Meet Our Team
Deborah Perzak, DVM
Dr. Perzak brings to her practice a lifetime love of animals, an appreciation of pet owners and a commitment to a meaningful relationship with them. Raised in Greenville, the Pennsylvania native’s road to graduating from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine is an interesting one. Following 15 years in the field of restaurant management, Perzak eventually realized that medicine was her calling. Having worked as a part-time veterinary assistant while an undergraduate student at the University of South Carolina, at age 32, Perzak made the decision to go to vet school and hasn’t looked back. She graduated in 2001, completed a one-year internship at Texas A&M University, and returned to the Upstate to work as an associate veterinarian.
Dr. Perzak purchased Woodruff Road Animal Hospital in 2008 and has relished the challenges and joys that come with owning her own business and successfully fulfilling the needs of her clients. Her veterinary interests include internal medicine, servicing the special needs of senior pets, dentistry, nutritional counseling, weight management and feline care. She shares her home with a number of furry felines and one beloved dog,
most of which come with a story or two as to how they ended up living with
a veterinarian!
Lynn Bowden, DVM
Dr. Lynn Bowden grew up in North Carolina, where she received her undergraduate degree in Zoology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1987 she graduated with honors from the North Carolina State School of Veterinary Medicine and practiced small animal medicine and surgery in Charlotte for the next 15 years. Since 2001, Dr. Bowden, her husband, two children and two dogs (Bonnie and Meg) have made their
home in the Upstate, where she has enjoyed serving families and their pets.
While Dr. Bowden enjoys the spontaneity and diversity of general small animal practice, her special passion lies in the area of dog and cat behavior. Many hours of advanced study have made her uniquely qualified to assist families with preventative behavioral wellness counseling and address existing serious behavioral concerns. Because our pets hold a place of great importance within the family, Dr. Bowden believes it is crucial to build a strong and healthy relationship with your pet from day one. She maintains that a collaborative effort among the owner, the professional staff and the pet is the finest way to achieve a wonderful and fulfilling relationship with a life-long companion.
Lauren W. Johnson, DVM
A native of Union, South Carolina, Dr. Johnson says she is a born animal-lover, and throughout her life has owned her fair share of pets! She worked as a veterinary assistant at Spartanburg Animal Clinic and the Veterinary Emergency Clinic of Spartanburg while completing her degree from Wofford College. It was that experience that led to the realization that veterinary medicine was the career for her, perfectly combining a love of people, animals and science.
In January 2003, Dr. Johnson moved to Grenada to attend St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine, in Grenada, West Indies. The following year she transferred to the University of Georgia School of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 2007.
Since that time Dr. Johnson has been practicing small animal medicine in the Upstate. She has a special interest in internal, avian and exotic medicine. Not suprisingly, Dr. Johnson and her husband have opened their home to several dogs and cats, and a thirty-year-old box turtle.
Becky Robinson – Office Manager/ Receptionist
Becky was born and raised in Marion, Indiana. She is a graduate of Ball State University with a major in Biology. She and her husband, Ken, are high school sweethearts, and have two daughters, Kyra and Kelsey. They have lived in South Carolina for 22 years.
Becky has always been involved with animals. She grew up on a farm and went into the veterinary field right after college. She has spent approximately 15 years working as a receptionist and/or veterinary assistant, taking some time off to raise her children. The Robinson household also has four pets: Poptart and Emmi, both dachshunds; Maggie, a miniature schnauzer; and Sassy, the snobby cat. Outside of work, Becky enjoys spending time with her family, reading, watching movies, and traveling.
She also enjoys Nascar, the Atlanta Braves, and the Indianapolis Colts.
Gypsy Patterson – Veterinary Assistant
Gypsy was born and raised in Simpsonville, South Carolina. She began working in a veterinarian’s office six years ago, beginning as a kennel assistant and moving up from there.
Gypsy has worked extensively training dogs since she was nine years old. At present, she competes in agility trials with her Australian shepherd, Dusty, and her miniature Doberman pinschers, Mo and Buzz. As often as she can, Gypsy teams up with her dog Dusty for pet therapy visits to Carolina Behavior Center.
To round out her menagerie, Gypsy also has 4 other dogs, 2 cats, and a bird. In her spare time Gypsy enjoys spending time with her husband, pets, and going to the lake.
Ashley Turner – Veterinary Technician
Ashley was born and raised in Greenville, SC, and currently lives in Simpsonville.
She has been fascinated by animals as far back as she can remember, and shares that cats, reptiles, birds, and sharks top her list of those most interesting to her.
Ashley has worked with animals for over ten years. She has worked as a veterinary technician for most of that time, and has stayed very busy with pet sitting clients over the years as well.
In her free time, Ashley loves spending time with her friends and listening to good music. Her favorite activites include running, group gym classes and mud runs. As a matter of fact, in September of 2009, Ashley participated in the USMC “Mud Run” , and she says that she ” absolutely had a blast”.
She admits to having a huge passion for good food, music and the great outdoors.
Cindy Cantrell, Receptionist
Cindy joined the WRAH team in the fall of 2010 following nine years at Greenville’s Animal Emergency Clinic. She has worked in a veterinary setting since 1997. According to Cindy, serving in this kind of environment is a perfect marriage of her two loves – animals and people. A native of Berea, Cindy’s first pet was a terrier mix named Frisky that she was often seen pushing around in her baby doll carriage as a child. Today, Cindy shares her home with eight cats and three dogs named Bradley, Aspen and Annie.
Katie Gutbrod, Veterinary Assistant
Katie joined the team at Woodruff Road Animal Hospital in August of 2010, having worked previously at another local vet. She is originally from Greenville, but lived in Texas until 1997 when she moved back to the Simpsonville area.
Katie is a graduate of J.L. Mann and the Greenville Tech Veterinary Assistant program. She and her husband, Mike, share their home with their dog Seda, a shepherd-lab mix, and their cat, Oscar.
In her time away from the clinic, Katie enjoys being outdoors, playing soccer, baking and spending time with her husband, family and friends.
Erin Bouchillon, Veterinary Technician
Erin joined the WRAH team in 2009 bringing with her over 10 years of experience as a veterinary technician. She is a gifted teacher and currently instructs students in both Veterinary Technology and Veterinary Assisting at Greenville Tech Community College. Erin has always enjoyed healthcare and says she believes being a Veterinary Tech allows her to perfectly combine that passion with her love of animals. Butter, a pet rat, heads up the loveable menagerie of two dogs, three cats, a snake, fish and guinea pig that resides with Erin, her husband and two children.
Kim Ashe, Veterinary Assistant
Kim was born in Dalton, Georgia, moved to Greenville at 2 years of age, and has worked at Woodruff Road Animal Hospital for 11 years. She works as a veterinary assistant and helps the receptionists when we are short staffed or busy.
In June of 2010, Kim married her long time boyfriend, Josh. In early 2010 they purchased their first home.
Kim and Josh live with a chihuahua mix named Ginger, a terrier mix named Wuzzy, a chihuahua mix named Dee and five cats named Clyde, Fuzz, Bixby, Buster and Belle.
In her spare time Kim enjoys going to the beach, relaxing with her husband, and spending time with her pets.
Scully – Staff Advisor
Scully is known as the offi cial greeter and timekeeper. She has never met a stranger and strives to stay right in the middle of all the excitement. As the day progresses, she becomes intensely interested in “helping” out the receptionist – perhaps it coincides with feeding time!
Andrew – Good Will Ambassador
Andrew is one of those cats you love the minute you meet him. He’s just so darned sweet, unassuming, easy going and handsome. And on top of that, he gets along well with most people, most cats, and, believe it or not, most dogs too!
Because he is such a versatile kind of guy, a “renaissance” cat, if you will, we decided to honor him with the title of “Good Will Ambassador” to the Woodruff Road Animal Hospital.
And….if you have already had the pleasure of meeting Andrew, you know that the title really suits him. He truly is a natural at “keeping the peace,” and he plays a huge part in making us smile every day.