Dr. Alicia Gerald

Dr. Gerald is a graduate of Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech's Blacksburg, VA campus. Dr. Gerald earned a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine (DVM) in 2011 and joined Ivor Vet Clinic that same year.  

Dr. Gerald is a native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She joined the Navy's Nuclear Power Program after graduating from Lincoln High School as an Honor Student. She spent 8 years in the Nuclear Power Program, completing her enlistment on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, CVN-71, stationed in Norfolk, Va. Dr. Gerald followed up the USN with a B.S. in Biochemistry from Old Dominion University and was accepted into the Veterinary Medicine Program in 2007.  

Dr. Gerald and her husband, Martin, have 3 dogs — a boxer, Taz; a rottweiler, Rogue; and a rottweiler, Groot. She enjoys reading, working outside, and horseback riding.  

In 2013, Dr. Gerald helped Ivor Vet Clinic founder, Dr. John Bensenhaver, retire again, taking the helm as Manager and Primary DVM on call.

Dr. Jamie Harver-Ballinger

Dr. Jamie Harver-Ballinger is a graduate of St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine. Three years of her schooling were spent at St. George’s University in Grenada, and her clinical year was spent at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in Athens, Georgia. She graduated magna cum laude in January 2016 and joined Ivor Veterinary Clinic in February 2016.

Dr. Harver-Ballinger is an Ivor native and is happy to be doing what she loves in her hometown. Having grown up around her grandfather, J.M. Harver, and his many hunting dogs, she had veterinary aspirations from a young age. She graduated salutatorian from Windsor High School and went on to get her Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech.

Dr. Harver-Ballinger is married to Ryan Ballinger and they have two children, Madelyn and Jackson. They have two furry family members — two cats, Pandora, who is actually from Grenada, and Sophie Rose. Their family is grateful to be a part of the Ivor Veterinary Clinic team!

Bailey Gross, Practice Manager

Bailey Gross joined the Ivor Veterinary Clinic team in July 2018 after coming from a diverse work and educational background. She graduated from Fort Hays State University with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2016.

Bailey lives in Surry County with her husband, daughter, and her furry family members, Ranger, Rigatoni, and Basil, the cat. She is committed to providing exceptional care for patients and their families. When she isn’t working in the clinic, she enjoys walking with her dogs and spending time with her family.

Erika Niles, Licensed Veterinary Technician

Our lead technician, Erika Niles, has been with us since October 2011. She received her degree in veterinary technology in 2020. Erika and her husband, Kyle, have two children, Kaleb and Elaina. They also have three dogs — a Doberman pincher, Sadie; a bloodhound mix, Lady; a pit bull mix, Noodles; and one cat, Carrot. Outside of work, Erika enjoys reading and art and has a passion for fostering dogs for local rescues. 

Stephanie Martin, Veterinary Assistant

Stephanie joined the Ivor Vet Clinic team in 2016. She has been with her significant other, Eddy, for 17 years, and they have a 12-year-old daughter named Lydia. Stephanie has a passion for rescuing/rehabilitating disabled cats. In her free time, she enjoys relaxing at home and doing crafts with her daughter. Her pet family is large and varied! She has (we will just say many) cats, 5 snakes, 2 gerbils, and some fish. 

Kristin Hardy, Veterinary Assistant

Kristin grew up in Southampton County. She has had a love for animals since she was young. Kristen has been with Ivor Veterinary Clinic since February 2019, and she owns four cats and two dogs.

Alyssa Cleaton, Veterinary Assistant

Alyssa started working part-time with us in 2018 while finishing high school and obtaining a bachelor's degree in Animal Science from NC State University in May of 2022. She is now with us full-time and working towards becoming a Licensed Veterinary Technician. She has grown up around animals, finding her passion for them at a very young age, and now has numerous fur babies of her own. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, crafting, and hanging out with her friends and family.

Brittany Cobb, Veterinary Assistant

Brittany grew up in Southampton County and joined our team in July 2022. She found her passion for the veterinary field early on and has followed that passion since. She is currently enrolled in Penn Foster's Veterinary Technician program and is quickly approaching her graduation. In her downtime, Brittany enjoys going hunting and doing field trials with her boyfriend, Taylor.

Pamela Rickmond, Customer Service Representative

Pam joined the Ivor Vet Clinic team in July of 2022. She has over 10 years of experience as a 911 Dispatcher and EMT and has obtained a veterinary assistant certification. Pam enjoys horseback riding and spending time with her family. She and her daughter, Haleigh, compete in horse shows and volunteer for a local horse show association. She also loves spending time with her furry family members, Chance the golden retriever and Bandit the beagle. Chance is one of our clinic heroes! He protected Haleigh from an attack by a rabid raccoon. We are so glad to have Pam and her crew as part of the Ivor Vet Clinic family!

Megan Gray, Customer Service Representative

Megan Gray is a Parks and Resource Management Major from Slippery Rock University and worked in Virginia State Parks for 8 years before switching to dog and cat care. She lives with 3 dogs, two golden retrievers and one golden retriever and great pyrenees mix named Boozer, who sometimes works in reception with her as an official greeter. A betta fish and 6 pet birds, including budgies, cockatiels, and a very angry lovebird, round out her at-home zoo.

Michaela Bernocco (Holt), Customer Service Representative

Michaela joined our team as a Veterinary Receptionist in 2022, bringing experience from several management roles and time spent as a live-in nanny in New York. Her warm personality, strong organizational skills, and love for animals make her a wonderful part of the team.

When she’s not at the clinic, she enjoys photography, all kinds of art, and getting lost in a good book. She loves spending time with her husband and his two adult daughters. Their furry family members include 2 black cats and a black Labrador, Rambo. She’s passionate about building connections and being an active part of the local community.

Mattie Coggin, Pet Professional Groomer

Mattie grew up in Surry, Virginia. Her love for animals began at a young age and led her to an internship during her teen years. As an intern, she traveled to dog shows with her mentor, Kristin. Along the way, she learned how to properly care for dogs' coats, and her passion for pursuing a dog grooming career began. Mattie and her husband, Peter, have three dogs: Tank, the Golden Retriever, and her two English Cocker Spaniels, Mason and Dewey.