Bells Ferry Veterinary Founder Named Vet of the Year

Jim McClearen, DVM of Lake Chatuge Animal Hospital and founder of Bells Ferry Vet Clinic in Acworth, has been named GVMA Veterinarian of the Year for 2013. 

The honor is bestowed upon a Georgia Veterinarian Medical Association member who has made a significant contribution to the organization during his or her active years in the profession and the organization. 

According to a press release, Dr. McClearen has had an exceptional career in veterinary medicine. He graduated from the University of Georgia with his DVM in 1974 after obtaining a degree in agriculture in 1970. 

He received a distinguished alumni award from UGA, and was founder and owner of Bells Ferry Veterinary Hospital  from 1984 until he sold the practice in 2007. 

Dr. McClearen also co-founded and served as contractor for the Cobb and Cherokee Emergency Veterinary Clinics. He is past president of Cobb County Veterinary Association, and past president of Georgia Medical Academy. 

He currently is an associate veterinarian for Lake Chatuge Animal Hospital P.C. in Young Harris, and helped established and operates the Tri-County Animal Clinic in Murphy, N.C. He also is a contractor consultant for Mountain Animal Emergency Center, the newly constructed small animal emergency hospital in Blue Ridge.  

For GVMA, Dr. McClearen has served on numerous committees, and served as GVMA president in 2008. He was also instrumental in establishing the GVMA Student Chapter.

Dr. McClearen built and operates, along with his wife, the Cohutta Mountain Pet and Feed Store in Blue Ridge, and serves as board member of Habitat for Humanity in Fannin and Gilmer counties. 

Dr. McClearen resides on his farm in Morganton with his wife Laurie and a menagerie of animals that includes several dogs, horses and a commercial herd of cattle. Jim and Laurie have two children, James Jr. and John, and two grandchildren, Anastasia and Corbin.