Dr. Steven R. Shrum
Dr. Steve Shrum, born in Charlotte, is a 1985 graduate of North Carolina State University and a 1989 graduate of NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine. After working in Kitty Hawk, NC, and Ocala, FL, he moved to the Upstate to open Holly Tree Animal Hospital in 1994. Dr. Shrum is a member of the Liberty Fellowship Class of 2009.
He is Past President of the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians, the Greater Greenville Veterinary Medical Association, the Greenville Animal Emergency Clinic Board of Directors, and the Greenville Breakfast Rotary Club. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Greenville Humane Society, Generations Group Home and was the Founding President of the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Society. Dr. Shrum’s love for animals extends beyond the office. He and his wife, Mandi, along with their sons Logan, and twins Ben and Nate, share their home with a variety of pets. The family enjoys hiking, watching Wolfpack football, and listening to live music. Dr. Shrum, a railroad enthusiast, shares this passion with his sons and also enjoys building rustic furniture.
Dr. Aaron Pate
Veterinarian
Dr. Pate, originally from Tennessee, spent much of his early years on his family’s farm surrounded by cattle, horses, and an endless number of dogs. His love for animals began in childhood and only deepened as he grew. As a teenager, Dr. Pate moved to Athens, Georgia, where he became a devoted University of Georgia (UGA) fan.
Dr. Pate pursued his veterinary education at the University of Tennessee, completing his veterinary degree before continuing on to a prestigious rotating internship in large animal medicine and surgery at the University of Georgia.
While in veterinary school, Dr. Pate met his wife, Diana, who shares his dedication to the field of veterinary care. In 2012, the couple relocated to Greenville, where Diana was presented with the exciting opportunity to establish and lead her own department in veterinary specialty medicine at a respected local hospital.
Together, Dr. Pate and his wife are the proud parents of two young boys and a scruffy terrier mix named Ms. Ethel B. Outside of his veterinary practice, Dr. Pate enjoys spending quality time with his family—whether it’s cheering on UGA during football season or getting outdoors for the boys’ sporting events, camping, or fishing adventures.
Kristi Hood
Kristi has been a permanent fixture at HTAH since 2004. Starting as a vet tech, she now manages all aspects of the hospital. Kristi has two kids Jillian and Justin; two dogs June and Fallon, a cat (Fred), two snakes and a bearded dragon. In Kristi’s spare time she enjoys cooking at home and competing at BBQ competitions all over South Carolina.
Rainey Booth
Certified Veterinary Assistant
Rainey joined Holly Tree Animal Hospital in October 2015. She is a graduate of Greenville Technical College where she received her certificate as a Veterinary Assistant in December 2012. Rainey and her husband, Eric, have two boys Eli and Owen; three cats: Tigger, Snowball, and Marshmallow; and three dogs: Momo, Flynn, and Bear. In her spare time, Rainey enjoys spending time with family as well as relaxing at home with her children and pets.
Cyndi Cerillo
Cyndi joined the Holly Tree Animal Hospital in July of 2023 after re-locating from New Jersey. She worked the last 15 years with a Boarded Veterinary Surgeon as well as a Veterinary Dermatologist and Ophthalmologist. She has been in the veterinary field for over 20 years. When Cyndi is not working she enjoys baking, exercising, riding motorcycles with her husband and spending time with her 2 cats Zuri and Kiki!
Lauren Cowley
Certified Veterinary Assistant
Although we’ve known her for a while with the many pets of hers that we care for, Lauren just started with us in May 2022, after graduating with a certification in veterinary assisting. Lauren has been working in animal care for ten years and plans on going back to school to get her Veterinary Technician License. In her free time Lauren enjoys working out, spending time with friends and family and most importantly her pets.
Katie Laurens
Veterinary Assistant
Katie joined Holly Tree Animal Hospital as a veterinary assistant in November 2007. She graduated from Greenville technical college in 2005 majoring in small animal care. Katie loves to find special ways to help our boarders and hospitalized patients feel comfortable and at home in our clinic.
Travis Payne
Veterinary Technician
Travis joined Holly Tree in September of 2020 and is a great addition to the Holly Tree family! He comes to us with over TWENTY years of veterinary technician training and knowledge. Travis has a huge heart for all animals especially his own two cats Venkman and Winger.
Heather Simms
Lead Receptionist
Heather joined us in March of 2021. She comes with many years experience in the veterinary field both as a receptionist and a technician. She is Certified in Veterinary Burnout Preparedness and Fear Free Certified. Heather and her husband Rick each have sons, Michael and Kane. They have four dogs and a cat. In her free time she tries to find time to paint at her sister’s pottery studio and take trips to The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, where she is a member.
Megan King
Certified Veterinary Assistant
Megan started in November 2022; at that time, she was enrolled in Greenville Tech’s Vet Assistant Program. She graduated December 2022 with her certificate in veterinary assisting. She is looking to continue her education by obtaining her associates degree in Veterinary Technologies and getting her license as a veterinary technician. Outside of work she has a Golden Retriever named Sadie and a cat Gouda. Her hobbies include working out and taking Sadie on walks. At the hospital you can find her in the kennels making sure your babies are getting plenty of exercise and love while they are here with us.
Warren Miller
Kennel Assistant
Warren started with us in April of 2024. He is currently enrolled in the veterinary technician program with Penn Foster working diligently to get his credentials as a veterinary technician. Outside of work Warren has three dogs, Buddy, Holly, and Ghost, a great pyrenees he rescued in October 2024. His hobbies include working out and laying around watching tv with the dogs. At work you can find him in the kennel giving all the boarders love.
Jacqueline Moore
Kennel Assistant
Jacqueline joined us in August 2024, bringing 2 years of experience as a Kennel and Veterinary Assistant in emergency clinics. Outside of work, she enjoys gaming, crochet, and outdoor activities like dirt biking. She’s also a proud pet parent to two rescued black cats, Nefertiti and Luna.