Dr. Christy Medrano
Owner, Veterinarian
Dr. Medrano didn’t always know she wanted to be a veterinarian—she had graduated college with a psychology degree before someone sat her down and asked why she hadn’t pursued a career in animal care. Already unsatisfied with the job market, Dr. Medrano decided to take a leap of faith. She worked as a veterinary assistant, took the necessary science courses, and applied to veterinary school. As soon as she got in, she knew she’d made the right choice. Dr. Medrano had found her calling!
Dr. Medrano was born and raised in rural North and South Carolina, then moved to Charlotte when she was 16 years old. After graduating from Appalachian State University with her Psychology degree in 1998, she began working at a vet’s office that same year. In 1999, she returned to school at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to begin her veterinary education. By 2006, she’d graduated from North Carolina State University with her veterinary degree.
After completing small-animal and zoo internships, Dr. Medrano returned to the Charlotte area in 2007. She settled in at Fullwood Animal Hospital in 2012, when the previous owner was looking for someone to purchase the clinic. After working here for nine months, Dr. Medrano purchased the hospital in December of 2012.
At the clinic, Dr. Medrano especially likes connecting with clients and establishing lasting relationships. She never takes for granted the trust that pet parents place in her! Medically, Dr. Medrano enjoys surgery, dermatology, and internal medicine.
Dr. Medrano and her husband Mike have two children, Nate and Naomi, and a number of pets to round out the family. There are four cats, two dogs, and Willie the corn snake.
Dr. Medrano enjoys horseback riding and reading, as well as staying active in the church and spending time with family and friends. Her family also enjoys the mountains, and likes to spend weekends skiing and searching for promising new hiking areas.
Dr. Papillon Sanders
Veterinarian
Like most veterinarians, Dr. Papillon Sanders always had a soft spot for animals. It was her fascination with veterinarians’ ability to arrive at a diagnosis through science, testing, and hard work, though, that made a permanent impression. Dr. Sanders knew that she wanted to solve the mysteries of patients’ health in order to help all of the animals she possibly could!
Dr. Sanders is originally from Virginia Beach and launched her veterinary journey in Clemson, South Carolina, where she majored in animal science at Clemson University while volunteering at vet clinics during her time away from classes. Next, she attended veterinary school at the University of Georgia to secure her Doctorate. After graduation, Dr. Sanders moved to Charlotte, North Carolina to be with her husband and start her career as a licensed veterinarian.
Dr. Sanders joined the team here at Fullwood Animal Hospital in February of 2019, and serves the area’s pets and animal owners as an Associate Veterinarian. Medically, she’s fond of working on neurological cases, and she also loves to see new puppies and kittens and help to establish great health habits early on in life.
Away from the clinic, Dr. Sanders enjoys writing, crafting–she even made all of the centerpieces and floral arrangements for her wedding!–and spending quality time with her family and pets at home. She and her husband, LaRon, have a beautiful young daughter named Ari who is currently trying to master the art of crawling. The family shares their home with Banks, an attention-seeking miniature Schnauzer.
Dr. Jennifer Hawthorne
Veterinarian
Dr. Jennifer Hawthorne grew up in a small North Carolina town, where she was surrounded by animals on her family’s beef farm. She had always loved pets, but didn’t seriously consider a career in veterinary medicine until she found out about the pre-veterinary program offered at North Carolina State University. On the spot, Dr. Hawthorne decided to become a veterinarian!
Dr. Hawthorne earned her undergraduate and veterinary degrees at North Carolina State University, and even worked for a year as a radiology technician at the school. After marrying and moving to Georgia, she completed a small animal internship before moving to the Charlotte area and signing on at a local animal hospital.
In March of 2013, Dr. Hawthorne helped to fill in at Fullwood Animal Hospital when Dr. Medrano was on maternity leave. The two have known each other since their veterinary school days at North Carolina State! Dr. Hawthorne is particularly fond of the close-knit camaraderie around the clinic, and her primary medical interest is radiology.
Dr. Hawthorne and her husband Shawn have two young children, Hayden and Emma. The family lives with Lacy, an elderly mutt, as well as two cats named Isabelle and Marty. As a family, they enjoy visiting local parks, eating together, and watching movies from their impressive film collection.
Dr. Gabriella Shook
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Gabriella grew up in a tiny town in Southern VA called Keysville with her parents, older sister, and a variety of pets. Her dad was always bringing home strays, from kittens and dogs to turtles and more. This upbringing, coupled with Dr. Gabriella’s love of science and natural knack for educating others, made a career in veterinary medicine the perfect choice!
In high school, Dr. Gabriella took a temporary position as a receptionist at the local vet clinic. From there, she moved to the kennel area and eventually worked her way up to the role of veterinary assistant. She continued working as an assistant all throughout her undergraduate career as well as while she was attending veterinary school.
Clinically, Dr. Gabriella has a special interest in ophthalmology. The eyes are such complex little organs that are vital to an animal’s wellbeing. She also enjoys helping clients understand what is going on with their pet’s health, informing them of the potential options, and working together to develop the best possible plan. She loves empowering owners to make informed decisions about their babies!
Outside of work, Dr. Gabriella lives with her husband, Wes, and their five rescue pets. Piper is a quirky dog who nurses blankets and loves cats and other small mammals. Shadow is the fastest Frisbee chaser and loves a good game of tug. Rikku is a Balinese who loves to cuddle and give love bites. Taz has impressively long whiskers. And Randy is super chatty and is learning to meow on command.
When she’s not busy tending to patients or caring for her own furry family, you will likely find Dr. Gabriella pursuing her other passion: hiking. Her greatest feat to date has been climbing the Salkantay Pass in Peru at nearly 16000 feet! She is also currently taking Spanish lessons and hopes to be able to handle bilingual appointments in the future.
Dr. Erin Knickerbocker
Veterinarian
For Dr. Erin Knickerbocker, affectionately known as Dr. Knicks, veterinary medicine is about more than just treating animals—it’s about protecting the deep, unspoken bond we share with them. Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, she was drawn to the unique ways animals communicate and knew early on that she wanted to keep them safe, healthy, and happy. After graduating from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, she explored small mammal care and behavior medicine in Las Vegas before moving to Charlotte to be closer to family. She found her perfect fit at Fullwood Animal Hospital.
Dr. Knicks is passionate about behavior medicine, recognizing that many pets suffer in silence, unable to tell us what’s wrong. She believes behavioral changes are one of the most important clues into a pet’s overall health. Dr. Knicks thrives on the investigative process—determining whether these changes are linked to illness, aging, or underlying neurochemical imbalances. She also has a special love for small mammal medicine, embracing the challenge of caring for these unique, delicate animals who often don’t receive the same attention as cats and dogs.
As a Fear-Free Certified veterinarian, Dr. Knicks is also passionate about low-stress handling and helping pets feel safe, seen, and understood.
At home, Dr. Knicks shares life with her fiancé, Chris, and their two dogs: Aria, her clever food-loving companion from vet school, and Ash, a playful Las Vegas rescue dog. She’s also a Disney enthusiast through and through, having visited Disneyland and Walt Disney World countless times, with a dream of one day visiting every Disney park worldwide.
Whether she’s caring for a nervous guinea pig, helping a client understand their pet’s behavior, or planning her next adventure, Dr. Knicks brings heart, curiosity, and dedication to every part of her life—always inspired by the animals and people she’s privileged to help.
1,358
SLOPPY KISSES
4,858
BELLIES RUBBED
2,345
TREATS GIVEN
