The Best Doctors for Your Pets
Meet the Veterinary Medical Center of Athens Team
Dr. John M. Morton received his Bachelor of Science in 1967 and graduated from Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine in 1969. As the owner, Dr. Morton has a particular interest in veterinary dentistry and surgery. He married Ginger Morton in 1969, and they have four children. He is happy to be practicing with his son, Dr. James Morton. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening. He is especially fond of growing black-eyed peas and watermelons. He also enjoys raising his cattle.
Dr. James M. Morton is a 2008 graduate of Texas A&M University. After graduation, he joined a mixed animal practice in Wharton, Texas, for three years before coming to the Veterinary Medical Center of Athens on May 1, 2011. Dr. James grew up in the Athens area and was a 1999 graduate of Athens High School. In 2017, he married Dr. Kayla Morton, a dentist from Tyler, TX. He enjoys spending time with his wife and children, ranching, and raising cattle. Dr. James Morton has such a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy repair (TPLO), cranial cruciate ligament (CCL/ACL) repair, and other major bone surgeries and internal medicine.
Dr. Joe Embry was born and raised in Kemp, TX, and graduated from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in 2017. His interests include spending time with his wife, children, and golden retriever. He enjoys barbecuing, fishing, and vacationing along the Texas coast, as he has an affinity for the historical district of Galveston. He and his family enjoy visiting the nearby fishing pier of Surfside Beach. Dr. Embry states, “I feel that Veterinary Medical Center of Athens offers state-of-the-art diagnostic capabilities that are invaluable assets in working up challenging cases. It’s a privilege to have this at my disposal as I transition the years of schooling into the art of practice.”
Dr. Kiera Lowry was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. She met her husband when she came to Texas to pursue her undergraduate degree at Dallas Baptist University. She worked for Dr. Morton as a veterinary assistant before moving to medicine. She graduated in May 2019 and was excited to return to the Veterinary Medical Center of Athens as an associate veterinarian. Dr. Lowry has interests in veterinary ophthalmology, dermatology, and orthopedics. Dr. Lowry enjoys reading books, outdoor activities, and baking in her spare time. She and her husband have many family pets and are volunteer fire-fighters with North 19 Fire Rescue.
Dr. Ryan Grafel was born and raised in Hastings, Nebraska. He attended the University of Nebraska for his bachelor’s degree and graduated from Iowa State’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2019. Dr. Grafel’s veterinary interests include cardiology and dermatology. He enjoys spending time outdoors doing upland and waterfowl hunting, fishing, and hiking. He is also an avid college football fan (Go Big Red) and enjoys playing guitar.
Dr. Collin McAlister is a 2015 graduate of the University of Glasgow’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Scotland. He is from the North Antrim area of Ireland, where he grew up on a small farm. After graduation, he worked one year in mixed veterinary practice, as he worked with both large and small animals. In 2016, he decided to come to the United States of America to pursue his career even further and has been practicing veterinarian medicine here ever since. Dr. McAlister’s areas of interest include orthopedics and general surgery. He enjoys cycling and playing various sports in his spare time, such as tennis, soccer, and racquetball.
Dr. Lexi Clay is from Kansas City, MO where she obtained her Bachelors Degree in Animal Science and Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Oklahoma State University. While working towards her Doctorate, Dr. Clay minored in Spanish and has been fluent for over 10 years. Her hobbies include: training field dogs, spending time with her own fur babies, and traveling to new places with her husband. Making Athens, Texas her home, Dr. Clay is ready and able to provide care for any patient, regardless of age, but does have a soft spot for our senior fur-babies who need a little extra love and attention.
Dr. Shelby Henderson grew up in Keller, Texas, and developed a passion for animals at a young age. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science from Texas Tech University, where she was also a member of the university's softball team, before earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in 2026. Dr. Henderson is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality care to her patients while building lasting relationships with their families. She is passionate about helping owners make informed decisions to keep their pets healthy and happy throughout every stage of life. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her Australian Shepherd, Ollie, experimenting with new sourdough recipes, reading, and spending time with her family at the lake. Dr. Henderson is excited to call Athens home and looks forward to serving the pets and families of the community.
Dr. Kelsey Jones is a graduate of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and is excited to begin her veterinary career at the Veterinary Medical Center of Athens. With a genuine passion for animal health and a strong commitment to compassionate care, Dr. Jones looks forward to serving pets and their families throughout Athens and the surrounding East Texas community. For Dr. Jones, veterinary medicine is about more than treating illness—it is about building lasting relationships with clients and helping their pets live happy, healthy lives. She values taking the time to get to know each patient and their family and believes that communication, education, and trust are important parts of providing exceptional veterinary care. Her passion for veterinary medicine is rooted in the special bond between people and their animals. She understands firsthand just how important pets are to the families who love them and strives to treat every patient with the same kindness, attention, and compassion she would want for her own. Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Jones enjoys spending time with her Australian Shepherd, Levi Rose, who is her constant companion and always ready to join her for life’s next adventure.
Call us now to book your pet an appointment with one of our outstanding staff members!