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.

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, Tennessee, Dr. Rachel Buffkin, she grew up riding Quarter Horses and Tennessee Walking Horses. Dr. Bufkin completed her bachelor's in Animal Science with a minor in biology in 2008 from the University of Tennessee, and later earned her DVM from UT's College of Veterinary Medicine in May of 2012.
Prior to working with Pinnacle, Rachel completed a year-long internship with Hassinger Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in Aberdeen, North Carolina, where she had the opportunity to travel across the country practicing sports medicine and emergency medicine at horse shows. Rachel is an expert in equine lameness, sports medicine, emergency medicine, and reproductive health.

DVM - Equine Practitioner
Dr. Robin McClamroch
Originally from Knoxville, Dr. McClamroch completed her undergraduate degree in microbiology at the University of Tennessee and later earned her DVM from UT’s College of Veterinary Medicine. After an internship with Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, Dr. McClamroch brings her years of experience and expertise in equine internal medicine and dentistry to the team at Pinnacle.

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.

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.

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."