Meet Our Team
Meet our Owner
Ryan Gipe
The Oceanside Vet Clinic Team welcomed new practice co-owner and Charleston native, Dr. Ryan Gipe, in January 2014. While new to our team, he has been a familiar face in the local veterinary scene since he was in grade school. He graduated with a BS in Biology from the College of Charleston in 2003 and received his DVM from Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. Ryan loves all of the challenges and rewards of the profession, with his keen interests being in imaging and soft tissue and orthopedic surgery. Growing up on Johns Island, he is an avid fisherman, and spends as much time as possible on the Lowcountry waterways or riding the trails on his dirt bike. He enjoys spending time with his family and his Australian Cattle Dog, Leo.
Meet our Vets
Dr. Justin Lewandowski
Justin Lewandowski is a Charleston native and grew up in West Ashley. He and Dr. Gipe both attended St. Andrews High School, where they were classmates and played soccer together. He went to the University of Georgia to obtain an BS in Genetics, and was then accepted into veterinary school at Tuskegee University in Alabama. He has one Scottish Terrier named Sophie. Justin is recently married to Jenny, who also went to the University of Georgia and has a Scottish Terrier named Sophie. Justin enjoys time with his family, Georgia football, boating and golfing. Sandbar Sunday on John’s Island is his spot! He enjoys all aspects of the veterinary field, and does his best to provide top-quality care for all animals.
Dr. Rebecca Zimmerly
Rebecca Zimmerly, DVM grew up in southern West Virginia and moved to Charleston with her husband, Kevin, and their fur babies in 2019 after practicing for a few years in Michigan. She earned her bachelors degree from the University of Findlay in Ohio in 2013, and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University in St. Kitts in 2017. Rebecca really enjoys general practice; her special interests include internal medicine and client education. When she’s not working, she loves spending time outside camping and hiking. She and Kevin are also avid home improvement ‘DIY-ers’ and own a custom sign business called Zimmerly Designs. Her fur babies are her whole world and include a lab named Oliver, a hound mix named Asher, and a domestic short hair named Zoe.
Meet our Office Staff
Kindra Hines
Our Practice Manager Kindra Hines joined our team in 2009. A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, she studied Business at the College of Charleston and Indiana University. When she is not working, Kindra enjoys traveling, hanging out at the beach or spending time with her two rescued labs.
Chantal Koropatkin
Chantal is our Customer Service Manager, and has more than 20 years of veterinary experience. Prior to working at Oceanside Vet Clinic, she worked with an avian veterinarian in her home state of Connecticut. When she’s not helping with our clients’ needs, Chantal enjoys reading, camping and floating down the Edisto. In addition to taking care of her two cats she loves to pet/housesit. Her pride and joy is her son Nathaniel, who proudly serves in the Army National Guard.
Emma Powell
For over a decade, Charleston native Emma has created bonds through building relationships with clients and provided pet parent education to anyone who calls or walks through our doors. She has grown up in this clinic, from just a high school graduate to her adulthood, when she grew into a wife and then a mother. Each day she learns something new, and that’s what keeps her coming back. She currently lives in Hollywood, SC with her husband, son, and 2 Australian Cattle dogs.
Alicia Sabolcik
Alicia Sabolcik is one of our Surgery Veterinary Technicians who joined Oceanside team in 2011. She moved to Charleston from Pittsburgh, PA. With growing up in Pennsylvania, Alicia is a big penguins hockey fan. She loves spending time with her 2 dogs, Groot and Tito, and her turtle, Pluffmud. Alicia once volunteered on a research study where she worked with SC DNR biologist and learned how to draw blood, take vitals, tag and release marine life. On her days off, Alicia enjoys trying new food places in Charleston in search of the spiciest dish in town. She enjoys exploring these places with friends.
Callie Tyler
Callie has been a Licensed Veterinary Technician since 2011. She graduated from Clemson University in 2014. She moved to James Island and has been at Oceanside since. Callie is growing her new family, she has 1 turtle, 2 dogs, 3 cats and a new husband, Luke. Callie enjoys vacationing in Key West, spending time outdoors and Clemson football season. GO TIGERS!
Haley Smith
Haley Smith is a licensed veterinary technician who joined the Oceanside team in 2017. She attended the Veterinary Technology program at Trident Technical College, where she received the 2020 Student Leadership Award and earned her associate degree in Applied Science (Veterinary Technology). When Haley is not at work she enjoys spending time with her two dogs Taz and JJ, her cat Bagheera, and her fish.
Melissa Stein
Melissa Stein, LVT began her career in Rhode Island at the age of 16 as an intern at a vet clinic with her high school. She then worked emergency for four years receiving on the job training. Eventually Melissa moved to South Carolina and continue working in emergency for another four years. In 2015, she graduated from Trident Technical College and became a licensed veterinary technician. Following graduation, she started her career at Oceanside Veterinary Clinic and is now one of our surgical veterinary technicians. This makes her responsible for monitoring anesthetic procedures and assisting with surgeries and dental procedures. When Melissa isn’t at work, she likes to spend time with her family and her menagerie of animals at home. She is the proud owner of two rescued pitties, four rescue cats, an African Grey, a Green Cheek Conure, and two Cockatiels. She feels that working with animals was her life’s calling and never plans on looking back.
Izzy Cullum
Izzy (they/them) is a veterinary technician who was born and raised here in Charleston. They came to Oceanside from an emergency veterinary setting. They are an avid plant and animal lover; they have around 40 houseplants and have an aquarist for 6 years. Along with their many freshwater fish pets (including an eel!) they also have a cat named Meekee, a dog named Navi, and a tarantula named Zule. They love working in such a wonderful family environment surrounded by so many clients and their pets they have built relationships with. They are excited for the wonderful years to come.
Aubrey Faust
Aubrey (she/her) came to work at Oceanside in March 2021 as one of our veterinary receptionists. She grew up in Wisconsin and traveled the United States before moving to Charleston in 2020. When not working the front desk, you can find her hiking in the State Parks, at the beach with a good book, rocking out at a Hanson concert, or hanging out at home with her grey tabby cat Fiona and her partner Will.
Mackenzie Thackston
Mackenzie is a veterinary technician who joined the Oceanside team in September of 2020. She has always had a compassion for animals with dreams to one day become a veterinarian. She has 5 dogs, 3 cats, 2 fish, and 10 chickens back at her home in Columbia, SC. When she’s not working or studying she also loves to volunteer at the Charles Towne Landing animal forest, and she currently serves as president of the Theta Chi chapter of Alpha Delta Pi at Charleston Southern University.
April Wyndham
Mila Ballew
Mila is a LVT who has worked part time at Oceanside for 5 years. She has been in the vet tech field for 15+ years since earning her associate degree in Veterinary Technology at Trident Technical College. She is affectionately referred to as “mom” at the clinic and enjoys baking for her coworkers, lending a listening ear, and offering hugs when needed. She and her husband love travelling with their rescue dog, Shelby, in their 30 ft RV all over the country visiting national parks. When not travelling or working she can usually be found spoiling her grandchildren!
Helen M. Gipe
Helen performs all of the important financial and accounting duties (most importantly, payroll). Helen is the mother of our Practice Owner, Dr. Ryan Gipe. Her husband Michael (Ryan’s dad) and her have run a local landscaping company since 1978 and have bred Labrador Retrievers for over 20 years. The keep busy tending to 3 dogs, 1 cat, and 7 chickens. Helen’s favorite activities outside of the clinic are gardening, reading, and being with family.
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