About Us

Veterinarians

Justin S. Jornigan, DVM

Dr. Jornigan is originally from McDowell County and grew up in the Dysartsville community. His interest in veterinary medicine started in childhood, raising chickens, pigs, goats, and spending many hours with his horses. He spent many summers through school working with his mentor, Dr. Jeffrey Schutz, the founder of Foothills Mobile Veterinary Service. Throughout college, Dr. Jornigan worked on various farms and traveled the world working with different veterinary practices and the US Department of Agriculture.  In 2013, he became the sole owner of the practice.  The practice opened a haul-in clinic facility in 2020, and changed the business name to Foothills Large Animal Hospital.

Dr. Jornigan’s professional interests include equine podiatry, equine dentistry, surgery, ophthalmology, nutrition, and teaching.

Dr. Jornigan and his wife, Megan are both active members at First Baptist Church Marion. He has an interest in mission work and has served with Christian Veterinary Missions in the Navajo Nation, and with his church in Belize. When he is not seeing patients, he enjoys working on projects around the farm, hiking, playing piano, spending time with his wife and daughter, and any chance to vacation where he can scuba dive.

Bachelor of Science – Animal Science
Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC

Membership:

> American Veterinary Medical Association
> North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association
> American Association of Equine Practitioners
> American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners

Emily J. Barton, DVM, CVMMP

Dr. Barton is from Fayetteville, Georgia, but she grew up spending her summers riding horses at Taproots Farm in Old Fort, North Carolina. This sparked a lifelong passion for horses and riding. She went to Berry College in Rome, Georgia for her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science with a Chemistry and Dance Minor. While at Berry, she worked at the Berry College Dairy as a milker and shift leader as well as a research assistant. She was the Animal Science Representative for Berry College’s LifeReady Campaign. She graduated Summa Cum Laude.

Emily has interned and worked in multiple small animal and large animal clinics throughout college and veterinary school. She graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine and received awards in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery and Clinical Pathology. While at UGA, she was the treasurer of the student chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. She joined the Foothills team in 2019 and continues to put down roots within our community. She is an active member at First Baptist Church of Marion and shows her horses locally. Since joining our team, she has married her husband, Luke, and they have welcomed their first child, Valerie. 

Dr. Emily professional interests include preventative care, senior patients, and performance horse medicine. Additionally, Dr. Emily has a special interest in integrative veterinary medicine and performs veterinary medical manipulation and acupuncture for her patients. 

Bachelor of Science – Animal Science
Dance and Chemistry Minor
Berry College, Rome, GA

Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine
The University of Georgia
Athens, GA

Certified Veterinary Medical Manipulation Practitioner
Equine Acupuncture Training
Integrative Veterinary Medical Institute
Reddick, FL

Membership:

> American Veterinary Medical Association
> American Association of Equine Practitioners

L. Pate Pollard, DVM

Dr. Pate Pollard is a native of Burke county and grew up in Morganton, NC. His interest in veterinary medicine began at a young age through helping his dad and grandfather on their family cattle farm, raising Simmental-cross cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, quail, and pheasant. He began riding and showing quarter horses in western pleasure and working western divisions at a young age. He was also very active in 4-H and FFA throughout middle school and high school. Throughout high school and college Pate also served as the pianist for Mount Olive Baptist Church.
 
Pate completed his undergraduate degree in Animal Science at NC State University where he met his wife Savannah. During undergraduate, Pate participated on the NC State Horsebowl team and received multiple awards including Eastern National Reserve Individual Highpoint and American Quarter Horse Congress Grand Individual Highpoint. He also was an extremely active member of NCSU Animal Science Club and rode in horsemanship on the Western Riding Team at NC State. Throughout vet school, Pate participated in multiple clubs including Student Chapter of American Association of Bovine Practitioners, American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners, and was a member of bovine quiz-bowl and palpation teams. Additionally, he has spent many summers gaining experience working with his mentors Dr. Justin Jornigan and Dr. Emily Barton at Foothills Large Animal Hospital. In his free time, Pate enjoys running, weight lifting, cooking, reading, and playing piano. He also shares his father’s love for upland bird hunting with his gordon setter, Georgianna and English Setter, Potter.  

Bachelor of Science – Animal Science
Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC

Support Staff

Megan Jornigan – Practice ManagerKatie Davis – Licensed Veterinary Technician
Makayla Campbell – Veterinary AssistantKendall Bumgarner – Veterinary Assistant
Dawn Cox – Customer Service Representative
© 2024, Foothills Large Animal Hospital, PLLC.