Meet the Andrews Veterinarian Hospital Team
OUR OWNERS
Shanna Baker, DVM- Clinic Owner / Medical Director
Dr. Shanna Baker, an Eastern North Carolina native, has been a dedicated Western, NC community member for the past few years. With 24 years of veterinary experience in both large and small animal medicine, Dr. Baker is known for her exceptional work ethic and her unwavering commitment to helping animals and their owners. She is not your typical doctor—Dr. Baker works incredibly long hours, often going above and beyond to ensure that every patient receives the care they need. For her, being a veterinarian is not just a job; it’s a lifestyle and a calling.
Dr. Baker’s professional interests lie in internal medicine and diagnostics, where her problem-solving skills and attention to detail shine. She is passionate about preventative care, geriatric care, and hospice care, and she takes pride in helping her patients live their best lives. Her ability to connect with both pets and their owners has made her a trusted and respected veterinarian in the community.
Outside of work, Dr. Baker devotes her personal life to animals as well. She lives on a small farm with her wife and their diverse family of pets, including 3 French Bulldogs, 2 mixed-breed dogs, 3 cats, a large horse, 2 mini horses, 2 goats, and a variety of reptiles. Her love for animals is evident in every aspect of her life, and she is deeply committed to their care and well-being.
Dr. Baker has fully embraced the mountain lifestyle and enjoys spending her free time outdoors. She loves kayaking, gardening, and soaking up the sun, as well as exploring the natural beauty of Western North Carolina. Whether she’s out on the water or enjoying the trails, Dr. Baker finds joy and rejuvenation in the peacefulness of the mountains. Her tireless dedication, hard work ethic, and passion for animals make Dr. Baker an integral part of the AVH team. She is proud to call Andrews home and looks forward to continuing to serve the area with her expertise, compassion, and love for animals.
Leah Abrams- Clinic Owner / Registered Veterinary Technician
Leah grew up just over the mountains in a small town in East Tennessee. She attended Hiwassee College on a full basketball scholarship, graduating in 1997. She then continued her education at Tennessee Wesleyan University, earning her Bachelor of Science in 2000. Shortly after, Leah pursued her passion for veterinary medicine, obtaining her degree in Veterinary Technology from St. Petersburg College. Leah is a highly skilled Registered Veterinary Technician with over 20 years of experience in veterinary medicine. She has a special interest in behavior, dentistry, and hands-on nursing care, and she has completed her Fear Free certification, striving to make every visit less stressful for both pets and their owners. Her dedication to compassionate care is a cornerstone of her work. In 2014, Leah moved to Andrews, NC, after purchasing Andrews Veterinary Hospital (AVH), where she serves as the managing owner and Practice Manager. Her mission is to ensure that AVH remains the best veterinary hospital in the area, and she devotes herself to providing top-notch care to every patient and client. Leah lives in Murphy, NC, with her wife Christine, who also works at AVH, and their beloved crew of seven dogs and five cats, two of which are special needs. When not at work, Leah is an avid outdoors enthusiast and can often be found trail running, mountain biking, hiking, backpacking, or camping. A fun fact about Leah is that she’s a long-distance ultra runner—and by long-distance, we mean really long distances, anywhere from 25 to 100 miles at a time! She insists that running such extreme distances is fun and embraces the challenge wholeheartedly. If you’re out on the local trails, chances are you’ll spot Leah running, hiking, or biking with her wife Christine and their canine crew, which includes Eddie, the Walker Hound mix, and border collies Juneau and Journey. Leah’s passion for the outdoors and her dedication to animal care make her an integral part of the AVH team and community.
Our Associate Veterinarians
Taylor Martin, DVM / Veterinary Surgeon
Dr. Taylor Martin is a native of Chattanooga, TN. She graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. She is a fear-free certified professional and certified feline-friendly practitioner. Her goal is to provide your pet with excellent, low-stress care. Dr. Martin is a skilled veterinary surgeon and her professional interests include feline medicine and ophthalmology.
Dr. Martin is our resident “cat lady” and she is usually spotted wearing at least one item of cat-themed clothing or jewelry. Dr. Martin’s hobbies include competing in triathlons, running, biking, skiing, and exploring America’s national parks. If you have ever noticed what looks like two flashes of light or 2 comments flying down Main Street around lunchtime, chances are that it is Dr. Martin and our Practice Manager Leah forgoing their lunch break for a quick run.
When she is not working or working out, Dr. Martin enjoys spending time with her husband Eric (who is also a DVM) and twin stepdaughters. They have one dog, a lizard, and too many cats. Recently, Dr. Martin became an official Iron Man after competing in the Chattanooga, TN Iron Man.
Cynthia Post, BSc, MSc, DVM
Dr. Post, originally from Ontario, Canada moved to Cherokee County about 8 years ago after selling her veterinary practice. Dr. Post and her husband Jeff, like many of us fell in love with the area and decided it was the perfect place to call home and “retire.” Since “retiring”, Dr. Post has been working part-time at Andrews Veterinary Hospital for about 7 years now. We at AVH are so glad that Dr. Post does not seem to know what the word “retire” means and we don’t plan on ever telling her either.
Dr. Post and Jeff live in Robbinsville where they run a busy bed and breakfast. She has a passion for helping animals and is also a wildlife rehabilitator, specializing in opossums, and volunteers at the Wildlife Center in Asheville. She and her husband Jeff have a crew of canines and enjoy riding their motorcycles and hiking.
OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES
Amber
Meet Amber Harrell, one of the friendly faces you’ll see at Andrews Veterinary Hospital! Born and raised in Hayesville, NC, Amber has been working in the veterinary field since 2017, and she’s passionate about helping both pets and their people feel welcome and cared for.
Amber is the person behind the phones and the front desk, always ready to help you schedule appointments and make your visit as smooth as possible. Her friendly demeanor and love for animals make her a great fit for our team.
When she’s not at the clinic, Amber loves spending her time outdoors. Whether she’s kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, or hunting, she’s always up for an adventure. She’s also a lifelong Jeep enthusiast and loves hitting the road with her family. At home, Amber is a proud dog mom to three pups: Sequoia, her seizure-alert service dog, Luna, a spunky rat terrier, and Rubicon, a lovable pit mix. For Amber, life is all about family, her dogs, and enjoying the simple joys of the outdoors.
OUR VETERINARY ASSISTANTS
Beth
Beth has been working in the veterinary field since 1998, has 24 years of experience in veterinary medicine, and loves working with animals of all kinds. She is originally from Florida and moved here with her husband and son in 2008. She brings diversity to AVH as she is cross-trained in small animals, large animals, and exotic pets.
Beth resides in Andrews with her husband Adrian, son Jack, and their “small” menagerie of pets including 3 dogs, 3 cats, and an aquarium of community fish. Outside of work, Beth likes to spend time with her family, hike, fish, bike, read and garden.
Beth has been with us at AVH for 16 years and her skill, knowledge, and dedication are so greatly appreciated. Her nickname around the clinic is Beth the builder as she always takes charge of helping us fix lots of odds and ends.
Dillon
Dillon began his career in veterinary medicine in 2010 at the young age of 15, bringing over a decade of experience and passion to the field. While he’s often recognized as “the guy with the super cool car” (thanks to his head-turning Ford Bronco), there’s much more to Dillon than his love of vehicles. Originally from Florida, he has lived in several Southeastern states before settling in Western North Carolina, where he’s embraced the mountain lifestyle.
Dillon earned a degree from Haywood College in Natural Resource Management with a specialization in Forest Management Technologies, reflecting his deep love for the outdoors and nature. When he’s not working, Dillon enjoys spending quality time with his family, reading, hunting, and fishing. His appreciation for the natural world extends to his home life, where he cares for a unique and diverse group of pets: Fletcher, an African Grey Parrot; Freyja, his beloved Rottweiler; and Loki, his mischievous cat. Dillon’s dedication to animals, combined with his expertise and care, makes him a valued member of the AVH team. Whether he’s at work or enjoying the great outdoors, Dillon brings enthusiasm and knowledge to everything he does.
Christine (Chris)
Christine recently relocated to WNC from Knoxville TN. While originally from Philadelphia, PA, Christine has lived in the South since the age of seven, after her family relocated to TN. Christine graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2001 with a Master of Science after obtaining a Bachelor of Science with a dual major in Biology and Chemistry and a minor in Animal Science also from UTK. Following college, she spent 7 years teaching High School Advanced Placement and Honors Biology and then spent 15 years as a Realtor/Real Estate Broker. In 2020 Christine returned to her science roots and is currently enrolled at Penn Foster working on obtaining a Veterinary Technology Degree.
Christine has two adult daughters, Kylie (20) and Hannah (18) and her wife has a combined crew of 7 dogs and 6 cats. In her free time, Christine enjoys spending time outdoors, trail running, mountain biking, camping, backpacking, kayaking, and her newest addiction, tropical fish aquariums. Christine also has a special love of power tools and enjoys woodworking, building things, completing DIY projects, and repairing and fixing things. At AVH Christine works as a veterinary assistant as well as overseeing IT, marketing, and advertising. While she loves all animals, her favorite dog breed of all time is the border collie and has two of her own- Juneau and Journey.
Mincey
Mincey grew up in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, where her love for animals blossomed at an early age. While she adores animals of all shapes and sizes, she has a special fondness for big dogs.
Mincey is a vital part of our team at AVH, wearing multiple hats with ease. She originally joined us as a Veterinary Assistant but occasionally steps in to cover front desk receptionist shifts when needed, showcasing her flexibility and dedication. When Mincey isn’t working, she loves spending her time outdoors and working on projects involving motors. She also enjoys traveling and adventuring with her husband, Gage, and their two beloved dogs: Belair, a old heeler/hound mix, and Monte Carlo a Catahoula/Australian Shepherd/Hound mix, their newest furry addition. A true car enthusiast, Mincey and Gage named both dogs after two of their favorite classic cars. Belair keeps them entertained with her endless energy, whether she’s chasing her favorite toy tire or playfully herding their goats, while Monte Carlo is quickly becoming another cherished part of their adventures. If you’re ever looking for Mincey outside of work, you’ll likely find her soaking up the beauty of a mountain sunset with Gage, Belair, and Monte Carlo by her side, making the most of every moment in the great outdoors.