By Leigh Ballard
Equine Veterinary Associates of Olive Branch, MS began operation August 1, 2011. The clinic is owned and operated by Charles Mercer, DVM, and Chara Short, DVM. Ashley Phelps, DVM is also a member of the veterinary team. All veterinarians were previously in practice with Mark Akin, DVM. The new business occupies the former Akin Equine Veterinary Services facilities at 6740 Center Hill Road in Olive Branch. MS, just one block off Goodman Road. All office staff of the former Akin clinic remain: Penny Stapp is secretary, and veterinary technicians are Brian Griffin and Ashley Elliott. Dr. Mercer’s wife, Christy, is office manager at the clinic.
The new clinic offers general equine practice, including reproductive services, lameness exams, dental services, and surgical services. In-house hospitalization, nutritional counseling, and routine herd maintenance are integral to the clinic’s offerings. Gastroscopy, used to diagnose gastric ulcers, and endoscopy, used to diagnose respiratory problems, are two other available services. The owners Dr. Mercer and Dr. Short are engaged in a new venture as partners in providing equine health care.
Dr. Charles Mercer graduated from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996. He has been a practicing veterinarian for 15 years, at Akin Equine and briefly in Hattiesburg, MS. Dr. Mercer comes from a farm background, and his interest has always been large animal medicine. He is an outdoorsman, hunting and fishing whenever time allows, and is an avid Mississippi State football fan, rarely missing a game.
“We are very appreciative to Mark for the opportunity to purchase the practice,” said Dr. Mercer. “He was great to work for, and we all gained a world of practical experience to go along with our formal education. There is a big difference between textbook knowledge and day-to-day application, and because of Mark, we have a strong practical foundation to use in our practice.”
Dr. Chara Short, currently in her seventh year of practice, graduated from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005. Upon graduation she began working at Akin Equine. Her introduction to professional practice was smooth since she had worked at the clinic during her high school and college years, so was completely familiar with the routine. “Mark and Charles have been both friends and mentors to me through the years, and they have helped make me who I am as a professional,” she said. Dr. Short’s long-term goal has been to operate her own clinic, so when Dr. Akin decided to relocate to Tupelo MS, she took advantage of the opportunity to partner with Dr. Mercer. “Charles and I have a similar approach to cases. Our personality traits help us work well together; we’re both calm and we don’t get nervous, so most horses don’t get worried.”
Dr. Short has a passion for horses. “Outside of working with horses every day, they are also my hobby,” she said. “I show hunter/jumpers when I have time, and I also ride often for pleasure. I’ve been showing since I was about 6 or 7 years old.”
Dr. Ashley Phelps, a native of Germantown, TN, is also a graduate of Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine. She is in her eighth year of practice, and came to Akin Equine immediately after graduation in 2004. Dr. Phelps also enjoys riding and showing horses in her spare time.
Equine Veterinary Associates strives to continue providing quality care for all horses, a standard that was set by Dr. Akin. The clinic is open 8-5 Monday through Friday. A veterinarian is on call for 24-hour emergency services, and ambulatory services are available. Farm calls are available by appointment.
Equine Veterinary Associates of Olive Branch, MS began operation August 1, 2011. The clinic is owned and operated by Charles Mercer, DVM, and Chara Short, DVM. Ashley Phelps, DVM is also a member of the veterinary team. All veterinarians were previously in practice with Mark Akin, DVM. The new business occupies the former Akin Equine Veterinary Services facilities at 6740 Center Hill Road in Olive Branch. MS, just one block off Goodman Road. All office staff of the former Akin clinic remain: Penny Stapp is secretary, and veterinary technicians are Brian Griffin and Ashley Elliott. Dr. Mercer’s wife, Christy, is office manager at the clinic.
The new clinic offers general equine practice, including reproductive services, lameness exams, dental services, and surgical services. In-house hospitalization, nutritional counseling, and routine herd maintenance are integral to the clinic’s offerings. Gastroscopy, used to diagnose gastric ulcers, and endoscopy, used to diagnose respiratory problems, are two other available services. The owners Dr. Mercer and Dr. Short are engaged in a new venture as partners in providing equine health care.
Dr. Charles Mercer graduated from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996. He has been a practicing veterinarian for 15 years, at Akin Equine and briefly in Hattiesburg, MS. Dr. Mercer comes from a farm background, and his interest has always been large animal medicine. He is an outdoorsman, hunting and fishing whenever time allows, and is an avid Mississippi State football fan, rarely missing a game.
“We are very appreciative to Mark for the opportunity to purchase the practice,” said Dr. Mercer. “He was great to work for, and we all gained a world of practical experience to go along with our formal education. There is a big difference between textbook knowledge and day-to-day application, and because of Mark, we have a strong practical foundation to use in our practice.”
Dr. Chara Short, currently in her seventh year of practice, graduated from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005. Upon graduation she began working at Akin Equine. Her introduction to professional practice was smooth since she had worked at the clinic during her high school and college years, so was completely familiar with the routine. “Mark and Charles have been both friends and mentors to me through the years, and they have helped make me who I am as a professional,” she said. Dr. Short’s long-term goal has been to operate her own clinic, so when Dr. Akin decided to relocate to Tupelo MS, she took advantage of the opportunity to partner with Dr. Mercer. “Charles and I have a similar approach to cases. Our personality traits help us work well together; we’re both calm and we don’t get nervous, so most horses don’t get worried.”
Dr. Short has a passion for horses. “Outside of working with horses every day, they are also my hobby,” she said. “I show hunter/jumpers when I have time, and I also ride often for pleasure. I’ve been showing since I was about 6 or 7 years old.”
Dr. Ashley Phelps, a native of Germantown, TN, is also a graduate of Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine. She is in her eighth year of practice, and came to Akin Equine immediately after graduation in 2004. Dr. Phelps also enjoys riding and showing horses in her spare time.
Equine Veterinary Associates strives to continue providing quality care for all horses, a standard that was set by Dr. Akin. The clinic is open 8-5 Monday through Friday. A veterinarian is on call for 24-hour emergency services, and ambulatory services are available. Farm calls are available by appointment.
