The team at Pinnacle Equine Hospital brings years of experience and expertise.
OUR TEAM
The team at Pinnacle Equine Hospital brings years of experience and expertise.
We’re committed to the health and success of your horses.
At Pinnacle Equine Hospital, we believe in providing care that utilizes cutting edge technology with a medical team that understands the unique needs of your horse. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology in our premier facility, our experienced and knowledgable staff is equipped to provide care for the wide range of needs your horse may require.
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DVM - Equine Practitioner
Dr. Matt Paxton
Born and raised in Alcoa, Dr. Matt Paxton has lived in the Knoxville area his entire life and understands what it means to be from East Tennessee. After earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Dr. Paxton attended Ross University in St. Kitts for the first three years of veterinary school and completed his clinical rotations at Colorado State University.
Dr. Paxton quickly built up a reputation in the area for providing high-quality care and expert diagnosis and treatment of lameness. He provides dedicated medical and surgical care for all breeds and disciplines of horses, with a focus on sports medicine, performance management, and successful reproduction.
DVM - Equine Practitioner
Dr. Rachel Buffkin
Originally from Hendersonville, TN, Dr. Rachel Buffkin grew up riding Quarter Horses and Tennessee Walking Horses. She completed her Bachelor's in Animal Science with a minor in biology from the University of Tennessee. She then earned her DVM from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.
Prior to working with Pinnacle, Rachel completed an internship with Hassinger Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in Aberdeen, NC. This gave her the opportunity to travel across the country practicing both sports and emergency medicine at horse shows. Along with general health, she is skilled in practicing equine reproduction, sports medicine and lameness. When she is not working, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, camping, kayaking and trail riding.
DVM - Equine Practitioner
Dr. Robin McClamroch
Originally from Blacksburg, Virginia, Dr. McClamroch moved to the Greater Knoxville area when she was in high school. She completed her undergraduate degree in microbiology at the University of Tennessee and earned her DVM from UT’s College of Veterinary Medicine. After an internship with Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, Dr. McClamroch completed a residency in large animal internal medicine at New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She brings years of experience and expertise in equine internal medicine and dentistry to the Pinnacle team.
DVM - Equine Practitioner
Dr. Hannah Rahav
Born and raised in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona, Dr. Rahav grew up riding and showing American Saddlebreds. Dr. Rahav completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology at Arizona State University. She then went on to obtain her DVM at the University of Tennessee and has called East Tennessee her home since 2016.
DVM - Equine Practitioner
Dr. Lauren Canary
Dr. Lauren grew up in Salisbury, North Carolina, the home of "Cheerwine" soda. Horses were always her first love. However, she is also passionate about wildlife and avian medicine particularly birds of prey. She attended Lees McRae College and obtained a Bachelor's degree in both Wildlife Biology and Biomedical Science. She then pursued her DVM on the island of St. Kitts at Ross University and her clinical at the University of Tennessee. Outside of equine medicine, Lauren enjoys salsa dancing, acrobatics and spending time with her menagerie. She has two bengal cats, an island kitty, a ringneck dove and an Arabian gelding.
DVM - Equine Practitioner
Luis Atencio
Luis was born in Venezuela. He graduated from the University of Zulia Veterinary School in 2012. He is married to Leisy Vazquez and they have two children together. Luis enjoys spending time with family and working on horses.
DVM - Equine Practitioner
Leisy Vazquez
Leisy was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela. She graduated from the University of Zulia Veterinary School in 2010. Leisy joined the Pinnacle Equine team in 2017. She also works on animal research at the East Tennessee Clinical Research.
Veterinary Technician
Cat Anderson
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Cat has been a horse girl since she was very young. Starting at the age of nine, she has never turned down an equine-related opportunity. She obtained her Bachelor's in History from Maryville College. This experience provided Cat with ample connections to further expand her passion for horses through riding for the Maryville College equestrian team and other local professionals. When a veterinary assistant position opened up at Pinnacle, she couldn't turn it down. When she is not working or spending time with her own gelding, she is in the art studio painting-usually horses!
Veterinary Technician
Allie Simes
After acquiring an Equine Business Management degree from the College of Central Florida, Allie spent over 10 years managing and training upper level dressage horses. Her dedication to horses allowed opportunities in Ocala and Wellington, FL which then took her to Colorado for further training advancement. Allie brings several years of equine management and husbandry expertise to our practice. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her dogs, off-roading in her Jeep and camping.
Office Manager
Mary Beth Strobel
Mary Beth joined the Pinnacle team on March 1, 2016. She grew up in the West Knoxville area and still calls it home today. Mary Beth received her degree in Computer Accounting and brings many years of office and customer service experience with her. She enjoys learning new things every day from both colleagues and clients. In the words of Mark Twain, "find a job you enjoy doing and you will never have to work a day in your life."