Meet Our Talented, Compassionate Veterinary Staff
The best veterinary staff in Asheville.
Meet our Redwood vets and hospital staff.
Click each photo to learn more about our team.
Veterinary Philosophy
We work hard to be Asheville’s leading animal care provider. That means outfitting our clinic with cutting-edge technology and hiring smart, caring people to bring the furry members of your family the best care possible.
Local, loving care for your dog or cat in Asheville.
At Redwood Family Vet, you and your companion are our top priority. From same-day appointments to unhurried face time with your veterinarian, we care for the details just as we care for your pet. We thrive on wagging tails and smiling faces and treat every pet like one of our own. After all, your family is part of our family. Our clients love our convenient location, making us the best vet nearby. Find the service your pet needs, please call for pricing.
“We absolutely LOVE the staff at Redwood. Very nice, they take time and answer questions. Very affordable. Highly recommend!”
Dr. Melissa Hawkins
Chief of Staff
Dr. Melissa Hawkins is a 2005 graduate of Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Her love of animals was apparent as a child when she started training dogs with 4H. Her interest grew, and after going with her father to visit the vet with one of their injured dogs, she knew she wanted to be a veterinarian.
In 1998, she began volunteering at a veterinary hospital close to home in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She completed her prerequisite studies at MSU in 3 years and then started veterinary school immediately.
Since graduation, her career has taken her to practice in Pennsylvania, Texas, Indiana, and now Asheville, North Carolina. She has experience in both small animal general medicine as well as emergency medicine. She truly loves being a veterinarian and finds joy in fostering the bond between pets and their people.
When she’s not at work, you can usually find Dr. Hawkins enjoying the Blue Ridge Mountains on foot or by mountain bike with her husband, Nate, and their border terrier, Mac. The 3 of them are supervised at home by their 2 cats, Spooky and Stitch.
Dr. Amy Bertelli
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Bertelli has always wanted to be a veterinarian. She has a love of medicine and always has wanted to help others. After graduating with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, she pursued a one-year internship and then began practicing veterinary medicine.
Dr. Bertelli had been looking to find a place with a cooler climate and great outdoor activities. Asheville perfectly met her criteria! She packed up and moved to the area and has been loving it since!
Dr. Bertelli’s passions include geriatric medicine, internal medicine, preventative medicine, strengthening the human-animal bond, and client education. You can count on Dr. Bertelli to take her time with you and your pet. Her priority is making sure you understand a diagnosis/treatment and that you have the tools to make educated decisions. Dr. Bertelli makes an effort with every single patient to address fear and help them to feel comfortable during the visit to the hospital. Dr. Bertelli will always be an advocate for your pet and help you to give your pet a great quality of life.
Dr. Lauren Komanski
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Lauren Komanski was raised in Winston-Salem, NC. She attended Columbia University in NYC for her undergraduate degree and continued on to NC State University for veterinary school. She is currently in the process of completing a certificate in veterinary rehab and pain management from the University of Tennessee. Dr. Komanski’s special interests include pain management, GI disease, and dentistry. Dr. Komanski lives in Asheville with her husband, son, and two dogs. She enjoys cycling and was previously a professional cyclist and raced for the USA national team. Now in her free time, she is happiest exploring nature on a bike or foot with her family.
Bobbye H.
Client Services Representative
Chasity
Technician Assistant
Nikki W.
Client Service Representative & Social Media Coordinator
From childhood, I have always devoted my spare time to helping animals of many species and sizes. I take pride in being the voice for the unspeakable. I am currently enrolled in Penn Foster College, working on completing my Associate’s Degree to become a Veterinary Technician, which is my dream. My decision to get into the veterinary field had always been part of my bloodline. I grew up yearning to make a difference in an animal’s life. When I am away from the clinic, I can be found spending time with my husband, two kids, two dogs, and a cat. Spontaneous road trips, games, or movie nights are some of the highlights of family time. I enjoy our little adventures in the Blue Ridge mountains, like the Linville Caverns, hiking to waterfalls off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and also the Nantahala National Forest in Bryson City.
Amanda R.
Lead Surgery Technician
Amanda is a Mississippi native that moved to North Carolina in 2018. She received her Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Medical Technology from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Amanda brings to the table experience from several realms of veterinary medicine: laboratory animal medicine & research, surgery & anesthesia, and emergency & critical care. She has also worked in a teaching role for much of her time as a credentialed professional. She has instructed DVM and VMT students in both critical care nursing and anesthesia.
Amanda is most passionate about anesthesia and pain management. She has been lucky enough to anesthetize or assist with over 15 species of surgical patients. She loves to help veterinary staff conquer their fear of anesthesia by teaching about safe and effective monitoring as well as how to provide the best nursing care possible. Amanda is looking forward to working closely with FVG staff to make those involved with surgery more comfortable and confident in their skills.
Whitney Swaney
Assistant
Animals hold a big place in my heart. I have always devoted my spare time to helping animals of many species and sizes. I take pride in being the voice for the unspeakable. My decision to get into the veterinary field had always been part of my bloodline. I have always had the desire to make a difference in an animal’s life and become a Veterinary Tech.
When I am away from the clinic, I can be found spending time outdoors or camping with my family and my 5 dogs. I also own a cleaning company.
Cassie Johnson
Customer Service Representative
I have had a love for animals from a very young age when fell in love after being surprised with my first puppy! After many years of soul-searching, I decided that I wanted to use my love for animals in a positive way. At that point, I decided that working in the veterinary field and being able to help and love on all the fur babies was the place for me!
I enjoy spending my free time with my family as well as my 2-year-old Terrier mix named Lynnox. Outside of enjoying the company of my family, I enjoy watching a variety of sports such as football, basketball, baseball, and, my favorite of all, dirt track racing. During the spring and summer, I enjoy spending time at the lake or the pool! I also enjoy venturing and finding new places to visit locally that I have never been to before.