Karen Murphy, DVM Co-owner of Caring Hands Animal Hospital of Bristow

Dr. Murphy, Co-Owner, is a graduate of Auburn University.  She did a post-graduate internship at Angel Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, MA.  She practiced in North Carolina’s Piedmont region for 5 years before joining Caring Hands Animal Hospital. She has been a part of the Caring Hands family for over 10 years beginning at our Centreville office for 5 years and then opening the Bristow location in 2005. Her interests include preventative medicine, internal medicine, surgery, and ultrasound.

Dr. Caroline Boyd, associate veterinarian, is a graduate of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine with an undergraduate biology degree from James Madison University. She is a life-long resident of the Northern Virginia area and has been a part of the Caring Hands family since 2010. Her professional interests include dentistry, preventive medicine, and soft tissue surgery. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, horseback riding, reading, and learning photography. She shares her home with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs – a Beagle mix, Roxy, and a Terrier mix, Ruby.

Dr. Zurkus, associate veterinarian, is a graduate of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. She also holds a degree in Animal Science from Cornell.  Her professional interests include oncology, soft tissue surgery, emergency/critical care medicine and caring for geriatric patients.  Dr. Zurkus and her husband have a daughter and two sons. She has been a part of the Caring Hands Family since 2006. On the furry side, she has Gracie, a yellow lab; Pixie, a Shih-Tzu mix from the shelter; and Peanut, a domestic short hair, as well as two beautiful corn snakes. In her spare time, she enjoys kayaking, skiing, and cooking.

Dr. Gnowles, associate veterinarian, is a graduate of Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine with an undergraduate degree from Auburn University.  Her professional interests include geriatric patient care and animal behavior.  In her spare time, she enjoys gardening and hiking with her husband and daughter.  Her extended family includes two rescued dogs, Bean and Cora, two rescued cats, Hunter and Remington, and a room full of reptiles!

Dr. Jenna Dean, associate veterinarian and medical director, is a graduate of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. She completed her undergraduate studies at College of Charleston and holds degrees in Economics and Business Administration. Her professional interests include pain management, diagnostic imaging and soft tissue surgery. Dr. Dean is a Northern Virginia native and shares her home with her husband Alex and two young boys Leo and Dominic. Her house is run by her rescue pup Caymus and feline “foster fails” Zazu and Hemingway. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her boys, enjoying Virginia wineries and reading thrillers.

Dr. Wade, associate veterinarian, is a graduate of Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her undergraduate studies at Radford University and holds a degree in Chemistry and a minor in Biology. Her professional interests include shelter medicine, emergency/critical care, and preventative medicine. She is a native of Northern Virginia and shares her home with her 3 dogs and cat, Zoe, Zeeke, Zadie, and Theo. Outside of work, Michelle enjoys gardening, hiking, kayaking and watching sports. She is passionate about animal rescue and much of her free time is spent volunteering as the adoption coordinator of a non-profit rescue group.

Dr. Lisa Pinn McFaddin graduated from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (Blacksburg, VA) in 2007. Since graduation she was worked as a general practitioner, emergency veterinarian, relief veterinarian, and an integrative and rehabilitation veterinarian. Dr. McFaddin has a graduate diploma in Chinese herbal medicine, has post-doctorate training and certification in spinal manipulation (chiropractic) and rehabilitation, and is certified in veterinary acupuncture.

Dr. McFaddin provides both Western (traditional) and Eastern (integrative) therapies, combining the best of both modalities. She has contributed to and authored several online articles focusing on veterinary integrative medicine. In the spring of 2024 Dr. McFaddin’s first textbook on integrative veterinary medicine will be published. Her primary interests center on diagnosing and treating conditions, as well as maintaining the health and functionality of the musculoskeletal and neurologic systems in companion animals and canine athletes. When not working, Dr. McFaddin spends time with her husband, child, 2 dogs, 1 cat, and numerous fish. She is an avid reader and crafter, with a special love for knitting.