ACADEMY EAST VETERINARY HOSPITAL - Key Persons
Dr. Ward has been working to keep pets healthy in the Triangle area for about 20 years, including being part of the team at Academy East since 2006, and through volunteer work for Operation Catnip and Second Chance Pet Adoptions. She completed a bachelor's degree at North Carolina State University (the third generation in her family to attend NCSU) and originally was a meeting planner and association manager, but finally worked up the courage to switch careers completely by going to vet school at NCSU. Her areas of interest include preventive care, geriatrics, and nutrition.
She shares a home in Harnett County with her husband, daughter, rescue dog, two cats, and several chickens. They enjoy outdoor activities together such as hiking, biking, camping, and boating.
Dr. Ashley Hampton was born and raised in beautiful Lewisburg, West Virginia. Her parents were avid dog breeders, starting with Dachshunds and later transitioning to Chow Chows. Dr. Hampton's mom used to joke that she was raised teething on dog tails. Her extensive work with her parents gave her so much exposure to the world of animal care that becoming a veterinarian rapidly developed into her life's goal. After many years of hard work, Dr. Hampton graduated from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999.
Dr. Hampton has enjoyed many years in private practice, working in both general day practices and emergency practices. Her emergency work was mostly in practices coupled with referral clinics which allowed her exposure to multiple specialists who helped grow her knowledge base and improve her skill level even further. Dr. Hampton began her veterinary career in North Carolina, but life choices eventually took her to Maryland and Virginia for many wonderful years. Still, her love of the south and the hope of raising her daughter in a progressive yet peaceful setting eventually drew her back to North Carolina and the lovely city of Apex. She has fallen in love with her new home, all the opportunities it has brought to her and her family, as well as the access it has granted them to beaches and lakes and mountain getaways!
Dr. Hampton is very dedicated to all aspects of veterinary medicine, but her most fervent interests include dermatology, senior pet care, and dentistry. She is fascinated by cardiac and abdominal ultrasound and is eager to further her training in this very needed area of expertise. She is a firm believer in being content with her career but always continuing to improve herself. To her, she will never be too old to learn and better who she is as both a doctor and a person.
Dr. Hampton is fortunate to be surrounded daily by her husband Matthew, her daughter Lila, her 4 dogs JoJo, Lola, Gryff, and Brooklyn, and her incredibly cute guinea pig named Chip. The family is currently toying with the idea of adding a feline friend to the pack and Lila is determined they should be proud owners of a rabbit (one that is preferably very large in size with floppy ears). In her downtime, Dr. Hampton loves to read, garden, hike, swim, and have plenty of couch time with her extremely snuggly dogs. And nothing beats chilly fall evenings sitting on the front porch and just letting life soak in.
Dr. Hampton is extremely excited to be joining the Academy East Veterinary Hospital team and anxious to meet all the wonderful and fascinating pets and people who help make our clinic great.
Dr. Slaughter joined our staff as a veterinarian in 2013. However, she previously worked at Academy East during high school, college, and veterinary school as a kennel and veterinary assistant. She is from Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, and graduated from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to veterinary school, Dr. Slaughter received a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences degree from North Carolina State University. Upon graduation from veterinary school, Dr. Slaughter completed an equine internship in New Hill, North Carolina.
Dr. Bray, originally from Sykesville, Maryland, joined us in 2009. She received her bachelor's degree in animal science from North Carolina State University in 1999. She then proceeded to work in embryologic research until deciding to fulfill her dream of Veterinary Medicine on the beautiful island of Grenada at St. Georges Veterinary School. After three years, she then proceeded to the University of Georgia Veterinary school for clinical training. She received her DVM in 2005. Since then she was an intern in private practice and then began working in both small and mixed animal practices until joining Academy East.
Dr. Bray lives in Apex with her husband and their three beautiful children along with several animal friends.
Dr.Rojas was born and raised in Costa Rica, attended the Universidad Nacional de Heredia receiving his Doctor in Veterinary Medicine Diploma in 1993. He practiced in small animas for 2 years then started working for Ralston Purina Company as a Pro Plan brand manager for Central America, during that time he obtained a Diploma in High Quality Management from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, as well as studies in Marketing and Business Administration. Also Dr.Rojas was actively working and supporting Police K9 units and Search and Rescue groups in the region. Bread and showed German Sheperds for 15 years.
He moved to Oakdale, California in March of 2005 with his wife and 3 kids. After completing an intensive program to validate his Veterinarian degree in the United States, he obtained his DVM license and practice in Modesto, California for over 13 years. In 2019 he obtained his North Carolina DVM license.
Dr.Rojas areas of interest include Internal Medicine, Emergency and Management. He recently relocated his family (proud husband and father of 4) to Apex, N.C