Meet the Veterinarians at
Collierville Pet Hospital
David H. Wright, DVM
Dr. David Wright has been practicing veterinary medicine for two decades. He got his start in the industry when he convinced his local veterinarian to give him a job taking care of the office grounds. “I was too young to get a job inside the vet’s office, but I talked the doctor into letting me mow the grass. I had to ride my bike and pull the mower behind me, but it was worth it. I’ve always wanted to become a vet and that was my start.” Dr. Wright went on to earn his DVM from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 1988. Today, he is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the Memphis/Shelby County Veterinary Medical Association (MSCVMA), and the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA). He lives with his wife, Paige; their five children; and their pets — Odie, a King Charles Spaniel; Goldbug, a Golden Retriever mix; and a lizard named Strangler.
James L. Murphy, DVM
Growing up on a farm inspired Dr. Jim Murphy to become a vet. “When I was a kid, our vet would come out to our farm in Hernando, MS. I thought it was the coolest job.” So he resolved to become a vet himself and earned his DVM from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999. Dr. Murphy is a member of the AVMA, TVMA, MSCVMA, and is the veterinary advisor to the Memphis Humane Society. He lives with his wife, Jennifer; his two daughters, Claire and Kate; and his pets, two Shih Tzus named Junie and Minnie; a Goldendoodle named Harper; and two cats, Sammy and Daisy.
Craig M. Grant, DVM
For Dr. Craig Grant, veterinarian medicine is a family affair. “My dad is a vet and I aspired to be one myself for most of my life.” Dr. Grant graduated from Mississippi State in 1998 and has been practicing veterinary medicine for over a decade. In addition to being a member of the AVMA, MSCVMA, and TVMA, he is the current chairman of the Memphis Area Vet Peer Review Committee. He enjoys fly-fishing, MSU sports, and spending time with his wife, Kristin; their daughter, Emma Catherine; their Golden Retriever, Jesse, adopted from the Memphis Area Golden Retriever Rescue; and their two Siamese mix cats, Tulip and Clyde.
Lee Ann Newman, DVM
As a child, Dr. Lee Ann Newman dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. As a college student, she earned a degree in journalism. However, it didn’t take her long to revisit her childhood dreams and change career paths. “I love animals and I love problem solving. For me, that equals veterinarian. I used to help my dad fix cars and airplanes, and now I get to do the same kind of ‘fix-it’ work, but with animals.” Dr. Newman earned her DVM from the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005. She is a member of the AVMA, MSCVMA, and TVMA. She and her husband, Richard, own a poodle named Poppy and a domestic short hair cat named Libby, a former stray that the couple adopted while living in Germany, where Dr. Newman’s husband was stationed.
Bart E. Madison, DVM
Dr. Bart Madison decided to become a vet when he was a teenager. “My family had pets and I was the one who took care of them. I decided all pets deserved the best possible care.” Dr. Madison graduated from Louisiana State University in 2003 and has been practicing veterinarian medicine ever since. He is a member of the AVMA, MSCVMA, TVMA, and he enjoys golf, exercise, and spending time with his pets. Dr. Madison and his wife, Kim, own two beagles, Baylor and Avery; a German Shorthaired Pointer, Sea Bass; and two cats, Kitty and Harley.
Karen E. Gant, DVM
When Dr. Karen Gant was nine years old, her family became the proud owners of an Australian Shepherd/English Shepherd mix puppy named Muffin. Karen went along to Muffin’s first vet visit and decided then and there on her future career. “Muffin lived to be 17 years old. He was alive when I graduated from vet school and achieved the goal that he inspired.” Karen earned her DVM from Mississippi State University in 1997. She is a member of AVMA, MSCVMA, and TVMA. She and her husband, Ron, have two wonderful sons, a tortoiseshell cat named Zuzu, and two dogs, Rascal and Chicken Nugget.
Claudia G. Mangum, DVM
Instead of the usual dog or cat, Dr. Claudia Mangum’s young years were filled with the care of a wide range of animals. “My grandfather had a small farm with horses, cows, dogs, and many other animals. I spent countless hours with him taking care of the animals, and those experiences inspired me to become a vet.” Dr. Mangum earned her DVM at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. She worked as an equine technician prior to beginning her veterinary practice. She is a member of AVMA, MSCVMA, TVMA, and Shelby County Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Magnum, her husband, Dennis, and their daughters live with their pets — a Schipperke named CC, a Golden Retriever named Roux, a Calico kitty named Smokey, three goldfish, one betta fish, two quarter horses named Rio and Grace, and Little Man, the pony.
Drew S. McWatters, DVM
During his freshman year at Auburn University, a part-time job inspired Dr. Drew McWatters to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. “I worked as an assistant in a veterinary clinic, and that’s when I decided I wanted to take care of animals as my profession.” Dr. McWatters earned his BS from Auburn in 2005 and went on to earn his DVM from the University of Tennessee in 2009. He is a member of the AVMA, MSCVMA, and TVMA. He and his wife, Carly, have an orange and white tabby cat called Aubie and a gray and white tabby called Emmie. The couple rescued their Golden Retriever, Brinkley, from the Memphis Area Golden Retriever Rescue.