Dr. Andi Eways is the newest Associate Veterinarian with Riverbend Veterinary PetCare Hospital. Dr. Eways received her Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2018 from Florida Southern College and went on to receive her Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland in 2022. Her areas of professional interest include soft tissue surgery, neurology, and shelter/emergency medicine.
While Dr. Eways was still in high school, she began shadowing at her local animal hospital. Throughout her undergraduate degree, she was able to volunteer at SPCA as well as at a wolf sanctuary. Dr. Eways knew from a young age she wanted to work with animals, always wanting to rescue and help any stray she could. She loves building lasting relationships with clients and providing the best care possible for their pets.
Dr. Eways has been all over the map, and after moving from Pennsylvania to Scotland for her Veterinary Degree, she now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has settled in with her 4-year-old cat Atlas and her 5-month-old foster-fail kitten Taz (short for Tasmanian). When Dr. Eways has time outside of the practice, she loves to hike, read, try new restaurants, and of course, spend time with her friends and family.
Dr. Mark Epstein is a co-owner and Medical Director at TotalBond Veterinary Hospital at Forestbrook. Originally from Atlanta, GA, he graduated with honors in microbiology from North Carolina State University in 1981 and received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Georgia in 1985. He came to Gastonia to work at Forestbrook that same year and has called it home ever since. Continuing his training, Dr. Epstein became board-certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) in Canine and Feline Practice in 1993, and continues to be the only veterinarian with those credentials in Gaston County. He was re-certified in both 2003 and 2013.
He enjoys working with pets, their owners, and his team each day, and has a special interest in the field of pain management in animals. Pain management has been a focus of continued learning, so much so that he has been additionally certified by the American Academy of Pain Management as well as the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management as a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (CVPP). Having developed a high level of expertise in this area, he has been called upon to author book chapters and peer-reviewed veterinary journal articles, and is a widely sought-after national and international speaker on the recognition, prevention, and treatment of pain in dogs in cats. Additionally, he has participated in national and international veterinary professional leadership rolls, including serving as the president of ABVP and IVAPM, and served as a Chairman of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Senior Care Guidelines and Pain Management Guidelines Task Force.
Dr. Epstein's local professional accomplishments include assisting in the development of the Veterinary Emergency Clinic of Gaston County, and of the Gaston College Veterinary Technology Program, for which he received the honors of NC Veterinary Medical Association Presidential Award and the University of Georgia Young Achiever Award in 1995, and the Gaston Chamber Small Business Man of the Year award in 1996. He has contributed to pet-related articles appearing in local publications such as the Gaston Gazette, Gaston Lifestyle Magazine, and others. Other community leadership experience includes being the past president of the Gastonia Jaycees, United Arts Council, Temple Emanuel, and Gaston Dance Theatre. Additionally, he has served in leadership capacities with the local Chamber of Commerce, Gaston Festivals, United Way FEMA Board, the City of Gastonia Planning Commission, and the Gaston Interfaith Trialogue. Currently, he is a proud member of the Gastonia East Rotary.
His biggest blessing of all is to be married to his wife, Janet. They have four children, Chris, Jamie, Hannah, and Torrie, and a stable of animals including dogs, cats, a horse, two turtles, and some fish. His hobbies include soccer, hiking, and making this corner of the world a little better through interfaith dialogue. He has an interest in genealogy and has even co-authored a book about his family history called The Epsteins: Our Illustrated 300-year Journey from Lithuania to Pennsylvania and Beyond.
Dr. Dick Hay is the co-owner and Medical Director at TotalBond Veterinary Hospital at Davidson. He was born and raised in Toccoa, Georgia, a small town in the Northeast corner of the state, and obtained his BS from Davidson College in 1977. He spent his junior year of college studying in France and considers it one of his defining college and life experiences. He continued his studies by earning a Masters of Science degree in Comparative Physiology and spent two years as a research assistant in the Small Animal Medicine Department at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia. It was during his studies there that he fell in love with the profession and went on to obtain his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the same school in 1985. Dr. Hay became a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in 2000 as a specialist in canine and feline medicine and surgery. He has been certified in Acupuncture for 10+ years. He enjoys all aspects of general practice, especially the relationships between pets and their owners.
His wife Pam is a retired college professor at Davidson College and they have two adult children. Dr. Hay is active in several community organizations including the Davidson Housing Coalition and the Davidson Lands Conservancy. When not at work, his favorite pastimes are hiking and traveling.
Dr. Jodi Werfal Fort is a Veterinarian and Co-Owner, at New Hope Veterinary Hospital. Her interest in veterinary medicine began during a mentor program in high school and she went on to obtain a degree in Veterinary Technology in 1984. She graduated from Louisiana State University with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1991 and has been working with TotalBond Veterinary Hospitals. In 1994, she became the director of TotalBond Veterinary at Bethel, formerly Bethel Animal Health Care Hospital. Her professional area of interest includes all aspects of small animal surgery, internal medicine, geriatric care, pediatric medicine and laparoscopic surgery.
Dr. Werfal Fort enjoys being active in community projects and currently shares her home with her husband Greg, who is also a veterinarian. She has two daughters, Rachel and Kelly. In her spare time, Dr. Werfal Fort enjoys hiking, gardening, traveling, and tending to the family's menagerie of pets.
Dr. Wes Spangler is the Medical Director of Riverbend Veterinary PetCare Hospital, and co-owner and Medical Director of TotalBond Veterinary Hospital at Paw Creek and a Fear Free Certified veterinarian. He is originally from a small beef cattle farm in Southern Virginia and says that his time on the farm shaped his lifelong passion for animals. He completed he undergraduate work at Virginia Tech and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from The Ohio State University in 2017. Dr. Spangler moved to the Gastonia area following graduation where he spent two years at our Forestbrook location as an associate veterinarian before moving to Paw Creek. His professional interests include cardiology, oncology, and surgery, as well as providing understandable, yet thorough, client education.
Outside of the hospital, Wes spends much of his time outdoors hiking, biking, kayaking, and more with his newly adopted dog, Shadow. He enjoys watching and playing music, exploring the area with friends, and just relaxing with his cat, Rikku, while watching Game of Thrones.
Dr. Hadley Harris is a Veterinarian, Medical Director and Co-Owner at TotalBond Veterinary Hospital at Bethel. Originally from Rock Hill, SC, Dr. Harris grew up in a household full of animals and has been an animal lover since she was a small child. She graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Animal and Veterinary Sciences and was very active in the pre-veterinary programs. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine and performed a small animal rotating internship following graduation at a local referral and emergency hospital. She joined the TotalBond family in July 2015 and has loved every second of it.
At home Dr. Harris has two dogs, Paisley and Charlie, and two cats, Webster and noodle, all of whom are rescues. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, being outdoors, and spending time with her family and friends.
Dr. Isabel Plourde is a Veterinarian and Co-Owner at Riverbend Veterinary PetCare Hospital. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Anthropology from Kenyon College and graduated with her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2016. She joined the TotalBond team following graduation and spent her first year and a half rotating between the five locations. Now, Dr. Plourde primarily practices at our Lake Wylie, SC location. Her special interests include internal medicine and helping patients who have long-term conditions feel better on a day-to-day basis. She is trained to perform full abdominal ultrasounds, which aids her internal medicine interest. She works hard to keep your pet’s visit as low-stress as possible.
She shares her home in Charlotte with her husband, their new baby girl, and two dogs named Cash and Badu. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling. A fun fact about Dr. Plourde is that one of the experiences that influenced her decision to go into veterinary medicine was a semester spent abroad in Kenya studying wildlife management.
Dr. Áine Schanche is an Associate Veterinarian at TotalBond Veterinary Hospital at Davidson. Dr. Schanche earned her Bachelor of Science from Swarthmore College in 2016 and earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2020. Dr. Schanche then worked as an intern at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists in Rhode Island before switching her focus to small animal general practice and working at a hospital outside of Boston. She joined the TotalBond family in 2021, primarily working at the TotalBond at Bethel hospital. Her areas of professional interest include ultrasound, surgery, and preventative care. Dr. Schanche was inspired to join the veterinary field after spending several weeks shadowing mixed animal veterinarians in Ireland and falling in love with the unpredictable, rewarding field! According to Dr. Schanche, the best part about being a veterinarian is being able to educate clients on how they can help their pets live the healthiest lives!
Although Dr. Schanche grew up in northern New Jersey, her mother is from Ireland and her father is from Norway. Dr. Schanche keeps busy outside of work by playing with her 6-year-old standard schnauzer named Siggi and her corgi/mini aussie puppy named Suki. She also enjoys spending time with her family, eating good food, hiking, exercising, reading, and hanging out with her friends. She is a proud member of the TotalBond Team and cannot wait to meet everyone's fur babies!
Dr. Katie Adams Propst is an Associate Veterinarian at TotalBond Veterinary Hospital at Bethel. Dr. Propst earned her Bachelor of Science in Animal and Veterinary Sciences from Clemson University in 2008 and earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. Throughout her education, Dr. Propst worked with a variety of small animal and mixed animal practices. Her areas of professional interest include dentistry, soft tissue surgery, and reproduction. From a young age, Dr. Propst always knew she wanted to be a veterinarian.
When she was only five years old, Dr. Propst asked Santa for a pregnant goat, and she got one! After helping with the difficult delivery of a foal at just twelve years old, Dr. Propst affirmed that she truly did want to become a veterinarian one day. According to Dr. Propst, the best part about working in the veterinary field is building relationships with pets, clients, and staff and being able to help cure animals. Dr. Propst grew up in York County, South Carolina on a small horse farm. She now lives in Sharon with her husband, Dewayne, and their three rescue dogs, three domestic short-hair cats, fourteen horses, and a mini donkey. In her free time, Dr. Propst enjoys spending time with family, reading, fishing, and raising, breeding, riding, and showing her horses.
Dr. Peter Rowan is an Associate Veterinarian and Co-Owner, at New Hope Veterinary Hospital. He attended Clemson University and received his bachelor’s degree in 2017 and went on to complete his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University in 2021. While there, he also obtained a Graduate Business Minor in Health Sciences. Dr. Rowan grew up in Bethesda, MD, right outside of Washington, DC. He now shares his home in Mt. Holly, NC with Dr. Sara Toner and their 11-year-old Pitbull mix, Sydney.
Dr. Rowan’s passion for animals began at a young age and his first pet, a Leopard Gecko named Emmett, is still alive and now 23 years old! He volunteered at the National Zoo in Washington, DC and the Montgomery County Humane Society where he fostered 67 kittens over the course of seven years.While at Clemson, Dr. Rowan studied abroad in Sydney, Australia at the Randwick Equine Centre where he worked with racehorses. Dr. Rowan loves to travel, attend concerts and sporting events and spending time at the beach. He is especially very passionate about college football. He is a proud member of the TotalBond Team and cannot wait to meet everyone’s family members!
Dr. Luke Boliek was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. Growing up he had a love for science and animals and in high school researched and wrote a report on careers in animal care positions which led to his future in the veterinary world. Dr. Boliek received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a minor in Communication Studies from Davidson College. He even shadowed Dr. Hay at our Davidson location before heading to the University of Georgia to receive his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Boliek's areas of professional interest include preventative medicine, client education, dermatology, and acupuncture. He is Fear Free Certified and strives to give each animal a positive experience when coming to the hospital. Though Dr. Boliek does not currently have any pets, he loves little dogs, especially Shih Tzus. When Dr. Boliek is not taking care of animals, he loves going to the movies, reading, hiking, and trying new restaurants around Charlotte. Some fun facts about Dr. Boliek are that he was a NCAA Division I athlete in college for swimming, loves Mexican food, and loves Disney and Marvel movies.
Dr. Andi Eways is the newest Associate Veterinarian with TotalBond Veterinary Hospital at Paw Creek. Dr. Eways received her Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2018 from Florida Southern College and went on to receive her Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland in 2022. Her areas of professional interest include soft tissue surgery, neurology, and shelter/emergency medicine.
While Dr. Eways was still in high school, she began shadowing at her local animal hospital. Throughout her undergraduate degree, she was able to volunteer at SPCA as well as at a wolf sanctuary. Dr. Eways knew from a young age she wanted to work with animals, always wanting to rescue and help any stray she could. She loves building lasting relationships with clients and providing the best care possible for their pets.
Dr. Eways has been all over the map, and after moving from Pennsylvania to Scotland for her Veterinary Degree, she now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has settled in with her 4-year-old cat Atlas and her 5-month-old foster-fail kitten Taz (short for Tasmanian). When Dr. Eways has time outside of the practice, she loves to hike, read, try new restaurants, and of course, spend time with her friends and family.
Dr. Toner is the newest Associate Veterinarian at TotalBond Veterinary Hospital Forestbrook! Dr. Toner received her Bachelor of Science in Pre-Veterinary Medicine and Animal Biosciences from the University of Delaware in 2017 and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University in 2021. Her clinical training included rotations in oncology, neurology, behavior, shelter medicine, and surgery from the OSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Columbus Humane Society. Dr. Toner always had pets when she was growing up and they were an integral part of her family. Inspired by the strength of human/animal connection, Dr. Toner shadowed a local veterinarian in high school and continued to shadow throughout her undergraduate career until she became a veterinary assistant in 2016. Dr. Toner’s favorite part about working in the veterinary field is advocating for her patients who cannot speak for themselves and forming lasting bonds with patients, pet owners, and coworkers.
Dr. Toner grew up in Swedesboro, New Jersey with her parents and three older brothers, but recently relocated to Mount Holly, North Carolina with her boyfriend and their 10-year-old pit bull terrier mix named Sydney. In her free time, Dr. Toner enjoys baking, reading, kayaking, hiking, and travel. Some of her favorite places she has visited include Mexico, Italy, and New Zealand. Other than veterinary work, Dr. Toner’s passions include spending time with her family, especially her two nieces and her nephew. Dr. Toner loves Italian food and would love to hear your local recommendations!
Dr. Jaime Uren is the newest Associate Veterinarian with TotalBond Veterinary Hospital at Bethel. She received her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 2018 from Ohio State University, and went on to receive her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2022 from Purdue University. During her clinical year, she had the opportunity to do an externship with TotalBond at Forestbrook! She has a professional interest in internal medicine, animal behavior, and the human-animal bond.
Dr. Uren began working in the veterinary field in 2016 and shadowed veterinarians any chance she could. Her family dog, Tessa, was her inspiration for making veterinary medicine her career. Dr. Uren’s favorite part of the day is helping clients maintain the human-animal bond with their loved ones, by providing the best care she can.
Dr. Uren grew up outside of Ann Arbor, Michigan and recently made the move to sunny Charlotte, North Carolina. Having spent so much of her time fostering service dogs for 4 Paws for Ability, she hopes she can adopt her very own fur baby. While she loves her goats, a dog is most likely to be in her future soon! Outside of work, Dr. Uren enjoys baking, biking, reading, and of course spending time with her friends and family.
Dr. Emily Salmon received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2009. She continued her education at the University of Tennessee and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2017. After graduation, she moved to the Charlotte area to start her career and has been in general mixed animal practice for the last five years. Her professional interests include preventative care, ophthalmology, and internal medicine.
Dr. Salmon hails from Nashville, Tennessee where her family still resides. She loves the Charlotte area and has made it "home". She and her husband Stuart live in Rock Hill, SC with their two dogs (Remus, and Ginny) and three cats (Marge, Neville, and Mia). In her free time, Dr. Salmon enjoys camping, kayaking, crafting, and reading. She also loves Broadway theatre and attends regular events in Charlotte.
Dr. Kaitlyn Slump is the newest member of TotalBond's team. She completed both undergraduate and veterinary education at the University of Georgia, where she cultivated a deep understanding of animal care and welfare.
While at UGA, Dr. Slump served as President of the outreach program "Vets for Pets and People," an initiative that provided temporary foster care for pets belonging to individuals seeking shelter from domestic violence while also raising awareness among veterinarians and the community about the crucial connection between domestic violence and animal abuse.
Driven by this passion for education and community service, Dr. Slump is eager to contribute to similar initiatives in the Charlotte area, aiming to make a meaningful difference in both human and animal lives.
At home, Dr. Slump shares life with two cherished feline companions, Bear and Nash. Outside of veterinary medicine, she has a diverse range of interests, including traveling, college football, hiking, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Dr. Shauna Gross earned a Bachelor's degree in Natural Resource Ecology and Management from Oklahoma State University, with a focus on wildlife biology and pre-veterinary sciences. She then pursued her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in her home state at Iowa State University.
Prior to veterinary school, Dr. Gross gained valuable experience working as a veterinary technician at a small animal and exotics general practice in Oklahoma and completing an internship at a wildlife rehabilitation center. These experiences helped foster her passion for working with animals. Her professional interests include soft tissue surgery, preventative medicine, and ophthalmology.
Outside of practicing veterinary medicine, Dr. Gross plays on a Charlotte mixed ultimate frisbee club team, enjoys hiking, and is an avid reader. Dr. Gross and her husband share their home with two beloved pets: an English Setter named Cecil and a cat named Felix.
