Meet the award winning, board-certified veterinary
neurologist who leads our team.
jason king, dvm, dacvim (neurology) cvma cvpp
Born and raised in South Carolina, Dr. King spent most of his adolescent life in Charleston; he has come to love the lowcountry and considers it his home. After attending South Carolina’s Governor School for Science and Mathematics and studying Marine Biology and Oceanography at the University of South Carolina’s Honors College, Dr. King found a career path he was passionate about in veterinary medicine.
Dr. King was accepted into the veterinary medicine program at the University of Georgia, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 2006, along with being awarded several scholarships and merit awards. After completing a three-year residency at the University of California – Davis, Dr. King became one of only 200 ACVIM Board-Certified Veterinary Neurologists in the world. He then returned to Charleston as the first Veterinary Neurologist and Neurosurgeon in South Carolina and Coastal Georgia. Shortly thereafter he founded Live Oak Veterinary Neurology.
When he’s not working, Dr. King loves being outdoors – fishing, shooting clay pigeons, boating and golfing. He and his wife Jori have two boys, Greyson & Sawyer and three dogs and one cat: Rooster, Fezzik, Jasper & Mira. They’ve both fallen in love with their new hometown of Savannah!
carrie santare, dvm, dacvim (neurology)
Dr. Santare graduated from Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine and complete a residency in neurology and neurosurgery at the University of Florida. She has been board certified in veterinary neurology since 2015 and holds a certification in neurosurgery from the ACVIM. She built the Neurology service in a busy specialty and emergency/critical care center in Long Island, NY where she practiced for 7 years.
Her career started with Information Technology and Biomedical Photography which paved the way to her love for veterinary medicine and ultimately, Neurology.
Dr. Santare's professional interests include MR Imaging, management of intervertebral disc disease, atlanto-axial subluxation stabilization, and vascular diseases.
Dr. Santare is originally from New York but would visit the Lowcountry and Coastal Empire often, so she decided to make it her home. Her interests outside of veterinary medicine include CrossFit, cooking, and she recently took up a hobby crocheting. She is the proud owner of a Dachshund, a Morkie and 2 mischievous kitties.
Our amazing staff is the backbone of Live Oak Veterinary Neurology.
They'll make sure that your pet is well taken care of - and more importantly - loved!
JORI KING
Jori grew up in Connecticut and spent most of her adult life in Charleston, SC. She received her Bachelor's degree in Food Service Management from Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, and her Associate degree as a Veterinary Technician in 2015 from Trident Technical College. She's been working with animals since 2012 and loves the passion that comes with the job. When she's not caring for her furry patients, she's mom to two amazing boys, Greyson & Sawyer. On the weekends, they can be found with her husband (Dr. King) on a boat, enjoying Savannah and the beauty of the lowcountry. A cause that is close to her heart is the non-profit organization called Noah's Arks Rescue - founded by her mother in 2008. This organization focuses on giving animals a second chance at life - by supplying abused, tortured, and neglected animals with emergency medical care and rehabilitation services. She and Dr. King have three dogs and one cat: Archer, Fezzik, Rooster & Mira.
Hannah Baxter
Hannah grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and moved to Georgia 6 years ago with her husband. Hannah graduated from the Veterinary Technical Institute at Hickey College and obtained her RVT license in 2015. Hannah has been working in small animal medicine since 2014 and management for the past 3 years. Outside of work Hannah enjoys spending time with her daughter Felicity and husband Brandon. Hannah also enjoys reading and spending time at the beach.
RHONDA SIPLE
New to the Savannah area, Rhonda was born in Baltimore, MD, but calls Indianapolis, IN home. She attended Athens Community College in Athens, AL where she took courses in business. She has been working in the Veterinary field about 7 years as a CEO (Client Experience Officer). She really enjoys interacting with the clients and patients and being the first person who gets to meet and greet everyone when they come in the door. Rhonda has 2 dogs: Wicket and Squiggle which are rescues - she lovingly calls them her two kids that will never move out! When she's not working, she enjoys traveling, reading, and being with friends and family - especially her two sons and grandson.
kayla baylor
Kayla was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee and recently moved to Savannah. She attended Chattanooga State Community College where she graduated cum laude with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Veterinary Technology in 2018 and became a licensed technician the same year. In her spare time you can find Kayla at home baking or outside exploring new trails in the area. She especially loves getting to know the local marine life.
Nicole Matthews
Nicole recently moved to Savannah from a small town in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Nicole worked in retail before finally pursuing her true passion for animals and joining the veterinary field in 2019. When she's not working Nicole enjoys spending time with her husband Danny, her two dogs Cooper and Aurora, and 2 cats Bella and Kona. On weekends they can often be found at the beach, exploring the area, or visiting family back home as much as possible.