Owner, Veterinarian
Dr. Melanie Greene grew up in rural Pikeville, Kentucky, where she and her twin sister spent hours playing with the cats around the property. Since there weren’t many veterinarians around at the time, Dr. Greene and her sister took it upon themselves to nurse any sick or injured animals they found back to health; this instilled a deep passion for animal care at an early age. Dr. Greene decided that she would become a veterinarian before she had even started kindergarten!
Dr. Greene—Dr. Melanie to many of her clients—moved to Lexington after high school to attend the University of Kentucky. She began working at a nearby small-animal practice during her studies while simultaneously pet-sitting for the hospital’s clients in her spare time. Her hard work paid off: Dr. Greene was accepted into Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine after just three years of undergraduate studies.
After meeting her husband (the hospital’s very own Dr. Mark Greene) and starting her career in Alabama, Dr. Melanie moved back to eastern Kentucky to open her own animal clinic with her husband. In 1994, Country Hills Veterinary Hospital opened its doors to the public. The Greenes have been serving the pets and animal owners of the area ever since!
As a veterinarian, Dr. Greene has a particular passion for feline medicine. (She suspects this has something to do with the hours she spent as a child with her family’s barn cats!) She’s also fond of surgery work, animal rescue, and shelter medicine. Country Hills Veterinary Hospital even works directly with many rescue organizations and shelters, and it is Dr. Greene’s ultimate goal to transform the dynamic of eastern Kentucky to diminish the area’s stray pet population.
Drs. Melanie and Mark have three daughters who are in college and high school, as well as a young son who spends most days here at the office. The family lives on a farm and has many pets of their own: Anya the Siberian Husky; eight lovable cats; Oscar, a rescued dachshund; Rico the Chihuahua; a pony named Moonpie who lives in the yard with the dogs and cats; and several goats and chickens.
When time permits between work and family life, Dr. Greene is an avid gymnast and loves tumbling with her daughters whenever she gets the chance. Once her daughters were old enough to try gymnastics themselves, Dr. Greene took up the sport again after taking a 15-year break. She hasn’t stopped since!