Meet the Team At Travelers Rest Animal Hospital

Drs. Bryant and Kelley Phillips are both graduates of Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Bryant grew up in Simpsonville, SC where he enjoyed showing horses and playing basketball. He has fond childhood memories of assisting his father, Dr. Ben Phillips, which led him to complete a B.S. in Biology at Furman University.

Dr. Kelley grew up on a cattle farm in Disputanta, Virginia where she enjoyed riding horses and playing soccer. She began pursuing her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian with a B.S. in Animal and Dairy Science at Auburn. They both credit their parents for encouragement and support that culminated in their success as veterinarians. Together their mission is to daily share the love of Jesus Christ by serving people and helping their pets.

Dr. Jennifer Given earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the College of Charleston and her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Georgia. Following veterinary school, she completed a small animal rotating internship at Veterinary Emergency Referral Group in Brooklyn, NY. She then spent three years practicing small animal medicine at a general practice in Louisiana before joining Travelers Rest Animal Hospital in 2017.

With a particular passion for emergency and critical care, Dr. Given has transitioned to our Urgent Care Department, where she provides compassionate, high-quality care to patients requiring more immediate attention. She will also continue to see general practice patients one the Saturday that she works.

Outside of the hospital, Jennifer enjoys exploring the Upstate with her family, getting lost in a good book, and attempting to sew—she’s still working on that last one!

Drs. Will and Jennifer McDavid were both born and raised in Greenville but met each other and got married while working together at Travelers Rest Animal Hospital. Dr. Jennifer graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry, while Dr. Will graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelors of Science in Animal Science. That makes things a little interesting around the television in their house on Saturdays during the fall! Dr. Will got his DVM at Mississippi State University, and Dr. Jen got hers at Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, VA. Before coming back home to Greenville, Dr. Jen spent two years practicing in a mixed animal practice in Switzerland, where she learned to speak Swiss German. Dr. Will loves to hunt and fish in his spare time (when he is not working in the yard). Dr. Jen enjoys tagging along on those trips as well as hiking, horseback riding, reading, and crocheting. They also enjoy spending time together with friends and family as often as possible. Their favorite part of working at trAH is the kind-spirited family atmosphere that is fostered between the staff, clients, and patients.

Dr. Andy Roark grew up in Statesville, NC and attended Davidson College before moving to Washington, D.C. to work at the National Institutes of Health and volunteer at the National Zoo. Dr. Roark has a Master’s degree in Zoology and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Florida. He received the Veterinarian of the Year Award from the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians in 2018, and loves to write articles for veterinary publications. Dr. Roark has two daughters, a naughty Goldendoodle named Skipper, and a wonderful wife (who is a professor at Furman University).

Dr. Lizzy was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina. She attended NC State University for college and graduated with a B.S in Zoology in 2008. She continued on to veterinary school at NC State and graduated with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2012. Prior to marriage, Dr. Elisabeth Nifong moved to Greenville, South Carolina for her first job in veterinary medicine- and has been practicing in the Upsate ever since. While not a board-certified exotic specialist, Dr. Lizzy has been treating companion animals, birds and reptiles for ten years. Her enthusiasm for all God's creatures is evident with her beautiful smile!

When she and her husband, Drew are not wrangling critters, she is a busy mom to twin's, a boy and girl, along with their little brother. Their sweet family resides in Marietta with their dog "Jake", 2 cats and a pet snake.

Dr. Tom Bunch grew up near Boston, MA but has been in and around the southeast since college. He received his Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Clemson University and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Auburn University. His allegiance still very much lies with the Tigers who wear orange and purple. His veterinary interests include dermatology, dentistry, and preventive medicine. Outside of veterinary medicine, he is an avid disc golfer, enjoys bass fishing, and appreciates hiking the local trails with his dog, Brady. And yes, he named him Brady Bunch on purpose.

Dr. Tyler Switzer is a native of Upstate South Carolina, born and raised in Spartanburg. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Animal and Veterinary Science from Clemson University before pursuing his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in the Caribbean. He completed his clinical training at Oklahoma State University.

Dr. Switzer joined trAH in May 2023 and has a special interest in urgent care and emergency medicine. He enjoys the challenges of veterinary medicine, from managing complex medical cases to helping pets and their families through unexpected emergencies. He takes pride in providing compassionate, practical care while helping pet owners feel informed and comfortable with their pets' treatment.

Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Switzer is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hiking, exploring waterfalls, and spending time on his farm, Swittz Creek Farm. His passion for animals extends well beyond the clinic, as he raises a variety of animals, including exotic waterfowl, swans, goats, prairie dogs, and several parrot species. He also enjoys hands-on work of farm life and running his small business of goat milk soap.

In addition to his work in urgent care, Dr. Switzer sees general practice patients on select Saturdays. He looks forward to building lasting relationships with clients and providing exceptional care for their four-legged family members (or three-legged like his goat named Peg in his profile picture).

Karen was born in Greenville, SC and grew up in the greater Simpsonville area, where she enjoys living today. Born an animal lover, she returned to a career in the animal industry in 2000, after raising her 4 daughters, Haley, Taylor, Sadie and Katherine. Karen enjoys working with people just as much as she enjoys working with their pets! She joined Travelers Rest Animal Hospital in 2023, where she works as the Practice Manager. When she's not doting over your pets as trAH, you can find her gardening, enjoying time with friends and family, two dogs, Millie & Mosie, and two cats, Rivers & Ollie.

Heather was raised in Travelers Rest and graduated from Greenville Technical College in 2005 with 2 degrees- one in Small Animal Care and the other in Veterinary Technology. She has held many roles since starting at Travelers Rest Animal Hospital in March of 2013, including her most recent role as our Hospital Administrator. She is a huge hound lover, and enjoys giving extra kisses to any four legged creature with long, floppy ears! She feels incredibly blessed that God has allowed her the opportunity to work in such a wonderful career field and to make so many friends along the way. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, including her four legged “children”- Clark, Lewis, Beatrice, and Mitchell. Heather is also big on pet nutrition, and has toured the Hill’s Pet Food facility in Topeka Kansas, so feel free to ask her about Science Diet and the research that goes into their pet food...and all the cute beagles that reside there!

Emily joined the TRAH team in 2007 after moving to South Carolina with her family from Washington State, where they decided to put down roots and make South Carolina home. She brings more than 30 years of experience in the veterinary field and earned her Veterinary Technician license in Washington State in 2010. Throughout her years at TRAH, Emily has taken on many different responsibilities, continuing to grow and contribute to the team. As of 2026, she serves as our Surgery and Referral Coordinator.

When she's away from work, Emily enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, Jason. Together, they share their home with four dogs, three cats, several rehabilitating box turtles, a leopard tortoise, and two Sulcata tortoises. If you haven't guessed by now, Emily has a special love for turtles and tortoises!

Sara is a native of Florida. At 14, she started working at a veterinary clinic working in the kennels and worked her way up to a veterinary assistant. During her 35+ years of experience she has worked in emergency care as well as general practice veterinary clinics. She moved to South Carolina in 1998 with her husband and continued to work as a veterinary assistant in the Greer area. She joined our Travelers Rest Animal Hospital team in the summer of 2005.

Her love for animal care, the community and it’s people keep her doing what she loves. She lives in the beautiful Blue Ridge area with her husband Matt, and enjoy's time with their 3 adult son's, 2 daughter-n-law's and identical twin granddaughters. Currently, she has 1 dog, 6 cats, a sulcata tortiose, a Leopard tortiose, goldfish and koi. (subject to change!) 

Shannon brings more than 35 years of experience working with animals, beginning at the Greenville Humane Society and continuing at several local veterinary Hospitals, where she trained as a veterinary assistant and later worked as an unlicensed veterinary technician. Born and raised in Travelers Rest, Shannon grew up with animals as an important part of her life.

When her brother became ill, Shannon found a welcoming environment at The Blood Connection. There, she valued the opportunity to make a direct difference in the lives of people in her community - including her brother.

Shannon joined our team in June 2017 and loves caring for pets and reconnecting with familiar faces in the hometown she holds dear. She has earned her master's degree in socal work from Limestone University and has a passion for mental health and wellness.

Outside of work, Shannon enjoys spending time with her husband, her beautiful grandchildren, and their wonderfully spoiled collection of pets!

Carrie was born and raised in Berea, SC, and is a proud graduate of Travelers Rest High School, where she graduated in 2006. She earned her Veterinary Assistant certification from Greenville Technical College in April 2007, the same month she began her career with our trAH team. Carrie has a passion not only for caring for our wonderful patients but also for building relationships with and serving our clients. She loves being able to make a difference for both pets and the people who love them!

Carrie lives in Travelers Rest with her husband, Bobby, and their two children, Mackenzie and Griffin. Family is very important to her, and she enjoys spending quality time with family and friends. She and her family are also active members of their church and the local Little League.

Meet Hannah, she is currently in school to further her knowledge and become a Licensed Veterinary Technician. She has experience working at an Emergency Animal Hospital and loves the rush of the ER but currently falling in love with the day clinic life! She excels at patient care and loves getting a laugh out of everyone here at trAH. You can find her easily by the contagious laugh of hers!

Christian joined our team in August of 2021 and enjoys every day, facing each one of them with a smile on her face. From Pickens County, Christian has enjoyed animals her whole life and is thankful for the opportunity to serve the clients and pets of trAH. She loves to laugh and crack jokes as much as she loves taking care of animals and looks forward to opportunities to grow in the future! Although a new face here at trAH, Christian isn’t just excited about getting to know her coworkers; she’s also enjoying getting to know you and your four-legged babies! 

 Aside from work, she also enjoys her moments away with her friends, family, and of course, her fur babies.

Meet Amy, she joined our receptionist team in 2022. Amy is from New Jersey were she was raised on a race horse breeding farm. There she found her passion working with animals of all sizes. In 1998, she and her husband relocated to SC and currently reside in Greer. They have three dogs; Bailey, Carly and Josie. Prior to her time at trAH, Amy had enjoyed over 25 yrs of experience in animal medicine as a Vet Assistant in general practice and emergency care.

Amy has a passion for Dog Agility. Every chance she gets, she takes Carly out to show off her skills. The two make quite the team.

Candice was born and raised in Southern California. She met James in 2005, just 3 months before starting her career in veterinary medicine as a technician and receptionist. James and Candice got married in 2006 and were overjoyed to welcome their son Kai in 2010. After visiting their friend in South Carolina and seeing how beautiful it is, her family decided to move out here in 2014, and they have loved it here ever since. Candice has always loved caring for others and animals. She has rescued and cared for many stray cats, kittens, dogs, and a hurt opossum. She has always considered her home a sanctuary for any fur baby that needs her, and she will feed and care for any that show up on the porch. She joined our team as a receptionist in 2023 and loves the genuine kindness and care she sees every day from her work family. In her off time, she loves spending time with her husband, their son Kai, and the many fur babies that are part of their family.

Kayla Meyer has been a part of Travelers Rest Animal since May of 2009. She graduated from Tri-County Technical College with an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science with a Major in Veterinary Technology. Kayla was born and raised in Greenville and still currently resides there with her 13 cats: Penny, Pita, Shelby, Wonk-E, Bruce, Nutmeg, Sunny, Simon, Buster, Marie, Toulouse and Berlioz; a Leopard Gecko named Dude; and her dog Hank. Known as the "cat lady" at the office, she loves all animals equally but cats hold a special place in her heart. Kayla also enjoys researching pet nutrition, and hopes to become certified as a hospice and euthanasia technician in the near future.

Marisa started her journey into the veterinary field shortly after graduating from Travelers Rest High School in 2011. As a young girl, her love for all creatures and passion for taking care of animals encouraged her to pursue an education in this subject. After being introduced to some staff at Travelers Rest Animal Hospital, she accepted the position of a kennel technician. This truly allowed her to dip her toes into the field, soak up as much experience as she could and instilled the value of hard work and dedication. To further her education on a college level, she applied to Tri-County Technical College’s Veterinary Technology program. After 2 years of balancing work and her studies, she graduated and became a Licensed Veterinary Technician. This accomplishment advanced her to her ultimate goal of becoming an LVT. She has now been a part of the trAH family since 2012 and enjoys providing excellent care for all pets in the community. Throughout her educational and professional journey, she also introduced two beautiful babies into the world. They too share her passion for all creatures big and small.

Lucas Eades joined the trAH team in February of 2016.  Before joining our team, Lucas worked as a veterinary technician in Seneca for about a year.  Lucas graduated from the veterinary technician program at Tri-County Tech in May of 2017 and became licensed shorty thereafter. Being  a lifelong resident of Pickens South Carolina, Lucas has gained much experience with caring for animals such as chickens, ducks, dogs, cats, rabbits, goats and horses. Besides spending time with his Australian Shepherds, Lucas loves spending time with family, friends and his pets.

Sarah was born and raised in the upstate of South Carolina. She spent her childhood outdoors with a variety of animals. As she got older, she began to develop an interest in Veterinary Medicine. After attending Tri-County Tech's Veterinary Technology program, she graduated with her associates degree in 2014. She then worked at a small animal practice for 2 years, where she passed her State and National boards and is now a licensed veterinary technician. After seeking to further her skills, she joined our trAH team in March of 2016.

In her downtime, she enjoys being in the woods, enjoying God's creation. She lives off the beaten path with her husband , daughter and 2 dogs.

Nicole Singleton joined the trAH team in May 2017. A native of Greenville, she is proud to call this area home and plans to stay right here! After graduating from high school, Nicole decided to pursue her passion for animals by attending veterinary technician assistant school. However, she knew she wanted to take her education a step further and went on to earn her Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology in 2017, becoming a Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT).

We are so fortunate to have Nicole on our team! She is a wonderful technician with a caring heart and a loving personality. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys fishing, hiking, and attending car shows with her husband, Adam, and their two children. She also loves spending time with her fur babies, Piper, Halo, and Izzy, who hold a very special place in her heart!

Candace is a Veterinary Technology student at Tri-County Technical College. She came to us in January of 2022 to complete her externship and became a part of the trAH team. She will graduate in the spring of 2023 and prepare to take the VTNE. Candace was born and raised in Greenville, SC. If she isn’t in class or studying, she’s spending time with her husband, two kids, and array of dogs and cats.  

Samantha Brown or Sam (what she prefers to be called) joined the team in August of 2024, but has been working in the Veterinary Field for many years. Prior to her occupation at trAH, Sam worked in Emergency Vet Medicine and taught at Tri-County Technical College in the Vet Tech program. Sam received her degree in Animal Science and LVT licenses in 2015.
When Sam is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, animals, and the outdoors. Sam is married with three kids, two dogs and three cats. Sam enjoys fishing, car shows, outdoor adventures, and DIY-ing.

Jessica Green joined our team in July of 2020. In May of that year, she graduated from Furman University with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. You can pick her out of our crazy crew as being the girl who is a complete sucker for schnauzers! She loves all of her patients, but schnauzers have a special place in her heart! Jess has always had a passion for animals and wanted to be a veterinarian, long before she was even able to say the word. These passions pushed her to start working in the veterinary industry at the age of 15 as a kennel assistant.

Throughout the years, she gradually moved into the role of an assistant. As of today, she has officially been an assistant for 5 years and plans on applying for vet school soon. In the meantime, she’s really enjoying each day in her job role! After work, you’ll probably find her at home on her couch with a book and her fur babies-Lance, Layla, and Leo.

David has a Bachelor's degree in Biology from North Greenville University. He joined Travelers Rest Animal Hospital as a kennel/assistant in August 2016. He was born in Hawaii and moved to South Carolina 10 years ago. He has built a life and family here that he truly loves and enjoys. His goal is to one day attend a veterinary school and earn his DVM. He also aspires to come back after a few years of veterinary practice to be a professor at North Greenville University. He would love to help students achieve the same dream he is working toward. He is very passionate to be able to give back to the college that has given so much to him!

Madison was born and raised in Greer, SC, and graduated from Byrnes High School in 2018. She joined us in August of 2020 as a boarding technician and has since worked her way up to veterinay assistant. Driven by a lifelong passion for veterinary medicine, she feels incredibly blessed to be a part of the trAH family.

Outside of work, Madison owns and operates Upstate Canine Academy, specializing in dog obedience and behavior training. She spends most of her time outdoors with her daughter, Aubrey Lynn, and her 6 dogs. In addition to her 5 shepherds and a boxer named Folson, she enjoys training for PSA with her Dutch Sheperd, "Van Halen".

After 15 years in law enforcement serving as a bomb technician and K9 handler and a vacation in Iraq as a military contractor, Matt made a mid-life change of career and entered veterinary medicine. He began working with Travelers Rest Animal Hospital before moving to emergency medicine at Upstate Emergency and Specialty. He has since returned to the trAH family and is currently in school for his Veterinary Technician degree and license. His spare time is mostly devoted to a menagerie including his retired bomb dog, a Rottweiler - Shepherd, Swedish Vallhund, mini-pig, calico jaguar/panther/cat and two snails. And his wife...

 Tamiah was born and raised in Greenville, SC. She attended Tri-County Tech where she received her degree in Veterinary Technology. She has one sibling and one fur baby named Chino aka "Munchkin". She enjoys going on walks with Chino and traveling. She is a Vet Tech because when she sees an animal she sees a loving living being who needs her. She has the passion and devotion to dedicate herself to aiding animals and providing excellent care for them when they step inside and outside of the clinic.

Caroline was born and raised in Henderson, NC. She ventured into veterinary medicine as soon as she graduated high school in 2019. Since then, she fell in love with the career and has never looked back!

She enjoys going on hikes, kayaking, and cuddling up with her two sweet huskies, Krypto Schmipto and Bobby.

She is excited to be apart of our trAH team and being able to learn and grow.

Mary Louise was born and raised in Roxboro, NC. She graduated from UNCW with a degree in Biology and minors in Psychology and Neuroscience. She is working towards her Veterinary Technician License in the Penn Foster Veterinary Technician program. In her free time she enjoys reading, camping, and hiking with her 2 dogs, Jackson (pictured) and Bentley.

Brian was born and raised here in South Carolina. He graduated from Travelers Rest High School in 2011 and then went on to receive a bachelor’s in Arts degree at North Greenville University. He was hired on to work in the kennel and then soon started working as a veterinary assistant.

Anna was born and raised in Greenville, SC.  She graduated from Blue Ridge High School in 2020 and joined our team in July of that year.  She is currently attending Clemson University with a major in Animal and Veterinary Science, looking to pursue a career as a veterinarian.  During her occasional free time, Anna enjoys spending time with her family and friends and her sweet kitty, Luna.

Theresa was born and raised in Orange County NY. Her first job as a kid was in a large animal hospital working in the kennels After high school she relocated to the Midwest, working in a training facility in Kansas City. After 3 years, she decided to move to Travelers Rest SC, where her immediate family had relocated. Since then, she has worked as a kennel technician, veterinary assistant, and receptionist in different clinics in Greer and Greenville.
 
Theresa spends her free time with her three amazing children, Ava, Adrianna, and Landyn. She also loves spending time with her four dogs and 7 cats. Theresa has been an active foster parent for several dogs over the years and continues to help rescues wherever she can. She loves the lake, mountains, and local music.

Heather Ashley was born and raised in Greenville, SC. She graduated from Greenville Technical College in 2008 with her Veterinary Assisting certification and joined our trAH team in 2017. She loves being part of a team dedicated to caring for our patients and their families.

Heather has two fur-babies, Allie and Maggie. Outside of work, she enjoys cheering on Clemson with her husband and spending time at the baseball field with her three children. Between Clemson games and baseball season, there's always something keeping her busy!

Ellie joined our team in May of 2022. She grew up in Asia and moved to Travelers Rest in 2021. She loves all kinds of animals, especially exotics. She currently has 2 dogs, 2 cats and 2 bearded dragons. Ellie graduated high school in 2023 and is a vet tech student at Greenville Technical college. 

Bethany was born in the upstate and graduated from the Veterinary assistant program at Greenville Technical college in 2018. She plans to continue her education to become a licensed veterinary technician. She has worked mostly in shelter medicine and privately owned veterinary clinics before joining our trAH team in 2023. 

When she is not caring for our boarders, she may be gaming, reading or just relaxing with her besties Havoc (Husky mix) and Lotus (German Shepherd).