Middle River Veterinary Hospital

 


Dr. Kathryn Dobyns

Dr. Dobyns is our only full-time veterinarian.  She grew up in Frederick County, Maryland, where her parents still live.  She graduated from Middlebury College in 1990 with a degree in Biochemistry.  She worked for 1 year as a Chemist at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD, then entered the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.  After graduating from Cornell in 1995, Dr. Dobyns moved to Lexington, VA, where she worked as an Associate Veterinarian for 4 years.  She then worked as a relief Veterinarian in several practices throughout the Shenandoah Valley and Charlottesville areas.  In August of 2000, she made the leap to practice ownership, purchasing the Middle River Veterinary Hospital.
Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Dobyns enjoys many outdoor activities, including hiking, canoeing and camping.  She also plays violin with the Rockbridge Symphony and volunteers at Augusta Health and Western State Hospital with her therapy dog, Ripton and therapy cat, Spock. 
Dr. Dobyns serves on the Board of Directors of The Mosby Foundation and has previously served on the Board of Directors of Cats Cradle.  In November 2008 she adopted Hunter, a very energetic fluffy white mixed breed dog, in the hopes that he may someday be able to succeed Ripton as a therapy dog.  While Hunter's future as a therapy dog is still questionable, he is successfully competing in Rally Obedience and he is learning canine Agility.  Dr. Dobyns also shares her home with retired hospital kitty Weebles-Wobbles.