Our Team
Dr. Andrew Empel | Medical Director
Dr. Empel was born and raised in Atlanta. He was inspired as a child to become a veterinarian by his father and his experience working at Vernon Woods Animal Hospital. Dr. Empel completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Florida in 1996 and graduated from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000, in July of the same year he joined his dad at Vernon Woods Animal Hospital. Since staring at Vernon Woods Animal Hospital, Dr. Empel and his father have opened North Springs Animal Clinic in 2005 and Brookhaven Animal Hospital in 2010. Dr. Empel has a special interest in dermatology, soft tissue surgery, and dentistry. He shares his home with his young son Brayden and their English Cream Retriever, Finley. Dr. Empel and Brayden enjoy bumming around the house, playing outside and generally just being together. Dr. Empel also enjoys boating, skiing, traveling, and attending sporting events in his free time.
Dr. Vivian Wen | MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Dr. Vivian Wen joined Vernon Woods Animal Hospital in July of 2011. She grew up in New York City and earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from New York University in 2006. Dr. Wen graduated from the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010. She went on to complete a one-year small animal rotating internship at Blue Pearl Georgia Veterinary Specialists in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Wen has special interests in veterinary animal behavior and surgery and is Fear Free™ certified to ensure a stress-free experience.
Apart from her work life, her interests include camping, hiking, and board games. Her personal goal is to try cuisine from all over the globe, one country at a time. When she returns home she loves to hang out with her family and with her cat, Macaroon and rambunctious pup, Marlo.
Dr. Miriam Renfroe | Associate Veterinarian
Originally from Alabama, Dr. Miriam Renfroe is a Veterinarian new to the Atlanta area. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science from Auburn University in 2012 and graduated from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine Magna Cum Laude in 2016. After practicing in Alabama for two years, she moved to Georgia to be closer to her family.
Dr. Renfroe loves all aspects of veterinary medicine, but her areas of special interest are ophthalmology and ultrasonography. She is also certified in the latest Fear Free™ techniques to help reduce anxiety during your pet's visit. Outside of work, you can find her spending time with her black Labrador, Dax, and hopes to have a horse one day.
Dr. Juliana E. Lee | Associate Veterinarian
Born in Annapolis, Maryland, Dr. Juliana Lee grew up in the rural area of Southern Maryland-- where she often expressed her interest in the biology of animals growing up.
Her passion sparked further in college, where she translated her love for biology and medicine into a profession by working at a veterinary clinic. She knew her destiny lay in small animal medicine. She received her Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Psychology from the University of Maryland College Park. Her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree was received from Virginia Tech. Dr. Lee is Fear Free™ certified, dedicated to providing a calm and stress-free experience for every pet.
Dr. Lee loves small animal general medicine and soft-tissue surgery so much, that she practiced nationally in places like Connecticut, Nashville, Boston, Baltimore, and Houston before settling in Atlanta. Particularly, Dr. Lee enjoys the constant learning offered every day and feels most fulfilled when educating clients about pet care and illnesses. She helps pass on her love for this profession and animals by mentoring employees, students, and interns.
Dr. Lee can be found traveling and experiencing new places and cultures when not practicing. She loves reading, cooking, boating, and solving escape rooms with her husband and three children. She has also volunteered at Houston Humane Society and Worl Vets in Nicaragua, performing spays and neuters while teaching veterinary students.
Dr. Antoinette Jones | Associate Veterinarian
Born and raised in the suburbs of Cleveland Ohio, Dr. Antoinnette Jones attended Ohio State University where she earned her Bachelor’s of Agriculture in Animal Sciences. Between finishing her undergraduate and enter vet school, Dr. Jones worked at a poultry company as an assistant production manager. She stayed with the company for a year before attending the Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine in the class of 2021. Double Buckeye! After graduating, Dr. Jones worked in the Columbus area doing small animal relief work before dedicating herself full-time to veterinary medicine for backyard poultry and small animals. In April of 2022, Dr. Jones joined Vernon Woods Animal Hospital. Additionally, Dr. Jones is Fear Free™ certified, making her an expert is stress-free methods to help reduce pet anxiety.
At home, Dr. Jones has one cat, the “Orange Menace,” named Sunday. Weather permitting, she enjoys outdoor activities such as kayaking, paddle boarding, and hiking. Dr. Jones is currently enjoying all the restaurants and exhibits that Atlanta’s suburbs have to offer.
Our Veterinary Support Team
Taylor Ashendorf | Practice Manager
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Taylor began his career in veterinary medicine as a technician in 2007. He took a break to start his own at-home, pet care service while studying accounting at the University of North Georgia. Taylor always believed he would work in sales or find a career in accounting, but his love for dogs, client care, and patient care brought him back to the veterinary world. Pursuing his passion, Taylor returned to veterinary medicine in 2017 as a technician and subsequently joined Vernon Woods as our Assistant Practice Manager in January of 2023. Passionate about customer service, Taylor upholds a high standard of medical care for our patients, consistently raising the bar since joining our team.
Taylor and his wife, Becca, share a home with their two black labs, Clayton and Charli. In his spare time, Taylor enjoys golfing, exploring the North Georgia Mountains, cooking, and cheering on the University of Georgia Bulldogs.
