Our Doctors
Jim Adams, DVM
Dr. Jim Adams dreamed of being a veterinarian after reading James Herriot’s “All Creatures Great and Small” and is grateful now for the gift of serving the community as a veterinarian for over 38 years. His highest calling is helping people by caring for their animals.
Jim has deep roots in this area having been raised in Winston-Salem, N.C. and spending youthful summers on his extended family’s diversified farm in Russell County, Virginia.
Jim attended North Carolina State University where he was a member of the NC Fellows Leadership Development Program and was actively involved in student government. Most importantly, it was at NC State where he met his wonderful wife of over 40 years, Lisa.
He graduated from Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984, and then moved to Virginia and joined a large animal practice with a primary interest in bovine herd health. He joined Carroll Veterinary Clinic in 1986 and continued to work primarily with large animals for the next 20 years while developing his small animal skills in this rapidly growing mixed practice. He was a founding partner of Foothills Pet Healthcare Clinic in 2000 and continues to split his time between what are now two very busy companion animal practices. He currently serves as the medical director for both practices. His professional interests include internal medicine, endocrinology, dermatology, and emergency practice.
Jim and Lisa have lived in Galax Virginia for almost 40 years where Lisa operated her independent CPA practice until her recent retirement. They are avid outdoors people, enjoying hiking, road and mountain biking, alpine skiing, travel, and cooking together. Jim has a passion for mountain climbing in the Pacific Cascades with his adventurous friends and family. He has served for multiple terms on both the Galax School Board and the Galax Planning Commission.
Together, they pursue time with their grown children Kelsey (a school administrator in Henry County) and Charley (a tech executive in Charlottesville) and are so grateful for their son-in-law Johnny (a bank executive) and Aubrey (an educational software administrator). They are also delighted to enjoy time with their grandson, Wesley James, of Charlottesville.
Teresa (Fischer) McKenzie, DVM
Dr. McKenzie Knew she wanted to be a vet at 10 years of age when she was inspired by a veterinarian who saved the life of her family dog who had been hit by a car. Dr. Mckenzie also developed a passion for dairy cows while working on a dairy farm close to her home starting around the age of 13.
Pursuing her dream, Dr. McKenzie attended Cornell University and graduated in 1992 with a BS in animal science. She earned her DVM from the same university in 1996.
Dr. McKenzie began her professional career as a herd veterinarian for a dairy farm in upstate New York, where she provided care for over 10,000 Holstein cows. In May 1999, she began practicing with Carroll Veterinary Clinic and Foothills Pet Healthcare Clinic, where her current interests focus on small animal preventive medicine, internal medicine, and soft tissue surgery. Dr. Mckenzie appreciates the collaborative efforts with her colleagues and support team to provide the best care possible for our patients and their pet parents. She enjoys mentoring and encouraging all team members to advance their skills and pursue their interests.
When not practicing medicine, you can find Dr. McKenzie spending time with her husband Martin and their two teenage daughters. The McKenzie family has a passion for solving escape rooms together and has played almost 20 rooms in the past three years. In her free time, Dr. McKenzie enjoys crocheting, sewing, gardening, and traveling with her family from the beach to the mountains. She is also been a supportive “dance mom” to her daughters.
Dr. McKenzie and her family share a love of animals, especially boxers. They currently have two dogs-Leia, a 12-year-old boxer mix, and Rowan, a 4-year-old boxer. They have an 11/2-year-old cat named Stella who was an orphan that her oldest daughter bottle raised.
“The thing I like the most about my job is working with a dedicated team to help people and their pets. It’s very rewarding to help educate them on how to keep their pets healthy and make reasonable and humane decisions about their care.”
Dr. Readnour
Bio coming soon!
