Our Staff 

Veterinarians 

Dr. Doug Ashburn 

Dr. Ashburn was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University where he earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Animal Science and Veterinary Science as well as his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. Prior to entering Veterinary School he studied for his Masters degree in animal nutrition. Upon graduation in 1981 he practiced in Tyler, Texas at Glenwood Animal Hospital, before taking a position with East Texas Veterinary Clinic in Lufkin in 1983.  He founded Southwood Drive Animal Clinic in 1988. He is active in civic and church organizations, having served as president of the Lufkin Host Lions Club, the Lufkin I.S.D. Board of Trustees and the Angelina A&M Club. He serves on the Angelina County Appraisal District Board and various other organizations and boards. Dr. Ashburn is a licensed private pilot and enjoys travel and woodworking in his free time.  He is also a collector of Lionel trains. Dr. Ashburn and his wife Susan have one grown daughter, Elyse. They share their home with their dog "Tess".   

Dr. Shawn Penn 

Dr. Penn, a Hudson native, worked at Southwood Drive Animal Clinic before receiving his veterinary license and coming to the practice as full-time veterinarian in 1999. As early as high school, Dr. Penn knew he wanted to practice veterinary medicine, and that goal took him down the road to College Station, home of Texas A&M University. Dr. Penn earned Bachelor of Science degrees from Texas A&M in Agricultural Economics and Veterinary Science in 1993 and 1997 respectively. He also chose to pursue his doctorate at his alma mater and graduated from veterinary school in 1999 with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. After leaving Texas A&M, Dr. Penn spent six months in Missouri and Illinois doing short-term veterinary work and then moved his family back to Hudson after taking a permanent position at Southwood Drive Animal Clinic. When Dr. Penn isn't practicing veterinary medicine, he can be found at home with his wife Stephanie and two young boys Wade and Ben. He is an active member of Timberland Church of Christ and is an avid duck-hunter and fisherman. Dr. Penn also spends his free time caring for his assortment of dogs, cats, horses and goats.  

Dr. Brian Barone 

Dr. Barone was born in Azle, TX, and grew up there on a small farm. He attended Tarleton State University where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science in 1999. He attended veterinary school and graduated from Texas A&M in 2004. After his graduation he moved to Jacksonville to practice at Jacksonville Animal Hospital. Dr. Barone started practicing at Southwood Drive Animal Clinic in October 2008.  His interests include hunting and gardening. He is an active member at church and enjoys spending time with his wife Shelly, his two young daughters Caroline and Corryne and son Corbin.   

Dr. Wendy Blount 

Dr. Blount has practiced companion animal internal medicine in East Texas since 1997. She completed a Residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine at Texas A&M from 1994-1997, and was in private practice (small animal) from the time of graduation from Texas A&M veterinary school (1992) until 1994. Dr. Blount enjoys practicing, consulting and teaching in the fields of small animal medicine, surgery, nutrition and herbal medicine. For short periods of time, she has served as volunteer veterinarian for the Houston Bureau of Animal Regulation and Control, Houston SPCA, Houston Humane Society, Austin SPCA, Nacogdoches County Humane Society and the Winnie Barry Humane Society in Lufkin.  Dr. Blount received the Texas Academy of Veterinary Practice Clinical Referral and Consultation Award in 2004, for contributions by providing consultation advice and referral services to veterinarians in the State of Texas. She received the TVMA Clinical Resident Award in 1997, for contributions to the veterinary profession through teaching, research and service. During her 4th year as a veterinary student, Dr. Blount received the TVMA Award of Merit, as Outstanding 4th Year Veterinary Student, as well as the Texas Kennel Club Award for proficiency in Small Animal Medicine.  Dr. Blount lives in Nacogdoches, with her human family, as well as 3 dogs, 3 cats, and 4 box turtles.  In addition to all things animal, her hobbies include gardening and back-country snowmobiling in the Utah Mountains. 

Management 

 Shelia McDonald

Shelia is a native of Hudson and currently resides there with her husband Joe and two beautiful daughters Gracie and Hanna. She and Joe are involved with Little Dribblers basketball and enjoy fishing, hunting and home remodeling in their free time. They share their home with three dogs and a cat.  

Reception

 Danielle Wallace 

Danielle was born and raised in Hudson, Texas.  She is a graduate of Hudson High School.  Danielle has one daughter named Mattison and a son named Lane.  She loves animals and would have a yard full if possible.   Danielle's hobbies include hunting, camping, swimming and being with all of her family.

Sue Risinger 

Sue was born and raised in Iowa, but lived in almost a dozen different locales from Japan to Beeville, Texas before settling in Lufkin. Sue, who worked as a Navy personnel clerk for 20 years, made her moves at the government's request. The highlight of Sue's storied Naval career was the ten years she spent as an enlisted classifier, the officer who interviews new recruits and matches them with jobs. During her time with the Navy, Sue developed many of the skills she uses in her current position. Sue, who owns two dogs and three cats, has always liked animals, and when she left the Navy, she took a job at the clinic where she could work more closely with man's four-legged friends. Outside the office, Sue enjoys spending time with her husband Ed and her adult children Patrick and Andrea Rambo. Sue still hasn't gotten travel out of her system and she vacations as often as work permits. She has collected over 1400 magnets from her various trips and also from friends and family who are eager to boost her collection.

Tammy Carlton

Tammy is a native East Texan.  She and her husband Sam have 3 beautiful chidren, Ben, Corey and Allison.  She attended Sam Houston State University and worked for 16 years as technician and hospital manager at East Texas Veterinary Clinic, before joining the staff of Southwood Drive in 2003.  When not working at the clinic she enjoys activities with her family and working on the family cattle ranch.

Kristi Geisler 

Kristie began working for Southwood Drive Animal Clinic in 1991, working in the kennel, as an assistant and finally as a receptionist.  She left in 1999 and moved to Houston and Florida, where she continued working for veterinarians. Since 2001 she has been involved in production work with many of the major national sports networks, ultimately becoming Senior Remote Unit Manager for the Golf Channel.  Kristie has had the opportunity to travel extensively in her television job and she and her husband, Dave, enjoy traveling in their free time.  She returned to Southwood Drive Animal Clinic in 2011 and continues to do some television work as opportunities present. She lives in Hudson with husband Dave and 2 Newfoundland dogs, Berna and Gunnarr and Pelatiah, a Warm blood mare. She enjoys photography and had 1 photo recognized by National Geographic in 2010.

Veterinary Technicians 

Kathleen Geye, RVT

Amanda McCray, RVT

Tiffany Revay

Tiffany was born in New Jersey, and grew up in Mansfield, Texas. While still in high school she interned at a small animal practice, and worked at an emergency veterinary hospital as a tech assistant. After graduating high school she moved back to New Jersey and attended Georgian Court University while working at a small animal clinic. Realizing the folks up north aren't as friendly as the folks down here in Texas, Tiffany settled in East Texas in 2004. She enjoys spending her free time with her family, her boyfriend, and her cats. Tiffany is currently pursuing her education, working towards a degree in business.