Meet Our Veterinary Team

Dr. Chris Griffin

Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners
Certified in Avian Practice

Dr. Chris Griffin grew up in Augusta, Georgia, and has been interested in curious creatures for his entire life. After high school, Dr. Griffin attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning a degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry in 1991. He attended veterinary school at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 1995.

After graduating veterinary school, Dr. Griffin spent some time visiting some of the most prominent veterinary facilities that focus on avian and exotic pet medicine. He later found a position in Florida, working with two ABVP – Avian boarded veterinarians, Dr. Teresa Lightfoot and Dr. Lucy Bartlett, at the Avian and Animal Hospital of Bardmoor. He completed his Residency for ABVP and passed his specialty boards in 1999. He is a Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practioners certified in Avian Practice.

After about 2 and 1/2 years at South Ridge Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Griffin decided to open an exclusively avian and exotic pet hospital, catering to the needs of pet birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals.

Dr. Griffin has been a noted speaker on exotic pet medicine at veterinary conferences worldwide. Most recently he has been involved with ICARE- the International Conference on Avian, Herpetological, Exotic Mammal, Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. He is the co-author of a chapter in the Gastroenterology issue of Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Pet Practice. He was honored to co-author that chapter with his Dad, Joseph W. Griffin, Jr., MD. He is the guest editor of the issue of Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Pet Practice – Topic: Common Procedures.

Dr. Griffin is active in various veterinary associations focused on exotic pet medicine. He has held several leadership positions on the board of both the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) and the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV). He is the current Avian regent for ABVP since 2021.

Dr. Griffin and his wife Stephania currently share their home with their daughter Aralyn, a rat named Apollo and one (sometimes ”Dill”) Pickle (a male Eclectus Parrot).He enjoys listening to acapella music, being active within the local UNC Alumni Club, playing and watching a variety of sports, traveling, reading, playing on his computer, cooking and spending time with his family and friends.

Dr. Carrie Edgerton

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Edgerton grew up in eastern North Carolina in New Bern. She has wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as she can remember and began her dream as a volunteer at a local vet hospital. With her family’s support, she completed her undergraduate degree at North Carolina State University and was on her way to vet school.

While attending NC State’s veterinary school, she became heavily involved with the Wild Turtle Rescue Team, which helped develop her interest in and passion for exotic pet medicine. As a senior veterinary student, Dr Edgerton spent several weeks at Griffin Exotics during an externship rotation. She enjoyed her experience so much that she joined the GAEVH team in June 2007. She became a full-time associate in January 2010 and enjoys working at such a diverse practice.

Dr. Edgerton shares her home with Sprinkles, her cat, Jasper, her Red-Footed Tortoise, and her two bearded dragons, Sydney and Stitch.