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Our Veterinarians

Meet the folks who make it all happen. We see big potential in every moment, and care deeply about what we do every day.

Dr. John Houghton

Dr. John Houghton

Owner & Medical Director


Dr. John Houghton grew up on the coast of Maine, where he spent a lot of time milking cows on his father’s dairy farm. Those early experiences surrounded by cows, horses, pigs, dogs, and cats made one thing very clear to Dr. Houghton: he wanted to devote himself to the health and wellness of our animal companions. Now, his journey has come full-circle. Dr. Houghton is the Owner and Medical Director of Hambright Animal Hospital!

Dr. Houghton—often called “Dr. John” by his clients and staff—attended Cornell University to earn his undergraduate degree before earning his veterinary credentials from the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Next, he completed an internship at Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, advancing his own knowledge and skillset while helping to teach other veterinary students at the same time. It was also during this period that Dr. Houghton met and fell in love with his wife (a veterinarian herself!).

Dr. Houghton returned to his wife’s home state of North Carolina after graduating, settling in Huntersville in 2009. He served as an overnight emergency room doctor for two years, then worked in general practice in Charlotte for the next four years. It was then that Dr. Houghton decided to move ahead with his dream of practice ownership and launched Hambright Animal Hospital along with his partners. He’s been helping pets and animal owners here at the clinic ever since!

Medically, Dr. Houghton is fond of orthopedics, surgery, and emergency medicine. He also loves to connect one-on-one with his clients and patients, and enjoys helping pet owners to better understand and manage acute and chronic health problems that their pets may be dealing with.

When he’s not at work, Dr. Houghton can be found working out at Huntersville Family Fitness and Aquatics, running half-marathons, snow skiing (he raced in high school and college!), water skiing (since the NC season is longer for that activity), traveling, hiking, spending time on Lake Norman, or visiting with friends and family. He and his wife have an energetic dog named Jasmine and two lovely energetic toddlers, a girl named Addison, and son named Eli.


Dr. Marguerite Gleason

Dr. Marguerite Gleason

Veterinarian – Advanced Dentistry


Dr. Marguerite Gleason remembers telling her first grade teacher that she would one day become a veterinarian. That dream simply never wavered! Dr. Gleason feels grateful every day that she has the opportunity to help pets and their loving owners live better lives—she’s a proud member of the veterinary team here at Hambright Animal Hospital.

Dr. Gleason attended Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine to earn her Doctorate, then relocated to the Charlotte area where she has practiced since 2003. She’s owned several veterinary hospitals in the Carolinas and has focused on referral work and advanced dentistry, but also continues to practice general medicine and surgery because of her longtime love of those modalities.

For the past six years, Dr. Gleason has been active on the Board of Directors with the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association, serving as the Greater Charlotte Area representative. She’s proud to have been named the NCVMA’s Young Veterinarian of the Year in 2009, and was also recognized as the “Top Vet” in the field of small-animal dentistry by Charlotte magazine. Dr. Gleason has taught classes and lectured throughout the Carolinas, teaching other veterinarians and their teams how to improve the veterinary dental services they provide for their patients. Currently, she is pursuing membership as a fellow of the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry.

In her free time, Dr. Gleason enjoys being a mom to her two young sons, traveling, practicing her photography skills, eating exotic foods, and spending time outdoors. At home, she has four pets: a Golden Retriever named Maguire who is a Certified Therapy Dog, as well as three sweet indoor cats.


Dr. Melissa Schupp-Bonin

Dr. Melissa Schupp-Bonin

Associate Veterinarian


Dr. Melissa Schupp became a veterinarian for one simple reason: she’s always wanted to give pets the happy, healthy lives that they deserve. For her, making a difference in the lives of not only animals, but the people who love and care for them as well, is a dream come true!

Dr. Schupp is from Columbia, South Carolina and traveled the country for a number of years before attending the University of North Texas in Denton to earn her undergraduate degree. Next, she moved to College Station to earn her veterinary degree at Texas A&M University, where she met her husband. After graduating summa cum laude, Dr. Schupp launched her veterinary career and has been practicing since 2012.

Medically, Dr. Schupp enjoys critical care, surgery work, internal medicine, and preventative care. She takes great pleasure in getting to know her clients and developing deep relationships with their cherished pets that last for years. Dr. Schupp knows that the best veterinary care is all about that personal touch!

Dr. Schupp is happy to be living near her parents and sisters in the Charlotte area, and loves experiencing all that the city has to offer. She and her husband enjoy traveling, white-water kayaking, hiking and camping, gardening, cooking, trying new foods at local restaurants, and doting on their own pets at home. The family has five dogs: Sierra, Dot, Bishop, Bandit, and Reno.


Dr. Myra Southwell

Dr. Myra Southwell

Associate Veterinarian


Animal care was a big part of Dr. Myra Southwell’s family life while growing up. She’s been caring for the earth’s creatures ever since she can remember! For Dr. Southwell, helping animals professionally as a veterinarian was simply a natural fit. She’s proud to now serve the pets and animal parents of the Charlotte area here at Hambright Animal Hospital.

Dr. Southwell is from Currituck County in the northernmost portion of North Carolina’s beautiful Outer Banks. After graduating from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in 2005, she studied biochemistry at North Carolina State University, working in an immunogenetics research laboratory as an assistant during her studies. Dr. Southwell graduated as valedictorian of her class in 2009, then continued on to North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine to earn her Doctorate.

Around the hospital, Dr. Southwell enjoys surgery, dentistry, and feline medicine. She’s currently working toward becoming certified in veterinary acupuncture. Above all, Dr. Southwell likes meeting and greeting new pets and getting to know the animal parents of the Charlotte area.

Dr. Southwell is married to her high school crush, John, who works as an engineer. They have two precious cats, Sarabell and Bubbles, as well as a dog named Bell. When she’s not at work or doting on her own pets, Dr. Southwell enjoys traveling, reading about history, and spending time with her family and friends.


Dr. Tim Queeney

Dr. Tim Queeney

Associate Veterinarian


Dr. Tim Queeney grew up in Pembroke, Massachusetts, where he made an early foray into the field of animal medicine. An elementary school career project connected him with a local veterinary surgeon, who offered to introduce young Dr. Queeney to the operating room. Though the second-grader nearly passed out from seeing a real-life spleen, he was hooked right away! Dr. Queeney knew that he was destined to become a veterinarian himself.

Dr. Queeney left New England after high school, heading south to study neuroscience at the University of Miami and taking a job as a Veterinary Assistant at the same time. After graduation, he completed an internship at the Miami Seaquarium and worked closely with marine mammals. Next, Dr. Queeney attended veterinary school at the University of Florida in Gainesville, earning his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine as well as a Master’s degree in public health.

After his time in veterinary school—during which he adopted his beloved Catahoula Leopard dog, Lenny—Dr. Queeney moved to North Carolina and signed on at a small-animal practice. He would help pets there for the next four years before signing on with the Hambright Animal Hospital family. Dr. Queeney has special interests in soft-tissue surgery, dermatology, and infectious disease treatment. For him, the most rewarding part of every day is connecting personally with the area’s pet owners and helping their companions to feel better.

Dr. Queeney’s interests outside of work include cooking, working out, watching football, playing soccer, and hiking in the great outdoors. He’s hiked in some amazing locations across the country, including the Appalachian Trail, the White Mountain National Forest, and the Grand Canyon!


Dr. Jennifer Gregory

Dr. Jennifer Gregory

Associate Veterinarian


For as long as she can remember, Dr. Jennifer Gregory has wanted to help the earth’s creatures. Her first veterinary job at a small animal clinic in Indiana set the stage for her passions in dentistry and surgery—she hasn’t looked back since. Now, Dr. Gregory gets to use her skill set to make a difference every day. She’s a proud member of the veterinary team here at Hambright Animal Hospital!

Dr. Gregory was born in Connecticut but grew up in Speedway, Indiana. She fell in love with companion animals during her first job at a clinic in Avon and completed her undergraduate studies at Purdue University, where she spent many hours in the oncology and equine departments. Next, Dr. Gregory studied veterinary medicine at Ohio State University to earn her Doctorate, then moved to Springfield to launch her career as a veterinarian.

After shoveling more snow than she would have liked to, Dr. Gregory decided to make a change and moved to Huntersville, North Carolina. She’s been enjoying the sunny days and time spent at Lake Norman ever since! After practicing in Denver, North Carolina for a time, she accepted a job here at Hambright Animal Hospital in order to be closer to home and spend more time with her young son. Dr. Gregory couldn’t be happier to serve the pets and animal parents of the area as one of the clinic’s veterinarians.

In her time away from work, Dr. Gregory likes visiting the area’s wonderful beaches, crafting, hiking, and woodworking. She and her husband have a toddler at home and also share their lives with two pets: Suki, a cat who rules the house, and a loveable rabbit named S’more.


Dr. Aaron Patel

Dr. Aaron Patel

Associate Veterinarian


A passion for helping people and animals at the same time drove Dr. Patel to become a veterinarian. Growing up, he pursued and accomplished the ranks of Eagle Scout. This instilled in him the importance of service for others and having leadership in the community. That, along with the human-animal bond always meaning a great deal to him, made becoming a veterinarian the perfect fit.

When Dr. Patel was a senior in high school, he had the opportunity to scrub in at a local hospital on a C-section for a Yorkie. Seeing the doctor have the ability to help bring new life into the world, assist the mother in need, and bring gratitude to the client all at the same time truly inspired him. He would go on to become a two-time North Carolina State University graduate earning a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and a doctorate degree from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Prior to joining Hambright Animal Hospital, Dr. Patel practiced near his hometown in Carthage, NC. He then moved to Charlotte, NC, where he practiced in South Park for a couple of years. Professionally, he enjoys being able to help people and take care of their pets’ needs each day. While he appreciates all areas of general practice, he has a particular interest in general surgery, dentistry, diagnostic imaging and ophthalmology.

Outside of work, Dr. Patel enjoys staying active by traveling, hiking, running, working out and spending time on the water. He loves watching and playing many sports, including basketball, football, tennis and golf. So far, he’s checked several items off his bucket list, including hiking Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain in Peru, cage diving with great white sharks in South Africa, and working at a tiger refuge while studying abroad in India.


Dr. Berardi

Dr. Terra Berardi

Associate Veterinarian


Dr. Berardi attended the University of California, Davis, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Biology. While pursuing her undergraduate education, she expanded her passion by working with animals through scientific and medical perspectives. She worked in a lab, which provided her the experience and knowledge to publish research on salmonella in California Sea Lions. She worked in an animal blood bank, helping animals both donate and receive blood. She volunteered at wildlife rehabilitation centers, the Sacramento Zoo, and the California Raptor Center. These unique experiences gave Dr. Berardi a strong interest in medicine, which led her to veterinary school.

Dr. Berardi attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and completed her clinical rotations at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, she stayed in the midwest for a few years working in a small animal clinic. She quickly learned that the midwest weather was too cold for her California blood. She moved to Charlotte, North Carolina with her family (fiance, dog and cat) to be closer to her California family that had migrated to the Carolinas. She rescued and adopted two additional cats while working a few years in Denver, North Carolina. Dr. Berardi is excited to share her love for preventative care, education, surgery, and internal medicine to help the clients and patients of Hambright Animal Hospital.

When not working or playing with her fur babies, Dr. Berardi enjoys spending time outside, going to the movies, and working on home improvement projects.


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