Meet The Doctors | Meet The Staff | News

Anne P. Mitchell, DVM
For Dr. Anne Mitchell, becoming a veterinarian was just a natural evolution in a life-long mission. She laughs, “I’m just one of those people who always picked up all the strays and the injured animals.”

Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Anne’s family moved to North Carolina when she was a child and she has lived in the state for most of her life. By the time she got to college, her true calling became clear. Even while pursuing a double-major in chemistry and biology at Western Carolina University, “I was still picking up all the strays,” she says.

Realizing that it was time to take her interests to the next level, she transferred to North Carolina State University for their animal science courses before moving on to Veterinary School at Auburn University. She graduated with highest honors from Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1980.

Married since 1981 and mother to two daughters now in college (“One at N.C. State and one at Carolina”), Dr. Mitchell has remained busy parenting a “hodgepodge of dogs and cats” throughout the years. Outside of North Elm Animal Hospital, her interests include tennis, travel and needlework, and, true to her beginnings, she is currently raising a rescued greyhound named Maggie.

Claudia Sims, DVM
Dr. Claudia Sims knew which path she wanted to pursue at an early age. She traces her decision to become a veterinarian to “about third grade.” Of course she always loved animals, and she happily recalls learning to ride horses during her childhood in Warren, Ohio. Her devotion to companion animals - paired with a natural gift for the sciences - motivated her to pursue veterinary medicine.

With her ultimate goal in mind, she completed her undergraduate work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning a degree in Chemistry before moving on to The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine , and graduating Phi Zeta.

After moving to North Carolina in 1988, Dr. Sims’ veterinary career flourished. In 1990, she began working with another established veterinarian, Dr. Anne P. Mitchell. Together, they founded the North Elm Animal Hospital in 2000.

Dr. Sims is married – still a newlywed in fact – and is of course a pet owner herself. She is currently raising a Labradoodle named Murray and a Jack Russell Terrier named Josie. She also enjoys bicycling, running, yoga, and – in whatever spare time she has outside of North Elm Animal Hospital – she loves to travel.

Angel Coates, DVM
When asked what first interested her in becoming a veterinarian, Dr. Angel Coates’ answer is as pure as it is straightforward: “I don’t ever remember wanting to do anything else,” she says.

Born in Charlotte and raised in McLean, Virginia, Dr. Coates completed her undergraduate studies at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1993 and moved on to the Virginia Tech School of Veterinary Medicine , graduating in 1998.

Dr. Coates practiced in both Charlotte and Chapel Hill before moving to Greensboro several years ago. Upon arrival in her new town, she asked friends and neighbors about their experiences with local veterinary practices. In one conversation after another, people with pets praised the high level of service and quality of care given by the Doctors at North Elm Animal Hospital.

Impressed by such fine recommendations from so many people, Dr. Coates paid a visit to North Elm Animal Hospital and soon found that she shared the opinions of her neighbors. Pleased with both the Doctors and the staff, she joined the practice in June of 2005.

Dr. Coates is married and the mother of two children. In her time away from the office, she is a marathon runner and shares her home with three cats named George, Caution and Pixie.

Courtney Mitchell, DVM
Dr. Courtney Mitchell has always had a passion for taking care of animals, and even when she was little if asked what she wanted to be when she grew up it was always the same answer, a veterinarian! After hearing wonderful recommendations about the doctors, staff, and their compassion for animals she looked into joining the team at North Elm Animal hospital and is excited to be starting out her career at this practice.

Dr. Courtney was born in Charlotte, NC and moved to Greensboro in the third grade. She attended North Carolina State University earning a bachelor’s degree in Zoology and graduating Summa Cum Laude, and as a Valedictorian of her class. She graduated in 2010 from North Carolina State University School of Veterinary Medicine as a member of the Veterinary Honor Society Phi Zeta.

Dr. Courtney is still very much a newlywed and happy to be living in Greensboro. She has a Brittney Spaniel named Charlie and three cats named Maxwell, Oliver, and Calvin. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, photography, reading, camping, and attending church.

Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet.