Our Team
Our Veterinary Team Monroe County Animal Hospital in Sweetwater, TN
Meet the Veterinarians & Team of Monroe County Animal Hospital! We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets!
We Look Forward To Meeting You
Phyllis Harrell, DVM
A member of the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association and American Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Harrell also serves the TN Department of Agriculture/TEMA 1st Responder to Agricultural Disasters and the Monroe County Board of Health.
The doctor and husband Charles have two daughters, Hannah and Haley, and one son, Matthew, and are members of the 1st United Methodist Church of Madisonville. Dr. Harrell’s favorite hobbies include dance, reading, camping, and watching the Atlanta Braves.
Erica Murphy, DVM
Dr. Murphy was wed in 2006 to Scott Murphy, who composes music for television “when he is not busy being the best husband and father in the world,” Dr. Murphy notes. In December 2013, they welcomed their daughter Eva into the world. Like most in her profession, Dr. Murphy’s pets were rescued, and include 4 cats named Sawyer, Yoda, Dylan, and Boots. Dr. Murphy and her family are members of Madisonville Presbyterian Church.
Professional travel leads Dr. Murphy to Zanzibar, Tanzania, on an exciting mission trip where she and her team spayed and neutered feral cats in Stone Town and went out in the “shambas” (countryside) to deworm and vaccinate cattle for foot and mouth disease. While she loves cooking and reading, her hobbies have evolved now that she has a child – playing with Eva is at the very top of her list of favorite activities.
Angela Barry, DVM
In addition to her children Jarrett and Kiley, Dr. Barry’s family includes 3 dogs, 2 cats, 4 horses, 2 rabbits, and a small flock of chickens. Dr. Barry is a member of the Ironsburg Methodist Church and has utilized her professional skills while traveling to areas in need through the Christian Veterinary Missions.
In her free time, Dr. Barry enjoys horseback riding, swimming, gardening, and reading.
Bryan Thomas Beason, DVM
In his goal to continually grow as a veterinarian, Dr. Beason consults with experts to stay knowledgeable in the latest veterinary treatment options and he follows animal studies that impact the care his clients receive. He is a licensed veterinarian in both Tennessee and Georgia.
Dr. Beason’s life is full of animals, at work and at home. With his wife Mia, he continues working on their fourth-generation family farm. In his spare time, he enjoys training for endurance events such as marathons, triathlons, and obstacle courses. Dr. Beason has a soft spot for youth and is often seen at local 4-H shows writing health certificates, helping children with their animals, and encouraging future generations of farmers.
Michelle Espy, DVM
Dr. Espy has several interests in the field of veterinary medicine. These include feline medicine, farm animal reproduction, and some species of exotic animal medicine. She is fear free certified and helps alleviate stress and anxiety that is related to veterinary visits, as much as possible. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, photography, reading books, watching football, and being by the water. She also has a new hobby of riding her motorcycle, where one day, she hopes to ride it through the curvy mountains on the Tail of the Dragon.
Chelsey Ward, DVM
Dr. Chelsey Ward spent most of her life growing up in the small town of Shelbyville, TN. During her middle school and high school years, she would volunteer with her local animal rescues to foster litters of orphaned kittens and puppies. Through this volunteer work, her love of working with and helping animals began. She went to the University of Tennessee for both her undergraduate and graduate curriculums. With the desire to help both people and their pets, she decided to take her education further and earn her Master’s in Public Health during her time in veterinary school. She graduated from UT’s College of Veterinary Medicine in May of 2023. After graduation, Dr. Ward and her husband packed up their cats, Georgia and Soto, and moved to Chattanooga where she began working as an associate veterinarian in a private small animal practice. After learning a tremendous amount in her first year out, she is joining the Monroe County team to grow herself as a small animal veterinarian even further!
Dr. Ward is truly passionate about providing the utmost care for her patients and taking the time to understand and address clients’ concerns. She is a true believer in the saying “it takes a village” and is always willing and eager to work with her fellow team members to solve even the most puzzling cases. While she enjoys continuing to learn and grow in this field, her greatest interests in veterinary medicine at this time are reproduction and ultrasonography.
When not spending time with her husband, Parker, or trying to train their new pup, Dr. Ward loves to thrift at local antique stores and KARMs, paint with watercolors, crochet small animals, and exercise. She hopes to explore even more hobbies like pottery making, pickleball, and gardening.
Makayla Wiley, DVM
Dr. Makayla Wiley, a native of Kosciusko, MS, discovered her passion for veterinary medicine early on by shadowing a local veterinarian after school and on weekends. This early exposure, combined with her participation in specialized summer enrichment programs, laid a solid foundation for her future in veterinary medicine.
Dr. Wiley pursued her undergraduate studies at Alcorn State University, earning dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Animal Science and Molecular Biology. While at Alcorn, Dr. Wiley worked as a research aide at the university’s small ruminant center and completed two summer research internships. These experiences fueled her interest in production animal medicine, solidifying her goal to become a mixed animal veterinarian.
In May 2024, Dr. Wiley earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. During her time at MSU, she held positions as a SAVMA Junior and Senior Delegate and served as a Zoetis Student Representative. Her commitment to community service was evident through her roles as a VetCamp counselor and VetAspire Coordinator. She also gained valuable experiences through various large and mixed animal externships that broadened her skill set in both small and large animal care.
Dr. Wiley is enthusiastic about advancing her career across multiple areas of veterinary practice and is dedicated to continual learning. Her professional interests include food animal medicine, soft tissue surgery, and small animal internal medicine. In her leisure time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and supporting her favorite sports teams. Dr. Wiley looks forward to exploring hiking trails and the scenic beauty of East Tennessee as she embarks on this new chapter of her professional journey.