 1983. He grew up in Burlington and as a child he was always surrounded by animals. Having four dogs,three cats, and two ferrets he developed a deep love for animals early in his life. During high school Jason worked as a kennel technician at an animal hospital in Elon, NC until he moved to Wilmington to attend UNCW in 2006.
He will graduate in the spring of 2009 with a degree in psychology and a minor in sociology. Having always enjoyed interacting with people, Jason uses his people skills and education to better assist clients when it comes their precious animals. He has always had compassion for both people and animals, and understands how close the bond is between pets and their owners.
Jason began working at Atlantic Animal Hospital in December of 2008. He thoroughly enjoys meeting new people and new animals on a daily basis and finds comfort that he is part of an establishment that does so much for so many animals and their owners. |
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Telephone Operators
Mrs. Barbara Greenman
Originally from Ohio, Barb has been one of our communication specialists since March 1999. Her duties include answering the phone, scheduling appointments, filling prescriptions, taking animals to the kennel, and helping out the receptionists as needed.
Barb started working with animals because of her love for animals. Helping to provide good healthcare for animals proves to be rewarding and enjoyable. She enjoys her daily contact with all the animals, working with such a great staff and talented veterinarians, and the many people she meets.
Barb and her husband Paul have three cats – a 13 y/o spayed female tabby, a 2 ½ y/o spayed female domestic medium hair and a 2 y/o neutered male Himalayan, all of which she finds delightful and great housemates.
Barb’s other activities include art, which she enjoys very much – she has attended sculpting class and loves to paint. She also loves boating, camping, mountain and trail hiking. Barb loves to travel and enjoys sports and anything outdoors. She also loves to cook and have people over to entertain. | 
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Tonya Burriss Since a young age Tonya has had a love for animals. At the age of four she moved from Winnabow to Wilmington, where that Christmas she found a Cocker Spainel under her Christmas tree named Ginger. Ginger has since passed, but Tonya's love for animals has remained. As a teenager Tonya bread and raised Jack Russell Terriers. In the beginning of 08' Tonya found herself wanting a career change that involved animals, which lead her to Atlantic Animal Hospital. Tonya no longer breeds Jack Russell Terriers, but currently owns a tri-color Jack Russell named Fate. Since becoming a team member of Atlantic she has recently added a new addition to her pack, a Chihuahua/Dachshund mix named Teeney.
Kennel Staff
Mrs. Inez Stevens Mother Nature herself... | 
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Grooming
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