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 as a youth raising chickens, pigs, goats, and spending countless hours with his two 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.  

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. She got her first horse, Flirt, when she was sixteen years old and still enjoys riding him. 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 was an active member of Grace Athens and worked with Chosen for Life Ministries while in Athens. She joined the Foothills team in 2019.

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
Integrative Veterinary Medical Institute
Reddick, FL

Membership:

> American Veterinary Medical Association
> American Association of Equine Practitioners

Support Staff

Megan Jornigan – Practice Manager	Katie Davis – Licensed Veterinary Technician
Makayla Campbell – Veterinary Assistant	Kendall Bumgarner – Veterinary Assistant
Dawn Cox – Customer Service Representative