Surgery Service
Dr. Mike Grafinger graduated from Mississippi State University in 1999. He completed a one year internship at Animal Medical Center in New York City which has an annual case load of 50,000 patients and over 90 veterinarians. He practiced general medicine in New York City for one year before joining a North Carolina emergency and referral practice as an emergency clinician. He completed a surgical residency at NC State Veterinary School and is one of the few board certified surgeons affiliated with an emergency clinic in the Durham area. He lives in Raleigh with his wife and three sons.
Emergency Service
Dr. Natalie Hughes is one of our Emergency Veterinarians and is new to the area. She is originally from Tampa, FL but moved to Columbus, OH for veterinary school where she ended up staying after graduation. She recently moved to the Triangle with her husband and German Shepherd Puppy, Leo. One of her favorite parts about veterinary medicine is initial stabilization and care for critically ill patients- which is perfect for our fast paced ER! Dr. Hughes enjoys visiting the many state parks in the area with Leo and her husband and is always looking for another way to get outdoors. One of her favorite “day off” activities is visiting new restaurants. If you end up meeting her in our Emergency Room, she is always looking for recommendations for what to see next!
Dr. Joanna Wilson was born and raised on a farm in rural Kansas. Because of her love for animals, she pursued a career in veterinary medicine, graduating from the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2017. Her initial focus was large animal medicine, but she found her calling in small animal emergency medicine. Dr. Wilson has been in emergency medicine for the last five years and is passionate about critical care, patient comfort, and helping owners understand what is happening with their loved one. She loves solving complicated problems, answering questions, and giving extra TLC to her patients.
While not in the hospital, Dr. Wilson enjoys exploring the Triangle, reading, cooking, caring for her numerous indoor plants, and spending time with her family. She and her partner love their three beloved cats - Ili, Wednesday, and June.
