Dr. Harrell is a native of Hot Springs, Arkansas. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and earned her veterinary degree at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1987. Her veterinary experience was honed in Hot Springs and in Kingsport TN before joining Monroe County Animal Hospital.

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.

Dr. Murphy’s connections to Monroe County Animal Hospital began while she was growing up in Madisonville; her interest in becoming a vet lead to her involvement in a summertime volunteer program at the Monroe County animal clinic, working under the mentorship of Dr. David Kefauver and Dr. Boyd Curtis, the latter now one of her partners at MCAH. She first met Dr. Richard Buchanan on a late-night call to the Heiskell family’s Laurel Brooke Farm for a c-section on one of their cows. Inspired by her positive experiences and the menagerie of critters she grew up with, Dr. Murphy completed her undergraduate degree in Animal Science at the University of Tennessee campuses in Martin and Knoxville. She graduated from the UT College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004 and is a member of the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association as well as the American Veterinary Association.

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.

Dr. Beason’s passion for animals started at a young age, growing up on his family farm with livestock and crops. He is a 2013 graduate of the University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine. During his studies, he gained specialized experience through internships in equine medicine in Washington State and in bovine medicine in Argentina. He also interned with a mobile practice specializing in large animal veterinary care, operated by Sweetwater veterinarian Dr. Hugh McCampbell. Dr. Beason eventually purchased this field service practice, and has owned and operated it as Beason’s Veterinary Service LLC for several years. As a veterinarian with Monroe County Animal Hospital, Dr. Beason enjoys utilizing his strong companion animal skills, the perfect accent to his large animal fieldwork.

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.

Dr. Michelle Espy is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2021. She always knew she wanted to be a veterinarian for companion animals. She found her love of working with farm animals while earning her bachelor’s degree in animal science, with a minor in wildlife science, at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Espy is originally from middle Tennessee, moved to Knoxville for her studies, and then moved to North Carolina in 2021 for the start of her career as a veterinarian. As of 2024, she has returned close to home to continue her career here with us. Her two cats, Boots and Nova, have been along for the journey. She fostered a few kitties while in North Carolina, and her cats have not enjoyed sharing the attention. Since she was little, she has always been an advocate for cats and would befriend multiple stray/feral kitties.

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.

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.