Grace Animal Hospital

OurTeam

We’re so excited to see you and your pet! Get to know more about the team behind your pets’ experience.

Learn More About Our Team Below!

Our Doctors

DR. SONYA Akers

Sonya Akers grew up in Irmo, SC, where she spent several summers interning at Grace Animal Hospital. She graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Animal and veterinary sciences and then attended the University of Georgia for veterinary school.

Upon graduation, with an interest in mixed animal medicine, she worked in both Kentucky and North Carolina, where she treated both large and small animals. After deciding to come home and be close to family, she is happy to be back with her Grace Family! She has a special interest in preventative medicine, dentistry, and dermatology.

Sonya and her husband, Shane, live in Lexington with their two dogs, Kahlua, a kelpie mix, and Milo, a bull terrier mix. They enjoy spending time outdoors, traveling, and being with friends and family.

DR. NICOLE CLEMENTSON

Dr. Nicole Clementson grew up in Lexington, SC and graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Biological Sciences. Prior to veterinary school, she worked at Grace Animal Hospital and gained invaluable experience in the field. She then went on to attend the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

Following graduation, Dr. Clementson completed an internship in Emergency Medicine at South Carolina Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Care. She continues to practice emergency medicine full time. She started relief work at Grace Animal Hospital in November of 2021.

When not in the clinic, Dr. Clementson spends her free time enjoying the outdoors at breweries, concerts, and sporting events. She lives in Columbia with her dog, Shiner, and cat, Amelia.

DR. BRIANA DAVIS

Dr. Briana Davis is a South Carolina native that is happy to be back in her home state. She graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, where she received awards in small animal care and large animal proficiency. Since earning her degree, Dr. Davis has been working primarily with dogs and cats, though she also has an interest in goats and horses.

Dr. Davis is excited to be joining Grace Animal Hospital. She enjoys the challenges of small animal medicine and surgery in helping promote pet health. She is a member of the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians and the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Davis resides in Saluda, where she shares her small farm with a menagerie of animals.

DR. RYAN K. DOVER

Dr. Ryan Dover is from Clinton, South Carolina, and attended undergraduate school at Presbyterian College, where he majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry. Following undergraduate school, Dr. Dover was employed as a veterinary technician at the Animal Emergency Clinic in Greenville, South Carolina. Dr. Ryan Dover graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

Following his time in Greenville, he was accepted into the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. As a UGA CVM student, he served as a senator for the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association, was an anatomy tutor for first-year veterinary students, and received multiple awards for small animal surgery, shelter medicine, and academic excellence. Dr. Ryan Dover graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Dover is passionate about small-animal medicine and orthopedic surgery and has published peer-reviewed scientific research papers in multiple veterinary journals. Dr. Dover is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians, and the Greater Columbia Association of Veterinarians.

While attending the University of Georgia, Dr. Dover completed a clinical externship at Grace Animal Hospital before enthusiastically joining the Grace family as an associate veterinarian. Dr. Dover and his wife, Sarah, are excited to be a new part of the Grace family and new residents of Lexington, SC. They moved to Lexington from Athens, Georgia, with their dog, Max, a Basset Hound/Walker mix.

DR. BAILEY ECHOLS

Dr. Bailey Echols is a graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, and she completed her clinical training at Kansas State University. Although she is originally from New York, Dr. Echols attended the University of South Carolina, where she received her bachelor’s degree in biology.

Dr. Echols grew up competing in conformation dog shows with her Dalmatians and this helped to spark her passion for animals. While attending veterinary school on the island of St. Kitts, Dr. Lyons served as an officer for the Veterinary Business Management Club and received the Simmons Educational Fund Business Aptitude Scholarship. She also received her Fear Free Certification during veterinary school. Dr. Echols is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians, and the Greater Columbia Association of Veterinarians. Dr. Echols resides right here in Lexington with her Dalmatians, Jackson and Lucy. She is happy to be back in South Carolina, where she can cheer on the gamecocks in person!

DR. HALEY HUNT

Dr. Haley Hunt is from Fayetteville, Georgia, and attended undergraduate school at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, where she majored in Business Administration Operations Management with a minor in Biology. After Graduation, Dr. Hunt attended St. George’s University College of Veterinary Medicine and moved to the Caribbean Island of Grenada.

During her time in school, she served on the board of the Veterinary Business Management Administration and volunteered in the research and monitoring of leatherback sea turtles. Dr. Hunt has a special interest in preventative medicine, ultrasonography as well as marine mammals.

She serves on the board of the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians and is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and Greater Columbia Association of Veterinarians.
Dr. Hunt lives here in Lexington with her two Australian Shepherds, Kona and Reef, and her cat, Soca.

Medical Director

Dr. Harris Jordan

Dr. Harris Jordan is from Sumter, SC. He completed his undergraduate degree from Clemson University. Following Clemson, he attended the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine where he received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. In his free time, he enjoys anything outdoors, from hunting and fishing to camping and hiking. Another favorite past time of his is spending time with his cat, Dewey, and his fiancé, Talia. The most important part of veterinary medicine for him is the human-animal bond, which was instilled in him by his grandfather, Dr. Harry Jordan DVM, and his family. Along with making sure animals are happy and healthy, he believes fostering an environment for the best possible human-animal bond between an owner and their pet is paramount. He looks forward to building that bond with everyone he works with.

DR. TIM LOONAM

Dr. Loonam loves all aspects of veterinary practice but especially enjoys dentistry, laser surgery, and client education during examinations. Dr. Loonam practices state-of-the-art pain management and anesthesia monitoring techniques and often teaches these topics at veterinary schools and veterinary professional meetings. He’s also our point of contact for pre-veterinary and veterinary students who want to complete their clinical training at Grace Animal Hospital.

Dr. Loonam, along with his wife Betsy, are the founders of Grace Animal Hospital and are very proud of the hospital’s reputation in the community and the culture they built within the staff. Dr. Loonam and Betsy live in Lexington and enjoy travel, gardening, fly fishing, and especially watching their grown children, Jack and Katie, in their careers and with their families. They have a Border Collie named Pete, who is obsessed with their three cats, Lulu, Lola, and Lilly.

DR. BAILEY PEDERSEN

Dr. Bailey Pedersen is from Edgefield, SC. She graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Animal and Veterinary Sciences. Afterward, she attended Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. During her time in veterinary school, Dr. Pedersen served on the board for the MSU chapter of the Student American Veterinary Medical Association and was an active member of a variety of student organizations and clubs.

Dr. Pedersen completed a clinical externship at Grace Animal Hospital during her fourth year of veterinary school, where she fell in love with the enthusiastic and caring environment. She is thrilled to be a part of the team. Dr. Pedersen’s special interests in veterinary medicine include feline-specific medicine, ophthalmology, and preventative medicine. She is passionate about cultivating relationships with clients and their pets and looks forward to working with owners to create the best treatment plans possible for their furry family members.

Outside of work, Dr. Pedersen enjoys cooking, travelling, and cheering on the Clemson Tigers. She also loves to spend time with her Springer Spaniel, Harper, and two cats, Mona and Scout.

DR. Ashlynn Turner

Dr. Ashlynn Turner has been a part of Grace Animal Hospital as a student since performing a summer internship here in 2011 during her college years. She graduated from Wofford College with a degree in Biology and completed veterinary school at the University of Georgia.

After graduation, Dr. Turner began her career in the US Army Veterinary Corps, serving in Bahrain and Japan. In this position, she loved the opportunity to treat service members’ pets and Military Working Dogs. Dr. Turner has now transitioned to the Reserves and is excited to be working at Grace again!

Dr. Turner enjoys helping families through urgent situations with their pets and has a special interest in behavior medicine. In her free time, you can find her at the CrossFit gym or spending time on the lake with her family.

Practice Management

Candace

Practice Manager

Candace has been a part of the Grace team since January of 2012. She came to Grace with eight years of veterinary experience focusing on companion animal health. She holds a degree in veterinary technology and is currently working towards her master’s in education and leadership. Prior to her role as Practice Manager at Grace she worked as the Lead Licensed Veterinary Technician in our hospital. She moved to her role as Practice Manger in 2020, being nominated for the role by our founders, Dr. Tim Loonam and previous Practice Manger, Betsy Loonam, she has continued to maintain and develop our core values at Grace and encourages the team to always be the best version of themselves. She has a passion for positive culture and teaching in the veterinary field and believes in maintaining a phenomenal work environment to allow our team to provide the best care and medicine available for our patients and clients alike. She holds certifications in RECOVER ALS and is an Elite Fear Free Professional. In her free time, she loves to travel with her family, paddle board, attend concerts, and tend to her herd of animals on her family farm. She is a massive Atlanta Braves fan, as she is an Atlanta native and can be found at Truist Park any chance she gets during baseball season.

Vicky

Associate Practice Manager

Vicky has been a part of the Grace CSR team since 2017 and serves as our Lead CSR. She was promoted to Associate Practice Manager in January 2023. She has been in the veterinary field for over 33 years. Vicky is passionate about the client experience at Grace and strives to ensure we continue to excel in communication and education for clients. She holds certifications in radiology and RECOVER BLS training and is a Level Two Fear Free Professional. She is the mom of two beautiful daughters and shares her home with her second Belgian Malinois named Presley (after Elvis, of course!), as this is her favorite dog breed. She also has two cats. In her spare time, she loves spending time with family and friends, cookouts, and cheering on her Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball team.

Our CSRs

Angela

Angela has been a part of the Grace CSR team since 2020. She is a Fear Free Certified Professional and is also RECOVER ALS certified. Angela’s favorite parts of veterinary medicine are meeting new people, educating clients on pet care, and seeing all the fur babies! She has been a resident of the Lexington area for over 20 years and has been married to her best friend for 27 years. She has three amazing kids, one grandchild (with number two on the way!), and a super spoiled pup named Dak. Angela enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending as much time with her family and granddaughter as possible.

Lead CSR

Ashley

Ashley has been a part of the Grace CSR team since early 2023 and has been in various roles in veterinary medicine for over nine years. She is an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional and RECOVER ALS certified. Her favorite part of veterinary medicine is communicating with patient families about their pet’s healthcare and needs. Ashley shares her home with five dogs, three cats, two rabbits, a parakeet, ten horses, and three goats! When she is not busy at Grace or working on her farm, she enjoys spending time with her family, fishing, hunting, and camping.

Billi

Billi has been a part of the Grace team since 2007. She has a B.A. in Psychology and was previously awarded South Carolina’s Veterinary Assistant of the Year. She now holds Level 2 Fear Free certification and RECOVER BLS certification. She currently serves on our CSR team, where she has found her passion for caring for clients, especially during their most difficult times. She also loves giving extra hugs and kisses to our hospitalized patients. Billi and her husband share their home with three dogs and four cats. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening and relaxing in her backyard swing, where she can watch birds and hummingbirds.

Cindy

Cindy has been a part of the Grace team since opening in 2006. She is a credentialed technician with over 30 years of experience in veterinary medicine. She is a Level 2 Fear Free Certified Professional, certified in RECOVER BLS, and holds The Human and Animal Bond certification. After years of serving Grace in the hospital setting, she moved to the CSR team in 2021. She has found her calling in helping clients through all aspects of their pet’s lives but is most passionate about puppies and behavior. Her favorite dog breed is the Great Dane—she shares her home with two. In her spare time, she loves all things flower-related and rock bands from the eighties.

Miranda

Miranda has been a part of the Grace CSR team since 2021. She is a Fear Free Certified Professional and has a special interest in the client experience, from when an appointment is made until the pets are back home and happy from their visit. Miranda and her husband share their home with two dogs, and they enjoy raising the cutest beagle puppies you’ve ever seen! In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors, shopping, and spending time with family and friends.