Dr. Edward Zak graduated from University of Guelph Ontario Veterinary College in Canada in 1968.  Upon graduation,  Dr. Zak worked with large animals and in the horse racing industry on the northeastern coast.  After establishing several small animal hospitals, he and his wife, Cindy, settled in the Shenandoah Valley in 1990.  Dr. Zak has enjoyed a wonderful career in the veterinary profession.  In his free time, he and his wife spend time with their 2 children, Helen and Ryan, as well as their various pets, both furry and fowl!

Dr. Eileen Whitten came to Edgewater Animal Hospital in October 2004.  She graduated from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996 and practiced in Virginia and North Carolina before moving to Rockbridge County.  Her husband, Jim, works at Virginia Military Institute as a physical education teacher.  Together they have a 21-year-old daughter, Mandolin, and a 20-year-old son, Luke, as well as 1 dog named LaLa.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and reading.

Growing up in Rockbridge County on a horse farm, Dr. Jefferies always wanted to become a veterinarian. She got her bachelor’s degree at Virginia Tech in Animal and Poultry Sciences and received her DVM at Virginia Tech.  Being a staunch Hokie, she attends most home football games and can be heard cheering them on.   An adventurer at heart,  Dr. Jefferies enjoys snowboarding,  hiking with her two rescue dogs, scuba diving, and she has traveled  to Europe and South America. Her plans are to travel the world.

Autumn is a 2018 graduate of Rockbridge County High School. She graduated from Blue Ridge Community College in 2021 with her Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology. Autumn received her Fear Free Certification in 2020. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, riding ATVs, and spending lots of time on the water and in the sun. She has four dogs: Bentley, Durango, MaeMae, and Marlo. She also has one cat: Samson.

Charissa graduated from Bridgewater College in 2012 with her Bachelor’s of Science in Biology. She graduated from Blue Ridge Community College and received her associate’s degree of Applied Science and Veterinary Technology in May 2016, and began working at Edgewater upon graduation. Her favorite thing to do in practice is to perform dental cleanings. She enjoys fly fishing, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her husband and their dogs: Elwood and Opie.

Tori grew up in Augusta County and recently moved to the Rockbridge area. She has always had a strong love for animals. While in high school, she took veterinary assisting courses through the Blue Ridge dual enrollment program. She graduated high school in 2020 and has been working in the veterinary field since she was 16. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, riding ATVs, and spending time at Lake Gaston and Smith Mountain Lake. She has 3 very spoiled cattle dogs and one cat.