Mark E. Epstein, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (Canine and Feline)

Dr. Epstein is originally from Atlanta, GA. He graduated with honors in microbiology from N.C. State University, 1981, and obtained his DVM from the University of Georgia in 1985. He continued his training and became certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (specialist in Canine and Feline Practice) in 1993, and re-certified in 2003. He enjoys the practice of veterinary medicine immensely, and is TBVH’s Medical Director. He counts among his strengths pain management and those problems of internal medicine, especially hormone disorders, therapy of cancer, cardiac disease, and infectious disease.

Dr Epstein enjoys geriatrics as a very special part of the practice, helping older pets to attain and maintain their best health and quality of life, and making peaceful and dignified end-of-life circumstances when that unfortunate time should occur; he has developed TBVH’s pet-loss support services to assist owners through that. Perhaps his greatest passion of all is the control and minimization of pain in pets, and has been recognized as a leader of implementing pain management systems in private practices (Advisory Board Chairman, IVAPM); he is also the President-elect of his national specialty board, ABVP, and will serve as its president in 2008-9. 

Some of his other local professional accomplishments include assisting in the development of the Veterinary Emergency Clinic of Gaston County in 1990, and of the Gaston College Veterinary Technology Program in 1995. His honors include the 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 in 1996. He serves his community often, having been past-president of the Gastonia Jaycees and the United Arts Council of Gaston County. He has serves on the Board of Trustees of the Gaston County Chamber of Commerce and Gaston Festivals, Inc. He is currently a member of Gaston East Rotary, and serves on the Board of Trustees of Temple Emanuel and as Chairman of the City of Gastonia Planning Commission.

He is married to Janet, who has blessed him with stepchildren and children Chris, Jamie, Hannah, and Torrie and cats Jupiter and Lennon and a dog Sterling, two red-eared sliders, Nancy and Medium Turtle (used to be Baby Turtle, but, you know, he grew), and  under great pressure from his daughters, now also claims Joey, a gentle Paint horse. His hobbies include soccer, hiking, camping, horseback riding, and reading. Dr. Epstein has been a regular columnist about pets and people in the Gaston Gazette.

Herrick R. (Dick) Hay, MS, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (canine/feline)

Dr. Hay was born and raised in Toccoa, Georgia, a small town in the northeast corner of the state. He was taught by example at a very early age to value education and service to his community by his mother (a high school math teacher) and by his father (a physician). Dr. Hay 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. After college, he continued his studies by earning a Masters of Science degree in Comparative Physiology and spending 2 more years as a research assistant at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in Athens. It was there that he fell in love with the profession and obtained his DVM 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 enjoys all aspects of general practice, especially the relationships between pets and their owners. His wife Pam is a college Biology professor and they have two wonderful children. In fact, parenting is his greatest extra-curricular thrill. He is active in several community organizations such as the Davidson Housing Coalition, Cub Scouts of America, and the Catawba and Davidson Lands Conservancies. When not at work, his favorite pastimes are hiking, training for triathlons, and playing with his children.

Dr. Jodi Werfal

Dr. Jodi Werfal began her interest in veterinary medicine through a mentor program in high school. She then went on to obtain a degree in Veterinary Technology in 1984. Her interest grew, and she decided to obtain her veterinary degree. Dr. Werfal graduated from Louisiana State University in 1991. Since that time, she has worked with Veterinary HealthCare Associates, and became the director of Bethel Animal HealthCare Hospital in 1994. Her special area of interest is in all aspects of small animal surgery, including laser surgery.

Dr. Werfal has always been active in community projects. At this time she is very active with Girl Scouting. She serves as the leader for both a Brownie troop and a Junior troop. She is active in her church serving as a leader with the children’s ministry. Her two daughters keep her busy going from one sports activity to another. Her husband Greg, who is also a veterinarian, manages the Gaston county emergency clinic. When away from the office, Dr. Werfal enjoys hiking, gardening, swimming and tending to the family menagerie of pets.

Dr. Gandara is a transplant from Georgia where she lived in the metro Atlanta area.  She received her bachelors in Business Administration at Georgia State University in 1987.  It was in the late 1990’s that she had the opportunity to pursue her childhood dream of being a veterinarian.  Dr. Gandara graduated from the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine in May 2004 and joined our team that same month.  Her special interests are nutrition, soft tissue surgery and internal medicine.  She sees patients mostly at Bethel and Forestbrook and helps out at our other hospitals.

Dr. Gandara has made herself at home here in the Carolinas.  She has a 10 acre ranch which her horses, dogs and cats call home.  In her free time she enjoys riding her horses at parks, working both outside on the pasture and inside her house, spending time with friends and traveling to foreign lands.

Dr. Natalie Bryant

Dr. Natalie Bryant is the newest clinical associate to join our staff.  From a young age, Dr. Bryant knew that veterinary medicine was the career for her.  After spending the formative years of her life in Wyoming and Utah, her family moved to Tennessee in 1992 where she has since not only acclimated to the southern way of life, but come to hold it dear.  She received a BS in Agriculture at the University of Tennessee at Martin, and in 2002 received her D.V.M. from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.  She worked for 4 years in private practice (about half that time in a feline-only clinic) before joining the TotalBond family in November 2006.  Dr. Bryant will be see patients primarily at both the Paw Creek and Mountain Island Lake clinics, but you may occasionally see her stepping in at other TotalBond hospitals as well. 

In veterinary medicine, her interests include feline medicine, endocrinology, preventative care, and soft tissue surgery.  She particularly enjoys taking part in the strong bond forged between clients and their pets.  Interests outside the office include acting in community theater and singing in her church choir.

Her husband, Jason, is studying to be a minister in the Presbyterian Church USA at Duke Divinity School in Durham.  Both  Dr. B and Jason are the in house servants to three spoiled cats named Maya, Phoebe, and Frankie.

Dr. Cory Ellis

Dr. Ellis grew up in the sleepy coastal town of Ocean Springs, MS, where he spent countless summer days exploring the barrier islands and all the wildlife that they harbored. Following high school, Dr. Ellis completed a two year commitment to Americorps NCCC (a domestic peace corps program), doing community service projects throughout the southeast United States. He then obtained his undergraduate degree in biology from the College of Charleston in South Carolina. While in school, he spent his summers employed by the Minnesota Conservation Corps working with youth in the wilderness of the great Northwoods. During the school year, he was a committed member of Charleston’s Habitat for Humanity team. Following graduation, Dr. Ellis and his newlywed wife left for the island of St. Kitts in the Caribbean, where he finished his pre-clinical studies at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Ellis completed his senior clinical year at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. His wonderful wife, Erica, is a schoolteacher at Tryon Hills Pre-K Center and Dr. Ellis is a very proud father to a beautiful little girl, Brinley. His cast of pets include Summerdale and Lilly Belle (both German Shorthaired Pointers) and Buddy (a mixed up pooch from the island of St. Kitts).

Dr. Ellis loves being a veterinarian! He believes that helping those that cannot help themselves is the most satisfying thing one can do with his life. He enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine, but has a special interest in surgery, anesthesia, and diagnostic imaging.

IN MEMORIUM:  Dr. Charles McLaughlin

Dr. Charles A. McLaughlin graduated from Montana State University (BS), Washington State University School of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), University of Wisconsin Medical School (Ph.D.), and St. Mary's University School of Business (MBA). Dr. McLaughlin served in the U.S. Army as a captain in the veterinary corps. He was a biological research scientist in the National Institutes of Health before becoming a venture capital manager, business advisor and entrepreneur. He joined TotalBond Veterinary Hospital, PC in 1999. His hobbies have included mountain climbing, painting, bird watching, and water sports.  Dr. McLaughlin passed away in November 2007, leaving TBVH, his friends, loved ones, and this world much too early; and his memory is a blessing.