About the Board

The West Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine was established by the West Virginia Legislature in 1915. The Board is the licensing and regulatory agency for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and animal euthanasia technicians in the State of West Virginia. The Board is also responsible for registering and inspecting veterinary and euthanasia facilities located in West Virginia.

The Board consists of six (6) licensed veterinarians, one (1) registered veterinary technician and two (2) citizen members appointed by the Governor.

Board Members and Staff

Please click here for Board members and Staff contact information

Board Members


Chairman
Dr. Keith Berkeley
Veterinarian Member
Ranson, WV

Dr. Berkeley is a 1984 graduate of Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama. He became a licensed veterinarian with the WV Board of Veterinarian Medicine in June 1985.  Dr. Berkeley owns Valley Equine Associates in Ranson, WV.  He is particularly interested in equine lameness.

Dr. Berkeley is a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Association of Bovine Practitioners, American Veterinary Medical Association and the West Virginia Veterinary Medical Association.  Dr. Berkeley is very involved in the community. He is a Rotary member and sits on the boards of Bank of Charles Town, WV University Hospital and Asbury Methodist Church.

Dr. Berkeley was appointed to the WV Board of Veterinary Medicine in 2014 as a Veterinarian member.  Dr. Berkeley and his wife, Laura, live on a farm outside of Ranson, WV and have two children.


Dr. Donna Piercy
Vice Chair
Lewisburg, WV

Dr. Donna Piercy of Lewisburg, WV, is a Greenbrier East High School graduate who received her Bachelor of Science Degree from West Virginia University and Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine Degree from the University of Georgia in 1985. She brings with her over 37 years of veterinary medical experience, which includes: small and large animal clinical practice, Medical Director of a multi-doctor small animal practice, and Managerial positions at corporations such as Hill’s Pet Nutrition, IDEXX Laboratories, Hartz Mountain, and PetsMart Veterinary Service—and consulting contracts across the United States on sales, management, and communication skills. Dr. Piercy has conducted workshops at various Veterinary and Veterinary Technician colleges and National and local veterinary conferences on communication/leadership skills, practice management, human resource issues, and coaching and mentoring challenges. In addition, she has written manuals and online training programs for organizations such as Cornerstone, AVMA (NCVEI), and several Veterinary Technician schools. Dr. Piercy’s focus is on communicating total pet care with an emphasis on preventative medicine to improve a pet’s quality of life.

Before her appointment to the WV Board of Veterinary Medicine in 2022 as a veterinarian member, Dr. Piercy is a past member of the Greenbrier County Board of Zoning and a current member of the AVMA. In addition, Piercy serves as the medical director at Greenbrier Veterinary Hospital (NVA) in Lewisburg, WV. Her only child is Kelby Seanor, a professional competitive shotgun shooter and a National Rifle Association employee that resides in Jacksonville Beach, FL.


Secretary - Treasurer
Ms. Monica R. Patton
Registered Veterinary Technician Member
Charleston, WV

Ms. Patton is a 1993 graduate of Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH.  She became a registered veterinary technician with the WV Board of Veterinarian Medicine in July 1995.

Ms. Patton is currently working at Animal Care Associates in Charleston, WV.  She has been involved in Carver Career Center Veterinary Technology Program since its inception and she began teaching in 2010.  She also has a strong interest in avian and exotic medicine.

Ms. Patton was appointed to the WV Board of Veterinary Medicine in 2014 as registered veterinary technician member.  Ms. Patton and her husband Jeffrey Patton, DVM live in Charleston, WV.


Dr. Mark Ayers
Veterinarian Member
Huntington, WV

Dr. Ayers is a 1979 graduate of Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine in Auburn, AL.  He became a licensed veterinarian with the WV Board of Veterinarian Medicine in January 1979.  Dr. Ayers founded Ayers Animal Hospital, Inc. in Huntington, WV, after purchasing the practice in 1983. He also owned Animal Care Clinic in Huntington, WV, from 1994-2012.

Because of his love of people, animals, and science, Dr. Ayers devoted his entire academic career and life to veterinary medicine.  Even now, after 37 years of private practice, Dr. Ayers still loves his profession as much as ever.  He strives to stay abreast with the latest developments in his field.  He has maintained a keen interest in dermatology, internal medicine, cardiology, ultrasonography, surgery, and radiology.

Dr. Ayers was appointed to the WV Board of Veterinary Medicine in 2014 as a Veterinarian member.  Dr. Ayers is also an ordained minister and is the pastor of the New Hope Worship Center, Nitro, WV. Dr. Ayers and his wife, Judy, live in Hurricane, WV and have three children.


Dr. Jesse A. Fallon
Veterinarian Member
Morgantown, WV

Dr. Fallon is a 2008 graduate of Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.  He became a licensed veterinarian with the WV Board of Veterinary Medicine in June 2009.  Dr. Fallon is a partner at Cheat Lake Animal Hospital in Morgantown, WV where he treats all species.

Dr. Fallon is also the Director of Veterinary Medicine for the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia and is the WV State Liaison for the Association of Avian Veterinarians. He is a frequent lecturer for WV University Departments of Animal and Nutrition Sciences and Wildlife and Fisheries, a mentor for students at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, and has published numerous peer reviewed articles and book chapters.

Dr. Fallon was appointed to the WV Board of Veterinary Medicine in December 2020 and he is honored to serve on the Board and strives to uphold its mission. Dr. Fallon lives in Morgantown with his wife, 3 daughters, dogs, chickens, horses, parrots, and fish.


Dr. Kay Gilpin
Veterinarian Member
Martinsburg, WV

Dr. Gilpin is the founder and past president of Shenandoah Veterinary Hospital. He graduated from St. Marys High School in 1965. He received a bachelor's degree in Animal Science from West Virginia University in 1969. He earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine from Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine in 1972.

Dr. Gilpin had been a past Board Member and past President of the West Virginia Veterinary Medical Association. He has also been a past Board Member and past President of the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Society. He is currently a member of the WVU Alumni Association, the OSU Alumni Society, American Veterinary Medicine Association, American Animal Hospital Association, WV Veterinary Medical Association, and the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Gilpin was reappointed to the WV Board of Veterinary Medicine in August 2022.  He has been awarded "Alumnus of the Year" for St. Mary’s High School and "Veterinarian of the Year" from the W.V. Veterinary Medical Association. He has also received the Ohio State University Veterinary medical Alumni recognition award. He is a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.

Dr. Gilpin has been married to wife Judy Sweeney Gilpin for over 40 years and has three children; Darin and Brian, who are also veterinarians at Shenandoah Veterinary Hospital, and daughter Julie Gilpin Stafford. He has 6 grandchildren.


Jo Allen Long
Lay Member
Williamsburg, WV

Ms. Long graduated from Concord College, Athens WV, and received a Master's degree in early childhood education from Radford University, Radford, VA.  She retired in 2015 after 39 years of teaching.

Ms. Long is an All-Star and has been a 4-H club leader for 31 years.  She is President of the Greenbrier 4-H Foundation.  She is also a member of the Board of Directors for the State Fair of WV and Greenbrier Valley Community Foundation.

Ms. Long was appointed to the WV Board of Veterinary Medicine in July 2017 and a lay member.  Ms. Long and her husband Charlie Long live on a beef farm near Williamsburg, WV and have 3 children.


Ms. Amy Meadows
Lay Member
Lewisburg, WV

Ms. Meadows is a graduate of the West Virginia Univerisity School of Pharmacy and worked as a community pharmacist.  Ms. Meadows is a member of the Old Stone Presbyterian Church, PEO Chapter O WV, and serves as a Read Aloud volunteer.

Ms. Meadows was appointed to the WV Board of Veterinary Medicine in 2016 as a Lay member.  Ms. Meadows and her husband, Michael, live in Lewisburg, WV and have two children.


Dr. Shawn D. Sette
Veterinarian Member
Hurricane, WV

Dr. Sette is a 1993 graduate of Ohio State University. He became a licensed veterinarian with the WV Board of Veterinary Medicine in June 1993.   Dr. Sette accepted a job at the Kanawha Valley Animal Emergency Clinic in South Charleston. This is where he met his wife, Jennifer. Five years later, in 1998, he and his wife bought Hurricane Animal Hospital where they both continue to work and expand.

Dr. Sette joined the WV Veterinary Medical Association and became a district representative for 2 years. He participated in the national AVMA on behalf of WV. He then moved into the President elect position for an additional 2 years and finally the President for 2 more years. Immediately after that, he assumed the position of Chairman for the WVVMA Foundation in order to raise donations for student scholarships. He was awarded WV Veterinarian of the Year in 2019.

Dr. Sette was appointed to the WV Board of Veterinary Medicine in December 2020 and he hopes to continue the Board’s good work. He, his wife, and 2 children are very active in the community. In addition, they host student interns from 3 veterinary schools and 2 technician schools in hopes of participating in their growth within the profession. In his spare time, he is an avid outdoorsman/hunter and participates in many wildlife conservation organizations.

 

Staff

Dawn Karnes, Inspector, - Pending Picture and Bio

Trish Holstein,
Executive Director

Ms. Holstein started working with the WV Board of Veterinary Medicine in January 2015 as the Executive Director. She has worked for the State of West Virginia since 2004, where she worked as the Executive Director “Executive Secretary” for the WV Board of Physical Therapy for 5 years. Ms. Holstein has over 20 years of administrative/management experience.

Brandi Legg, Secretary - Pending Picture and Bio

Organization Chart

Coming Soon.

Mission Statement

The West Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine protects the health, safety and welfare of the general public and animals of West Virginia through public education, enforcing licensing standards for veterinarians, registered veterinary technicians, certified animal euthanasia technicians and veterinary and euthanasia facilities.

Related Information

Forms & Documents

Links

AAVSB : American Association of Veterinary State Boards
Accredited Veterinary Colleges : American Association of Veterinary State Boards
Accredited Veterinary Technology Programs : American Association of Veterinary State Boards
Accredited Veterinary Technology Programs - Online : American Association of Veterinary State Boards
AVMA : American Veterinary Medical Association
DEA Controlled Substances List : American Veterinary Medical Association
FARB : Federation of Associations of Regulatory Boards
IELTS : For information about the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
NAVLE : National Board of Veterinary Examiners/North American Veterinary Licensing Exam
RACE Programs : National Board of Veterinary Examiners/North American Veterinary Licensing Exam
State of WV : West Virginia State Government Website
TOEFL : For information about the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
US Immigration Support : US Immigration Support
USDA : United States Department of Agriculture
WVALB : West Virginia Association of Licensing Boards
WVVMA : West Virginia Veterinary Medical Assocation
VTNE : West Virginia Veterinary Medical Assocation