Meet The Veterinarians of Northgate Animal Hospital

Yvonne Ward, DVM / Co-Owner Dr. Yvonne Ward has practiced at Northgate Animal Hospital since 1999. Dr. Ward graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999, after receiving a B.A. from Carson Newman College in 1994. She shares her home with husband Tommy, daughter Chloe, and their dog "Dobbs." Dr. Ward currently serves on the Chattanooga State Veterinary Technician Advisory Board. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, camping, and reading. Dr. Ward's special interests in veterinary medicine include internal medicine, laser surgery, and ultrasound. Though she must say, it sure is fun to play with all the cute puppies and kittens when they are in for well checks and vaccinations.

Meet Our Veterinarians

Randy Hammon, DVM, CVJ / Co-Owner Dr. Randy Hammon is a 1982 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. He has wanted to be a veterinarian since he was five years old and has never had second thoughts. He is currently the Hospital's Medical Director. Dr. Randy has been practicing veterinary medicine with his brother Dr. Jim at Northgate Animal Hospital since graduating and building the facility in 1982. They both are routinely on television and radio along with newspaper interviews promoting pet care. Dr. Randy is a past president of the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association, along with serving on local, state, and national boards and is an active supporter of our local Humane Educational Society. He also works with, supports, and serves on boards for the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UT CVM) and the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA). Dr. Randy routinely participates in International Third World Christian Medical Missions as part of medical teams that meet the needs of both people and animals. He enjoys outdoor sports on both land and water. He shares a small farm with his wife Sandi, his stepdaughter Caroline along with their two cats "Cleopatra" and "Tigris", their Australian Cattle Dog "Sheyla" and their Coton de Tulear "Mason".

Jim Hammon, DVM, CVJ / Co-Owner Dr. Jim Hammon, was a member of the very first veterinary class of the university of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1979. He worked for the next three years at two different practices in Jefferson City, Tennessee and Gallatin, Tennessee. In 1982, following the graduation of his brother and partner, Dr. Randy Hammon, Northgate Animal Hospital was designed and built. Dr. Jim has served as president of both the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) and the Hamilton County Veterinary Medical Association (HCVMA) and as a board member for the East Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association (ETVMA) He has also received the Distinguished Service award for the TVMA and the Outstanding Alumnus Award from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Jim is married to his lovely wife, Jill, and they have two married daughters, Caitlin and Amelia. "Sophie" the terrier mix and "Molly" the Mix also enjoy Dr. Jim's home.

Mandy Smith, DVM Dr. Smith has always wanted to work with animals and started volunteering in her hometown veterinary clinic in high school. She graduated from the University of Georgia in 2013. After vet school, she completed a one- year internship at Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Charlotte, NC. Her experience includes primary care and, more recently, emergency medicine. Since moving to Chattanooga in 2022, she has fallen in love with the city. She is excited to return to primary care and build relationships with clients and their four-legged family members. Her areas of interest include the human- animal bond, preventative care, internal medicine, and soft tissue surgery. Outside of veterinary medicine, her hobbies include gardening, pottery, board games, and being outdoors. She lives with her three dogs (a beagle mix named Penny, a Jack Russel named Riker, and a Chihuahua named Mr. Sulu), and three cats (Dax, Zia, and Henry). She has kept chickens in the past and hopes to have another flock in the near future.