Dr,
Gail Powell-Johnson was born in Miami, Florida and has lived
in the Atlanta area since 1981. She opened her referral ophthalmology
practice in Avondale Estates which provides care for a variety
of animals. She earned her BS in Animal Science and her DVM
from Tuskegee University, College of Veterinary Medicine.
Following a one-year clinical internship at the University
of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Powell-Johnson
entered a clinical residency in Comparative Ophthalmology,
which was completed in 1981. Being active in the community
is one of her passions. She belongs to several professional
organizations and has lectured across the country. Dr. Powell-Johnson has held several offices of the Greater Atlanta Veterinary
Medical Society, most recently Past-President. She has also been the exclusive
veterinary ophthalmic consultant for Zoo Atlanta for the
past 20 years and has served on the Board of Directors for
nine years. As both of Dr. Powell-Johnson’s
parents were educators, teaching is something that comes
naturally to her. She has held various faculty positions
at a variety of colleges including Oglethorpe University,
Clayton State and Georgia Perimeter College.
Dr Powell-Johnson lives in the Virginia-Highland area with her
husband, Sam. Her passions outside the clinic
include gardening, traveling and scuba diving.
With over twenty years of experience in clinical ophthalmology,
Dr Powell-Johnson still feels that her favorite aspect of
the profession is the day-to-day interaction with her patients
and their loving owners. She is fascinated with exploring
the human/animal bond and has been an animal lover from a
young age.
Vanessa is a native Georgian. She studies and plays classical
clarinet with community symphonic orchestras seasonally. Vanessa
enjoys educational television, outdoor activities, family gatherings
and intellectual debates. She is the youngest of three girls in
a family of six. Her own family includes four felines, two fish,
one turtle, and the occasional foundlings.
Learning while building experience, Vanessa began working at AVEC
in May 2004. Her responsibilities range from monitoring anesthesia
and assisting during surgery to answering the telephone and
generating referral letters. Aspiring to become more of an
asset in the veterinary field, she has pursued an interest
in the study of veterinary medicine. “Through my life I have
always had loving animals by my side to brave a world of experiences
with me. It sure feels nice to give back.”
Clay was born and raised on the Gulf coast of Florida in a rural area that has morphed into an upscale vacation spot for many Atlantans. From 1948 through 2005, her family owned and operated Murmuring Surf Cottages, a collection of beachfront cabins and apartments. Clay left Murmuring Surf to move to Tallahassee, Florida and acquire a BA in English and Government from Florida State University. She spent her senior year of college living and studying in London under the auspices of the FSU London Study Program and indulged her love of adventure by traveling around Europe on a very limited budget.
In 1980, Clay moved to midtown Atlanta, becoming one of a small group of dedicated urban renewalists who bucked the trend of fleeing the city and chose to settle in among the eclectic mix of folks who populated the intown neighborhoods. Before Piedmont Park was off limits to vehicular traffic, she and her Husky-Shepherd mix “Lazarus” used to brave the cars, the hustlers, and the drug dealers as they took their daily walk in the park.
A life-long animal lover, Clay has worked with pets in many capacities, including rescue, pet-sitting, and kennel management. Her current pets include “Snowman”, an Akita rescued from the Fulton County Animal Control facility and “Tater Tot”, a Pug who was a pet-sitting client until his owner offered to give him to Clay.
When not working at AVEC, Clay enjoys traveling, writing, urban walks, and helping folks simplify and organize their homes and their lives.
Clay