Welcome to Lake Marion Animal Hospital
Our story began when Brad and Becca, a husband-and-wife team, decided to return to Clarendon County, where Brad grew up, to meet the community’s growing need for quality veterinary care. After getting married in February 2019, they opened the doors to LMAH just a few months later. Since then, the practice has continued to grow, adding endoscopy services in 2022, joining the Chamber of Commerce in 2024, and expanding into orthopedics in 2025. Their dedication to excellence has been recognized year after year, earning LMAH the title of Best Veterinary Clinic in Clarendon County.
Lake Marion Animal Hospital is proud to be your trusted veterinary partner in Summerton, SC. Since opening in 2019, our locally owned practice has focused on delivering personalized, high-quality veterinary care with a friendly, small-town touch. We believe that exceptional medicine begins with genuine connection, and we are honored to care for pets and families who have been part of this community for generations.
We combine advanced medical technology with compassionate, individualized care. Our Fear Free Certified team members are trained to create a calm and stress-free experience for every patient. From wellness and diagnostics to advanced surgical procedures, we offer a full range of services designed to support pets through every stage of life. At Lake Marion Animal Hospital, your pets are more than patients. They are family. Whether you have lived here for decades or are new to the community, we are here to provide care you can trust with the warmth and expertise your pet deserves.
Our Veterinary Team
Dr. James (Brad) Phillips was born and raised in Clarendon County. He graduated from Francis Marion University. He earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University and completed his clinical training at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine. He practiced as an associate veterinarian at Westside Animal Hospital in Florence, SC for a year while Lake Marion Animal Hospital(LMAH) was under construction. He and Becca were married in February 2019 and LMAH opened their doors a few months later. He looks forward to providing Clarendon County and its surrounding areas with top quality animal care.
Education: Hollins University, BS Business; Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine; Clinical training Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine
Accreditation: State of Florida, State of Georgia, State of South Carolina
Dr. Barron was born and raised on a farm outside of Tallahassee, Florida. After completing an undergraduate degree from Hollins University in 2007, she spent a year competing horses at the advanced level of three-day eventing before joining North Florida Animal Hospital(NFAH) as a veterinary technician. Six years later, she moved to St. Kitts, West Indies to attend Ross University and finished her clinical training at Texas A&M, where she and Brad were introduced by mutual friends. After graduation, she returned to Tallahassee and rejoined NFAH as an associate veterinarian in December 2016. Dr. Barron as two black labs, Crockett and Culby, as well as two horses, Oberon and Britain. In her free time she enjoys horse-back riding, boating, and trying new restaurants.
Keiriann Pacheco-Figueroa, known around the clinic as KP, is a Surgery Veterinary Assistant who originally hails from Puerto Rico and moved to South Carolina four years ago to deepen her experience working with animals. Since then, she has worked in multiple practices caring for both small and large animals and is committed to continuing her education on the path to veterinary school. KP holds a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science with a pre-vet focus, along with Grooming, Pet First Aid, and Euthanasia certifications. She is completely bilingual in English and Spanish, and when she is not in surgery you can usually find her reading, listening to audiobooks, playing video games, or spending time with her dogs Kay, Adena, Frost and her cats Nala and Onyx.
Savannah joined Lake Marion Animal Hospital in 2022. She is an Alumna of Laurence Manning Academy. Her favorite part of veterinary medicine is she likes helping families with their pets and she loves the family atmosphere that they have at the clinic.
In her spare time, Savannah spends time with her family and friends. Also, she loves hunting, fishing, and going to field trials. She has three dogs, two Labrador Retrievers named Remi and Conway, who keeps everyone on their toes. And then the old man of the group, her Maltese, Toby, who sleeps all day.
Baylee is a dedicated veterinary assistant who feels truly blessed to have spent a year and a half as a stay-at-home mom before stepping into her dream career caring for animals. Now thriving in the fast-paced world of veterinary medicine, she brings warmth, patience, and a genuine love for every patient she meets. Baylee is currently enrolled in the Penn Foster Veterinary Technician program and is Fear Free Certified, ensuring every pet feels calm and safe in her hands.
She has a special passion for working with animals of all shapes and sizes and finds particular joy in dentistry and surgical nursing. Outside the clinic, Baylee enjoys spending time with her two-year-old daughter and their lively pack at home: Hyer (a German Shepherd mix with pit bull), Zane (a German Shepherd), Leo (a Dachshund), Star (a Maverick-German Shepherd), and black cat Patch.
When she’s not at work or chasing her toddler, you’ll find Baylee outside enjoying the sunshine with her family and furry crew.
Zowie is a skilled surgical assistant with two years of hands-on experience in the operating room. She excels at assisting with a wide range of surgical procedures, closely monitoring patients under anesthesia, and providing attentive post-operative care. Known for her precision, calm demeanor, and genuine compassion, Zowie is deeply committed to ensuring every animal receives the highest standard of care and comfort throughout their surgical journey.
Zowie is currently in school working toward her veterinary technician certification and is passionate about expanding her knowledge in surgical nursing. When she’s not in the clinic, you can find her riding horses, working out, hiking trails, or exploring new places.
Though she doesn’t have pets at home right now, Zowie pours all her love for animals into the patients she cares for every day at Lake Marion Animal Hospital.
Rick Kiser is a veterinary assistant and surgical assistant at Lake Marion Animal Hospital. Before beginning his career in veterinary medicine, he served 15 years with the City of Charleston Police Department and 5 years with the city’s Traffic and Transportation division. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from North Carolina A&T State University.
Rick has always loved animals and is especially drawn to caring for pets who are recovering from illness, injury, or surgery. At home, he shares life with Ren, a rescue who came from a traumatic situation and now enjoys a much happier chapter. When he is away from the clinic, Rick enjoys boating, swimming, and just about any outdoor activity that keeps him on or near the water.
Ashlyn is a warm and compassionate veterinary assistant who has spent the past year helping pets feel safe, healthy, and loved. Whether she’s offering a gentle touch during treatments or celebrating small health milestones with clients, Ashlyn is dedicated to making every visit a positive and comforting experience for both pets and their families.
A proud graduate of the Veterinary Assistant program at Midlands Technical College and a 2023 Associate of Science graduate, Ashlyn has a special interest in running lab work and learning everything she can about diagnostic testing. Outside the clinic, she enjoys the outdoors with her pets, spending quality time with family, and relaxing on quiet days.
At home, Ashlyn shares her life with Quest (a Chesapeake Bay Retriever), Boone (a German Shorthaired Pointer), and Sonic (a domestic shorthair cat). You’ll often find this active crew by her side on adventures or curled up together after a long day.
Amanda joined Lake Marion Animal Hospital in June 2021. What she likes most about this field of work is getting to see all the different animals and their personalities that always shine through.
Away from work, she adores spending time with her family, especially her boys. She shares her home with a Schnauzer named Finn and a Dingo named Lucy.
Carly has enjoyed seeing the variety of animals we serve at Lake Marion Animal Hospital since joining our team in February 2020. Her role exposes her to new experiences every day, and she appreciates her friendly teammates. She relishes how much she learns each shift, complementing her education at nearby Clarendon Hall High School.
Like others on our staff, she spends her free time socializing and particularly enjoys going to the lake or seeing movies. Her family includes a 1-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer / Lab mix named Goose, who unsurprisingly loves to play and run.