Our Team
Our team is here to help. At Appalachian Veterinary Services, we treat you and your pets like our family. Get to know our awesome team below!
Our Doctors
Dr. Alexandru Pop, DVM
President, Veterinarian
About Dr. Pop
Dr. Pop is a 2019 graduate from North Carolina State University and joined Appalachian Veterinary Services after practicing mixed, large animal medicine on the coast near Wilmington, NC. Dr. Pop’s family originally immigrated from Romania and settled down permanently in Fancy Gap, VA.
Dr. Pop’s interests within the medical field revolve around small ruminants and bovine medicine, focusing on start-up sustainable farming, and helping anyone feel confident in the world of animal husbandry. Dr. Pop is a car enthusiast in his free time and enjoys hiking, fishing, and spending time traveling and exploring new places with his girlfriend Mary and their pup Cali.
Learn more about Dr. Pop and his transition into Appalachian Veterinary Services in this letter to our clients!
Dr. Ashley Roberts, DVM
Senior Associate Veterinarian
About Dr. Roberts
Dr. Roberts grew up locally on a small farm in McCoy, Virginia, where her family had a small herd of commercial beef cattle and a private horse boarding facility. She was very active in both 4-H and FFA where she competed at local, state, and national events in livestock judging, horse judging, and Stockman’s contests. She also enjoyed exhibiting beef heifers and market lambs and caring for a variety of horses. Dr. Roberts completed her Bachelor’s Degree at Virginia Tech in animal & poultry sciences in 2011. She also received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in 2015.
Dr. Roberts enjoys working with pleasure horses, beef cattle, and small ruminants. She enjoys taking the extra time to educate clients to better the care and health of her patients. In her time away from work, she enjoys spending time with her family, Border Collies, and her Quarter Horse named Henry.
Dr. Sally Suttenfield, DVM, CCRP
Senior Associate Veterinarian, Rehabilitation Specialist
About Dr. Suttenfield
Dr. Suttenfield is a 1991 graduate of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and is a certified canine rehabilitationist and career small animal veterinarian. Dr. Suttenfield offers wellness exams, vaccinations, routine lab work, and ‘sick’ patient exams, as well as arthritis, chronic pain, and nutritional management, electrical stimulation for pain control, heat and cold therapy, therapeutic exercise programs to aid in recovery, neurological and post-surgical rehabilitation, therapeutic ultrasound, and water therapy with our state-of-the-art underwater treadmill.
Dr. Suttenfield also works with Sports Dog Assessment and Conditioning as well as Managing the Handicapped Dog.
Dr. Mara Jones, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
About Dr. Jones
Enthusiasm, positivity, and a dedication to excellence are what Dr. Mara Jones brings to Appalachian. Dr. Jones completed her Bachelor’s Degree in animal and veterinary sciences at Clemson University in 2017 and went on to complete her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University in 2021 with a mixed animal focus.
Dr. Jones’s passion for veterinary medicine stems from a lifelong desire to problem solve and a passion for communication and engaging others in learning. She enjoys all aspects of large animal field medicine and is excited to provide a high-quality, trustworthy service to all members of the community.
In her free time, Dr. Jones enjoys painting and drawing, cooking, playing outside with her dog Sunny, and working cattle with her husband Darius.
Our Support Staff
Kathy VanDyke
Front Office Manager
About Kathy
Kathy is a Virginia Tech graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in forestry & wildlife management. Her professional career took a turn after graduation when she joined her family business and spent her professional career overseeing the operations of a high tech manufacturing company. After several years of retirement, Kathy joined the Appalachian Veterinary Services team in 2011, and the rest is history!
When not at the clinic, Kathy enjoys life with family on a 20-acre horse farm with her Paint & Quarter Horses and Belted Galloway cow named Ellie, Akitas, Sookie & Magnum. She also enjoys bike riding with family and making stained glass for friends.
Chelsea Lang
Lead Veterinary Technician Assistant
About Chelsea
Chelsea joins the Appalachian team from Bristol, Virginia, and now resides in Belspring, VA, with her boyfriend Cody, their three cats (Zim, Wolfie, Poe), and blue heeler, Hopper. When Chelsea isn’t at work, you can find her hiking on a local trail or kayaking the New River.
Chelsea has worked with animals for almost two years, bringing her experience working in small animal emergency medicine in Blountville, TN. She has assisted in everything from surgeries to basic inpatient care and will be the cheerful smile that greets all of our patients and clients. Chelsea has always been on her toes regarding the health and well-being of animals. She can not wait to further develop her career here with us at Appalachian Veterinary Services.
Alyvia Shreiner
Large Animal Technician Assistant
About Alyvia
Bio coming soon!
Bekah Reed
Large Animal Technician Assistant
About Bekah
Bio coming soon!
Hannah Blanton
Community Engagement Coordinator
About Hannah
Hannah has worked in the veterinary field for nearly three years, but she has been around animals since her childhood. While Hannah started her role at Appalachian as a veterinary assistant, she has taken a more direct role with helping clients and coordinating events in our local community. Hannah is happiest when she gets to interact with our clients daily and ensures that all of their questions are answered, and needs are met. She is eager to grow her career at Appalachian Veterinary Services!
Mary Katherine Buchanan
Customer Service Representative
About Mary Katherine
Mary Katherine joins the Appalachian Team locally from Hiwassee, Virginia with her four cats, Ryah, Mimosa, Piper, and Frazier, her Dachshund Poodle mix, Humphrey, and her Rottweiler, Gypsy. When Mary Katherine isn’t working you can find her reading a book or walking along the trails with Gypsy and Humphrey. Mary Katherine has been working with animals for almost four years and her love for animals has flourished, and has decided to take the next step and is in school to acquire her Veterinary Technician license. She enjoys engaging with clients and getting to know their pets, she is always excited to answer any questions, and help our clients in any way she can!
Miranda Gregory
Customer Service Representative
About Miranda
Bio coming soon!