Meet Our Team!
We’ve been serving this amazing community since the 1960s, and we’ve only just begun.
Get to know our team!
We are solely dedicated to your pet’s care! We look forward to getting to know you, and we hope you’ll take the time to scroll down and get to know us.
Dr. Melissa Curry
Managing Veterinarian
Dr. Melissa Curry was born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, and wanted to become a veterinarian since she was a young girl. At the age of 14, she began working with a few different veterinarians in Greensboro and her dreams began to come true. She graduated from UNC Greensboro with a BA at the top of her class, summa cum laude, in 1992. She then went on to graduate from NC State College of Veterinary Medicine at the top of her class and again summa cum laude in 1996. Dr. Curry practiced in Charlotte, NC for 4 years in a small animal and exotic practice and then relocated to Florida in 1999. She practiced in the Tampa Bay Area for 21 years and won multiple awards for Medical Director of the Year before returning to her home state of NC in 2021 with her family. Dr. Curry grew up visiting the Hendersonville/Brevard area as a child as well as throughout her adult life and relocating to this area was another dream come true.
Dr. Curry enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine with special interests in dentistry, surgery, ophthalmology, and dermatology. With over 27 years in general practice, she has learned that the best quality patient care all starts with a thorough physical exam of the patient and excellent communication with our clients.
Dr. Curry spends her free time with 3 cats, 1 dog, and 6 beautiful backyard chickens. She enjoys taking art classes at the local community college when she is not hiking or kayaking.
Dr. Todd Blair
Veterinarian
Dr. Don Zehr
Founder
Dr. Zehr is a 1990 graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Medicine. He did undergraduate work at Eastern Mennonite University for two years, then earned a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and Avian Science at the University of Florida in 1984. In Baton Rouge, Dr. Zehr did two years of Master’s research developing vaccines and bacterins before entering veterinary school in 1986. Dr. Zehr and his wife, Heidi, moved to Hendersonville in 1990 and bought this hospital in 1994. He loves the variety of general practice and especially enjoys surgery, ophthalmology, oncology, and dermatology. Dr. Zehr is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association. Dr. Zehr and his wife, Heidi, have been married for over 35 years and have 3 great kids; one Wolfpack graduate, one UNC Tarheel graduate, and one Erskine Flying Fleet graduate. They have two dogs, Winston and Woody, and a cat named Jenga. They enjoy tennis, kayaking, fishing, and traveling.
Dr. Eli Layman
Veterinarian
At Colorado State University, she graduated Cum Laude and on the National Dean’s List with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Zoology in 2002. In 2003, she graduated at the top of her class with a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences. She then went on to complete her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 2007, with an additional certification in Laser Surgery.
While practicing medicine in Colorado she spent the next several years honing her skills in internal medicine and surgery, working with a wide variety of dogs and cats in various stages of health. During this time, she also broadened her expertise in a variety of exotic pets, including, small mammals, birds and reptiles. While Dr. Layman enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine, she holds special interests and expertise in soft tissue surgery, dentistry, preventive medicine and behavior issues. She also has a keen understanding of the necessity for nurturing the human-animal bond through open communication and enjoys sharing this knowledge with her patients and their owners.
When not practicing medicine, Dr. Layman enjoys spending time with her husband and their young son, a cats named Briggs, and a cattle dog named Banjo. Her favorite activities include biking, hiking, and relaxing next to a snuggly cat with a good book.
Amy
Amy joined the team after supervising in the public school system for 7 years. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Western Carolina University in May of 1997 and previously worked for HVH as a receptionist in 2003/2004. Amy is excited to be back in the veterinary field and enjoys working with such a great team of doctors and staff. She shares her home with her husband, two children, and two dogs named Piper and Snoop.
Christine
Client Service Representative
Christine has been with HVH since 1997. She thinks the best part of her job is being able to work closely with clients and being able to thoroughly understand their concerns about their pets. During her years at HVH, she has been able to watch pets grow from six weeks to their senior years. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her children and her dogs Rocco and Shadow.
Kourtney
Client Service Representative
Kourtney has been with Hendersonville Veterinary Hospital for almost 14 years. She really enjoys helping and interacting with clients and getting to see our patients grow through the years. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time outdoors working in her yard. She shares her home with her husband, son, 2 dogs (Thomas and Loki), and 2 cats (Freya and Evie).
Tonya
Registered Veterinary Technician
Tonya has worked with animals and animal rehabilitation since she was a child. She became professionally involved in veterinary medicine in 2000 while working on her undergraduate Biology degree, which she received from UNCA. She is a Cedar Valley College Veterinary Technology Program graduate and is a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) in North Carolina. She is a tier-one Fear Free Certified Professional and is looking forward to continuing her certification levels as the program allows. She is also a board member of the Blue Ridge Humane Society and a member of NAVTA and NCAVT. She strives to utilize her knowledge to educate our clients and community so they may give their four-legged family members the best medical care, leading to longer and happier lives. She and her husband and stepson share their home with their dog, Ripley, and Gamin, a Tuxedo Cat. When she is not pursuing veterinary excellence through education and practice, she enjoys cooking, reading, hiking the WNC mountains and streams, and socializing with her family and friends.
Isabella
Registered Veterinary Technician
Isabella has been in the veterinary field for four years. She is a graduate of the Veterinary Medical Technology program at Asheville Buncombe Technical College and recently became a Registered Veterinary Technician. She has now worked in veterinary medicine for 2 years. She enjoys providing quality patient care and being involved in surgical and dental procedures. She enjoys fostering animals, cooking, gardening, and hanging out with friends and family in her free time. She has two cats Odom and Versace.
Kelsey
Kelsey is one of our Registered Veterinary Technicians. She previously worked with Hendersonville Veterinary Hospital in 2016 as an assistant and returned in 2023 after working in emergency veterinary medicine. She has 14 years of experience and her passions are anesthesia and surgery. She loves developing connections with pet owners and patients and being able to educate and care for them. Kelsey is married and has 5 children, 1 dog, 3 cats, chickens, rabbits and a cow!!! In her free time, she enjoys farming, gardening, hiking, reading and baking.
Melissa
Kennel/Technician Assistant
Melissa began working for HVH in 1998. Her favorite thing about working here is seeing the great success when a sick patient is nurtured back to health. She enjoys getting to know the clients and working with a team that is close-knit. When Melissa is not at work, she spends her time caring for her children and enjoying the outdoors.
Debbie
Debbie earned her BS in elementary education and was a teacher for the majority of her career. After leaving the school system, she joined the veterinary field and has been a great addition to our team since she began here as an assistant in early 2023. Debbie really enjoys working with and helping animals. She loves learning new things and growing in her knowledge of the field. She lives in Henderson County with her three dogs; Noah, Zeus, and Chips; two cats; Piper and Domino; and her four rabbits; Duke, Jazzy, Marshmellow, and Bugsy. In her free time, Debbie enjoys swimming, painting, drawing, cross-stitching, and puzzles.
Mary
Mary earned a BS in Biology from UNCP and has been working in the veterinary field since 2021. She joined our team in June 2023, and we have enjoyed having her as a part of our clan. Mary enjoys making connections with clients and their pets and being able to make an impact in their lives. When she isn’t taking care of our patients, she enjoys spending her time reading, hiking, and swimming. She shares her home with her Calico cat, Scarlett, and black cat, Hiccup.
Ashley
Customer Service Representative
Ashley joined our team as a Customer Service Representative in 2023. She obtained an Associates in Science from Trident Technical College in North Charleston. She began her work in the veterinary field with us and she is really enjoying meeting our clients and patients while learning new things. She has a cat named Fat, and two dogs named Sara Belle and Sway Dean. In her free time, Ashley enjoys camping, fishing and target shooting.