The BEST Veterinary Experience in Summerville

Dr. Elizabeth Wetzel was raised on a small hobby farm in the mountains of Van Lear, Kentucky. From a young age, she loved animals of all kinds, and a career working with them was inevitable. She attended Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky for her undergraduate studies, where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in veterinary science.

Dr. Wetzel then attended the Auburn University of College of Veterinary Medicine (War Eagle!) and graduated in 2018 with her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree. Her professional interests include canine reproduction, surgery, internal medicine, dermatology, and nutrition. She also truly enjoys client education- the more you know about your pet, the more likely the pet is to live a comfortable, happy, and healthy life.

Dr. Wetzel and her husband, Jon, are high school sweethearts, and as is typical for animal lovers, they have quite the menagerie. Their furry family consists of fur-children – Sebastian, a German Shepherd; Mavis, a German Shepherd; Gustave “Gus”, a French Bulldog; Maxine “Max”, a French Bulldog; Myrtle, a French Bulldog, and Rico and Chico, the chinchillas.

During her time at Auburn, Dr. Wetzel and her husband visited the Charleston area quite frequently. Because of the southern hospitality and small-town feel that became apparent in Charleston, Dr. Wetzel and Jon decided to make it their home in 2018.

In her spare time, Dr. Wetzel enjoys riding motorcycles, going to the beach, playing endless games of fetch with her dogs, fishing, and traveling. She is outgoing, and loves meeting new people. Dr. Wetzel cannot wait to partner with you in providing the best care possible for your furry family members as Brighton Animal Hospital’s veterinarian!

Dr. Josephine Oakley was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. It was here where she developed her love for animals and passion to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Dr. Oakley grew up spending a lot of time in the Charleston area visiting family and always knew she wanted to make it her home one day. Dr. Oakley graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and a minor in Spanish. From there, she attended the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine where she received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and graduated with honors. At the University of Florida, Dr. Oakley also obtained professional certificates in both Veterinary Business Management and Shelter Medicine.

Dr. Oakley’s professional interests include small animal surgery, client education, internal medicine, feline medicine, and working with clients and patients alike to manage chronic diseases. Dr. Oakley is Fear Free certified in shelter pets and companion animals, and is passionate about facilitating a veterinary visit free of fear, anxiety, and stress for both patients and owners.

In her free time, Dr. Oakley enjoys spending time in nature hiking and exploring, going to the beach, cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs, cooking, and spending time with her three cats (Winnie, Piglet, and Pooh). Dr. Oakley is so excited to join the Brighton Animal Hospital team and to meet you and your furry friends!

Dr. Kristin Jurgensen was born and raised in northwest Ohio. Ever since an early age, she knew she wanted to pursue the path of becoming a veterinarian. Dr. Jurgensen graduated from Taylor University earning a bachelor’s degree in biology with a concentration in animal science. From there, she attended The Ohio State University where she received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Jurgensen’s professional interests are in small animal dentistry, dermatology, and internal medicine. She loves building relationships with her clients, patients, and colleagues. Dr. Jurgensen is Fear Free certified for companion animals to provide the best in hospital experience for all her patients.

Outside the hospital, Dr. Jurgensen loves exploring Charleston with her husband Noah, and golden retriever, Walter. They love trying new restaurants, going on hikes, and relaxing at the beach.

Dr. Jordan’s passions in veterinary medicine include dentistry, imaging, internal medicine, emergency medicine, and geriatric care. The relationships she builds with her patients and clients is very important to her, and she believes in looking at the whole picture when it comes to figuring out what is best for your pet. She also loves to teach and educate if you desire to learn the details.

Dr. Jordan is originally from Spokane, Washington where she grew up participating in many outdoor activities and owned pets of all shapes, sizes, and textures. She studied at UC Davis, where she earned her bachelor’s degree. Dr. Jordan finished off her educational journey at Washington State University where she received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2022. Her adventure to the East Coast can be credited to her fiancé, Gage, and the Air Force. She is thankful for this, as she has truly come to love the weather, the food, and the people here in the Lowcountry!

In her free time, Dr. Jordan can be found enjoying the beach, playing fetch with her two labradors, looking for hiking trails, or exercising. She looks forward to serving you and your family in all your veterinary needs!

Kirsten was born and raised here in the Lowcountry. From an early age, she knew she wanted to work with animals. She started volunteering at her local SPCA when she was only 12 years old, and once she became old enough to work for them, they hired her on the spot. Working with animals has always been her passion, and she displays that with every patient she encounters.

Kirsten graduated from the Trident Technical College’s Veterinary Technology program in 2017. Shortly after that, she began working at another veterinary hospital, where she met Dr. Wetzel. They quickly formed a bond over their love of animals, and working together for the past two years has made them become a really strong team.

She lives with her 4 Corgis, Tator, Oliver, Pixie, and Poppy! She agrees she has a slight obsession with the breed. She looks forward to helping all of the animals in need. Come say, hi!

Bianca was originally born and raised in Manila, Philippines. At 11 years old, she moved to the United States to live here in the Lowcountry with her family. Even at a young age, Bianca was very interested in animals. She eventually fulfilled the dream when she started working in the veterinary field in 2015 and eventually graduated at Trident Technical College at 2018 to become a Licensed Veterinary Technician. In 2018, she met Dr. Wetzel at a previous hospital. They parted ways, but eventually found their way together again in 2021.

In her spare time, Bianca enjoys reading, playing video games, musical theater, doing arts and crafts, and cooking. She is also married to her college classmate and is a fur-momma to 2 Huskies and 2 cats.

Jess is originally from Pennsylvania but has been living in South Carolina for the past 14 days. Jess grew up on a dairy farm so her love for animals started very young. She has been in the veterinary field for 10 years and a licensed veterinary technician for 8 years. In her free time she enjoys baking sourdough items, puzzles, and being on the water with her husband. They often attend Georgia Bulldog football games and local breweries. The joys of her life and what make her feel complete are her two dogs Griz (Cattle dog – 12 years old) and Millie (Frenchie – 8 years old). Stop by and say hi to Jess!

Tori was born in Maryland, raised in Deleware and then moved down here to the lowcountry in 2016 due to being an Air Force brat. Tori has always had a love for animals ever since she was little. She graduated from Trident Technical College in 2023, receiving her associate degree in Veterinary Technology. While in school, she did her externship here at Brighton and after graduation stayed to join our team. Soon she’ll be taking State and National Board exams in order to be licensed.

She has a loving husky/lab mix named Sparky and a dachshund mix named Benji. She’s thrilled to be part of the fantastic team at Brighton and can’t wait to meet all of you!

Brianna grew up in a small town in Georgia, but moved to the coast for college. She graduated from Coastal Carolina University with a B.S. in Marine Science in 2017. After graduating, she completed an internship at the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Hospital. While working there, she joined Dr. Wetzel’s at another clinic and loved the team she had. Brianna made the move to Brighton in early 2021 to join this amazing team.

She is a wife to Cody and mama to daughter, Lylah. Together, they share Riley, their loved Boxer mix. She loves going to the beach and surrounding her daughter with her love for animals by visiting zoos, farms, and aquariums.

Chris has lived here in Summerville her entire life. She owns 5 beautiful fur babies. Hilda (Pitbull), Athena (Pitbull), Dumpling (exotic bulldog), Mochi (dapple Dachshund) and Oscar (Miniature Dachshund). She graduated from Ashley Ridge High School and looks forward to getting her technician license at Trident Tech. She started working with animals in 2020 at a boarding and grooming facility and her love for the field has grown ever since! Minus spending time with fur babies, she loves to bake and crochet. She is very excited to be a part of Brighton’s family and to say hello to all of you!

Ariel was born and raised in San Diego, California. Ariel made the move to the Low Country in 2017 with her husband and daughter. Ariel knew she had a passion for animals at a young age and even started working in kennels at 14. For 12 years she worked as a kennel tech and then assistant manager at a luxury boarding resort and daycare in San Diego. Since moving to the East Coast she jumped into the Vet Care scene. She worked first at a small veterinary practice learning about general practice and then spent a few years as a surgical assistant at a shelter learning the ins and outs of shelter veterinary medicine. Ariel is excited to be back into general practice vet med and be part of the Brighton team. She also holds two degrees an AA and a BA in English Language Arts. In her free time she loves to hang out with her family, 2 dogs and cat.

Amy was born and raised in the low-country with her roots being in Ravenel, SC. She is currently a student at Trident Technical College to obtain her associates degree in Health Science for Veterinary Technology and is expected to graduate in 2026. She has had a passion for working with animals since she was a young child. She spent many years fostering for a local shelter and volunteered when able. She is married with four children, one grandbaby, three golden retrievers, one pit mix and several cats! She looks forward to meeting all of you!

Ashley grew up in West Michigan most of her life. While visiting her grandparents’ dairy farm every summer she developed a long lasting passion for animals. After high school she worked at John Ball Zoo for two summers and then decided pursuing a career in the veterinary field is what she wanted to do! In 2019 she had her first veterinary assistant position at a small animal practice. She and her husband then moved to the Northeast where she continued her career. They recently moved to the Charleston area in 2024. Ashley is currently enrolled in Penn Foster to further her education and knowledge. She also loves working with exotics and enjoys getting to know her clients and patients. She adores her furry crew at home as well! Luna the Border Collie, Rey Skywalker the Calico kitty, and Lemon Meringue the Leopard Gecko!! She is very excited to be here in the Lowcountry!

Becca, originally from Colorado, has been a veterinary assistant since 2021 and is passionate about providing compassionate care to pets and their families. She enjoys supporting the veterinary team in daily procedures and making visits as stress-free as possible for patients. Outside of work, Becca loves weight lifting and spending time with her family. She is also a devoted animal lover, caring for her two Great Danes, two Great Dane mixes, an English Mastiff, a Golden Retriever, a Shiba Inu, two shepherd mixes, four horses, and a donkey.

Dawn was born in Fairfax, VA and raised in Summerville, SC. With a career spanning over a decade, Dawn has been working with animals since 2013. Her journey in animal care has taken her across multiple states, including South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and Mississippi, giving her a diverse range of experiences and insights into veterinary practices. She loves her job because it allows her to meet wonderful people and fur babies and create lifelong relationships with them. Dawn has been happily married to her husband, Ray, since 2000 and proud parents of two sons – Ret, currently studying Wildlife and Fisheries Management at Mississippi State, and Reed, an English major at Clemson. She loves concerts, travelling, reading, and spending time with family and friends. She loves all furry friends, but especially Boston Terriers! She has 3 dogs – Bibi and Hampton are Boston Terriers, and Boss, her French Bulldog.

Alexis is a former veterinary assistant and lifelong animal lover! She is passionate about helping pets and their families every day as part of our client care team. She enjoys being part of a team that provides compassionate and high-quality medicine. At home, she has six dogs and two cats! In her free time, she enjoys taking all of her dogs for walks as well as pet sitting for friends and family.