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.
Melissa Gambill
Dr. Melissa (Laws) Gambill was born and raised in Galax, VA. She began working in the veterinary field at the age of 13 as a veterinary assistant. She has always had a passion for agriculture and shared her family’s love for medicine. Veterinary medicine was the logical choice for a career that allowed her to pursue both. After graduating from Galax High School, she went on to complete her BS in Animal Science from Purdue University, while competing on Purdue’s Dairy Judging Team and working on dairy heifer and swine nutrition research projects. Dr. Gambill went on to graduate from Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine in 2015 with an emphasis in food animal medicine.
Dr. Gambill returned to this area and has been practicing predominately large animal medicine since. Dr. Gambill enjoys working with a team whose goal is to help others. She particularly enjoys preventative health care with an emphasis on the triad between human, animals, and their environment otherwise known as One Health.
When not practicing, Dr. Gambill spends time on the farm with her husband, Aaron and their two sons doing everything from gardening, playing in mud puddles, to helping raise beef cattle, hogs, and poultry in Sparta, NC.
Katie Condon
Dr. Condon grew up in Lake Forest, Illinois. She always had a passion for animals and knew she wanted to have a career working with them. Dr. Condon was recruited to to be on the cross country/ track and field team at Kansas State University were she completed her undergraduate degree. She decided stay at Kansas State for vet school were she was very involved in the emergency club and local rescue organization. Through fostering she found her dog, Lola.
Dr. Condon graduate vet school in May of 2024. She is excited to work at a busy practice with a very knowledgeable and supportive staff. She has a special interest in animal behavior, surgery and emergency medicine.
When she is not working Dr. Condon enjoys running, baking and reading. She is looking forward to exploring all the hiking trails in the area with Lola.
