Meet our Babcock Hills Family!
Babcock Hills Veterinary Hospital is made up of a team of qualified, experienced and compassionate professionals. We are here to answer your questions, offer up-to-date information about animal health and provide the best in veterinary medicine for your pet.
Our Veterinarians
Dr. Rhonda Lane – Medical Director
I have lived in San Antonio since 2009. I grew up in this area. My husband and I have two children, Teagan and Colin. I have two dogs: Penny, a miniature dachshund, and Captain, a Leopard Catahoula. I have 6 chickens: Pearl, Princess Laya, Opal, Buckbeak, Durpy, and Effie Trinket. My daughter has a Leopard Gecko named Link and my son has a pet frog named PacMan. When not taking care of the mini-zoo at home, I enjoy camping, family time, reading, and hiking.
Dr. Laurel Gomes
Dr. Laurel Gomes joined Babcock Hills Veterinary Hospital in June 2016. She was born and raised in Clovis, California. Both of her parents instilled their love of science, especially biology, in her from an early age. Her father’s volunteer work with a local wildlife rehabilitation group sparked her interest in veterinary medicine. Dr. Gomes attended California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science in 2012. She decided to attend veterinary school in Texas after she visited Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine and experienced the school spirit and community of Aggieland. While in vet school, she worked as a student ambassador leading tours of the College of Veterinary Medicine and served on her class officer team. She graduated with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2016.
She and her husband Niko began dating in high school and have been married since 2014. They managed to make it through vet school with only adopting one pet, a cat named Frisco. Dr. Gomes enjoys traveling, horseback riding, reading and crafting in her free time.
Dr. Ashley Stricklin
Dr. Ashley Stricklin joined Babcock Hills Veterinary Hospital in April 2019. She was born and raised in San Antonio where she was an active member of her high school band and F.F.A. She graduated from Tarleton State University in 2008 with a BS in Animal Science and completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. She learned all about the Aggie spirit and traditions from her brother who was a member of the Corps of Cadets and bleeds maroon!
Dr. Stricklin enjoys internal medicine cases and has a strong interest in ultrasonography. She understands that our pets are cherished furry family members and strives to keep them happy and healthy.
In her free time, Dr. Stricklin enjoys spending time with her family which includes her 3 dogs (Sully, Ranger, and Luna) and 2 cats (Charlie and Phoenix). She competes in several dog sports with her dogs and also enjoys being outdoors on the water, hiking, kayaking, and watching football.
Dr. Jessica Haynes
Dr. Haynes graduated from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2019. She has an interest in canine and feline preventative medicine and internal medicine. Having a love for science and animals, her passion for helping others brought her into the veterinary field. Her compassion for animals truly shines as she cares for her patients.
Originally from the small town of Hamshire, TX, Dr. Haynes is excited to expand her roots to the San Antonio area, and she cannot wait to get to know the community. In her free time, Dr. Haynes enjoys traveling with her fiancé, hiking with their two Goldendoodles, Honey and Raven, cuddling her two cats, Ebony and Bella, and spending time with her friends and family.
Dr. Jessica Norman
Dr. Jessica Norman joined Babcock Hills Veterinary Hospital in August 2021. Dr. Norman was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her love for animals started at a young age while she helped to care for her family’s Golden Retrievers. Dr. Norman attended Virginia Tech (Go Hokies!), where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences. She received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2019 from Iowa State University. Following graduation, she married her high school sweetheart, Philip. They moved to Northern California where he was stationed with the Air Force. Dr. Norman practiced in the Bay area for two years prior to moving to San Antonio. Her professional interests include preventative medicine and feline medicine. Dr. Norman has three cats (Lane, Talli, and Millie) and one “COVID” puppy named Howie. In her free time, Dr. Norman enjoys hiking with her husband and dog, spending time with friends, and exploring her new home. She loves working with families to keep their furry children healthy and happy. She is ecstatic to join a great team of doctors and staff at Babcock Hills.
Dr. Samantha Martinez
Dr. Samantha Martinez joined Babcock Hills Veterinary Hospital in October 2021. She was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas. Dr. Martinez has always been interested in helping animals through zoology and conservation, but when she realized the benefits of medicine, she decided to become a veterinarian. Dr. Martinez attended Texas Tech University and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science in 2014. After that, she went to Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated with honors in 2018.
Dr. Martinez enjoys spending time with her husband and their five cats. Her hobbies also include baking, volleyball, and playing a myriad of video games. She has a particular interest in feline medicine, oncology, and radiology.
Dr. Gail Ramsey
Dr. Gail Ramsey joined Babcock Hills in April 2022. She went to Texas A&M University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science in 2012 and then stayed to complete her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2016. Dr. Ramsey loves providing care for pets and their families and really believes that caring for our pets is a team approach. She enjoys preventative medicine for both cats and dogs, as well as managing allergies and chronic diseases.
In her spare time, Dr. Ramsey enjoys reading, playing in a kickball league, and spending time with her family which includes her Golden Retriever, Nugget, and her cat, Anita. She also enjoys traveling and is a self-proclaimed “foodie”- she loves to cook at home and try new restaurants.
Dr. Marie Yamane
Dr. Marie Yamane grew up outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science from Utah State University in Logan, UT in 2014. Dr. Marie graduated from Washington State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2018. She practiced for 2 years in Utah, and then moved to Chicago, IL while her husband finished the remaining two years of his Zoological Medicine Residency. Her professional interests include soft tissue surgery, internal medicine, and ultrasound. She loves to spend her free time with her husband, their young daughter their three northern breed dogs, and their golden retriever.
Dr. Kortney Groeschl
Dr. Kortney Groeschl joined Babcock Hills Veterinary Hospital in November 2022. She originally hails from a small town in northeastern Wisconsin where she was raised by her grandparents. Their loving support nurtured her innate curiosity and wish to help others. Dr. Groeschl attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2015 where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. She then journeyed to St. Kitts & Nevis to achieve her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2019. Her favorite aspects of Veterinary Medicine are surgery, animal behavior, and preventative medicine.
Prior to San Antonio, Dr. Groeschl lived in northern Tennessee where she met her fiancé while he was stationed at Fort Campbell. Outside of work her hobbies include reading, hiking, binge watching paranormal TV shows, weightlifting, and visiting the farmer’s market. She has four very spoiled pets: Olive-a pitbull mix, Caribou-a Silken Windhound, Keny- a Siamese mix, and Navi-a black domestic shorthair. Dr. Groeschl is very excited to build lasting relationships with clients and their pets to provide the utmost care!
Meet our specialty veterinarian that our doctors consult with as needed on a case by case basis. The doctor comes on site to our practice to work with our veterinarians to provide any necessary diagnostics and/or treatment.
Justin Harper, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS-LA
A graduate of Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Harper then completed an internship in Littleton, Colorado and surgical residency program at Auburn University in large animal surgery. After returning to the Texas Hill Country, Dr. Harper realized the need for specialty surgical services to be offered in-house to veterinarians and their clients. During this time, Dr. Harper began training in South Texas under the direction of Dr. Andy Baker (small animal surgeon of 40 years). In addition to being board-certified in large animal surgery, Dr. Harper is seeking dual certification in small animal surgery.
Please meet the rest of our staff family:
Vicki Rieken
Vicki Rieken joined Babcock Hills Veterinary Hospital in January 2008 as our hospital administrator. She is a native Texan raised in West Texas. Her previous experience includes banking where she served as a bank officer in customer relations. She also worked for several years in the Dallas and Austin areas in commercial real estate business focusing on property management, accounting, and marketing. Vicki is responsible for our day-to-day operations, customer service, human resources, accounting, and marketing. She is a member of the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA). Vicki and her husband live in Comfort, Texas and they have three sons, three grandchildren, and two grand-dogs.
Nathan
Nathan is one of our kennel technicians and also serves as our facilities manager. As you can see when visiting us, Nathan takes great pride in the appearance and cleanliness of the hospital. He is also responsible for assisting with maintenance and repairs.
Veterinary Technicians
Brooklin is our veterinary technician supervisor. She has been in the animal medical field for over 25 years. She attended Sul Ross State University and has worked for Babcock Hills since 2001. She earned her Certified Veterinary Assistant Level III (CVA III) for the Texas Veterinary Medical Association in 2013. Brooklin enjoys traveling with her husband and son as well as reading, gardening and cooking in her spare time. Her household is completed by four dogs: Ransom, Birdie, Slinger, and Woodreaux.
Amanda has been a member of our staff since 2009. She started in the kennel department and is currently one of our veterinary technicians. She recently obtained her Certified Veterinary Assistant (CVA) I certification. You may also see Amanda at our front receptionist area at times, as she is cross-trained in all departments. She and her husband are the proud parents of two little girls, two cats, and two dogs.
Melinda’s love for animals brought her to our team in 2015 and since then, has loved getting to know our clients and their furry babies. She graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. She is a Certified Vet Assistant (CVA) and loves working on your pets during their surgeries and dentals. Melinda is married with four fur-babies of her own (two dogs and two cats), and has an adorable boy, Aiden. Her hobbies include cooking and decorating in her spare time. Melinda is cross-trained so you may see her as a vet tech helping with your pets or as a Client Service Representatives helping to answer any questions clients may have.
Sean is our Vet Tech Assistant providing help to the Vet Techs wherever needed. He keeps all our exam rooms clean and pristine and helps with most tech appointments.
Clarissa, LVT graduated from the Palo Alto Vet Tech Program in 2016 and now am a licensed veterinary technician. Currently, she attends the University of the Incarnate Word to finish her Bachelor of Science in Biology. Her goal is to become a veterinarian to save as many animals possible. She is married to her high school sweetheart Jeremy and they welcomed their baby boy Jeremiah in May 2017. She has a bossy chihuahua Bella and a sassy cat Luna. She enjoys cooking, traveling, outdoor activities and smothering her baby boy in kisses!
Brianna has been a vet tech for over 10 years. She as a true passion for the care of animals. Originally from a small town in Pennsylvania, she pursued her passion by joining the U.S. Army and received her training through the Vet Tech Course and earned the title “Animal Care Specialist”. While stationed at Brooks City-Base, she met her husband and started her family. Mother of one son as well as her fur babies “Tony” a rotty, “Sam” a lab-chow mix, and her kitties “Jax” and “Tyrus”.
Summer, LVT started at Babcock Hills in August 2013 while attending the Veterinary Technology Program at Palo Alto College. She graduated May 2015 and later acquired her official Veterinary Licensure in October 2015. Her favorite aspects of veterinary medicine are dentistry and anesthesia. She entered the field as a strict dog lover but has now become a full-on cat lady and proud of it! Currently, she has no pets at home so she shares all her love with her furry patients.
Matt started here as a Kennel Tech in the summer of 2018 and has now cross-trained to become a Vet Tech. He is the proud owner of a one-eyed Min-Pin named Spider. When not at the hospital, he is the guitarist/vocalist in a couple of garage bands around town.
David started here as a Kennel Tech and has now cross-trained to become a Vet Tech and he couldn’t be happier! His ultimate goal is to become a veterinarian and to learn as much as possible about veterinary medicine along the way. David currently has two mischievous cats, Tigris and Finnik. His hobbies include hiking with his boyfriend, digital hand lettering, and spreading veganism in any small way he can.
Katja is a recent graduate from Texas A&M University and just moved to San Antonio. She has been in the veterinary field since 2019. In the future she hopes to become a small exotics veterinarian with a special interest in avian medicine. When not working, she loves spending time with her boyfriend and their two dogs and three cats. You can also find her playing video games or watching true crime documentaries.
Diana C. joined the team in July of 2018 as a Client Service Representatives. She graduated from Texas A&M University-College Station in May of 2018, with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies- English and Social studies. Although her passion is in education, she’s found a new love working at the clinic and is working toward becoming a vet tech. She is the proud owner of her Rottweiler Titan and German Shepard Sam!
Destiny joined the BHVH team in January 2021. She started working in the Vet Med field in 2018 and attended Palo Alto for their Vet Tech Program. Her goal is to be an LVT so she can help as many pets as she can as well as educate all pet owners on good pet health. She has one cat, Phoenix, and three dogs, Penny, David, and Bailey. She loves to skateboard and paint in her free time. Destiny loves working with furry friends of all sizes and looks forward to being a part of such an amazing team.
Alexis graduated from Smithson Valley High School in 2019. Being in FFA is where she realized she wanted to work with animals and become a Veterinary Technician. At the age of 3, she won Baby Miss for Texas. Then at the age of 6, she became Petite for Texas. She was also in competitive Cheer, played Volleyball for the YMCA, and was in the Nutcracker with the San Antonio Ballet Company. She has an adorable 9-year-old Malti-Poo, Snowy. She could not wait to begin her passion career for her love and care for animals. She attended Animal Behavior College where she received her Veterinary Assistant Certification. She began working for Babcock Hills in December 2020 and is very blessed and proud to be part of this great team.
Kelly started off as a kennel tech, then cross-trained as a Client Service Representatives, then finally made her way to becoming a vet tech in Sep. 2020. She earned her CVA 1 in September 2021. She loves working with animals and learning everything she can about veterinary medicine. In her spare time, Kelly likes to read, listen to music, and go on the occasional hike. She loves each and every fur-baby that comes in!
Laura joined the team in 2017 as a kennel tech with the aspiration of becoming a vet tech. What she didn’t know was that she would absolutely fall in love with being a kennel tech and was happily doing the job for four years until she finally decided to cross over. Her huge passion for animals was instilled in her as a very young child, between all the strays she brought home and the wild animals she found in distress. It has always been her dream to work in the veterinary field and she feels honored to be doing so since the young age of 20. Laura proudly graduated from John Jay High School, as that is most of her family’s Alma Mater, and hopes to go back one day to school to major in Marine Biology or Veterinary Medicine. Until then, she’s going with the flow and gaining knowledge in every way that she can. When not at work, Laura loves to binge-watch shows and watch Studio Ghibli movies to her heart’s content. She also has a wild little chihuahua/terrier mix named Orion and a laid-back tabby named Nala who she adores very much!
Vanessa M. joined the hospital in 2007 as a Kennel Tech and after about a year, transferred to the Client Service Representatives department. Her love and passion to care for animals has led her to now become a Vet Tech. She is currently studying to get her CVA (Certified Veterinary Assistant) certificate. She also does most of the social media and marketing for Babcock Hills. Vanessa and her husband have two children, Lily and Benjamin, and a spunky little dog named Bucky Barnes. In her free time, she loves to draw charcoal portraits of beloved pets.
Client Service Representatives
Pam is one of our many long-time staff members, joining Babcock Hills in November of 2000 as a receptionist/Client Service Representatives. She is currently our telephone triage coordinator, so when making appointments or calling for information, you will more than likely be speaking with Pam. She has earned an AAHA certification as a certified veterinary receptionist. Her hobbies are reading, word puzzles, watching movies (favs are sci-fi) & adult coloring books. Pam also likes to relax and spend time with her furry family members. She has a love for all animals especially cats, dogs, and horses, but cats are her favorite.
Vanessa S. has her associates degree and is working on a bachelors in sports medicine. She loves all animals but is a sucker for Labrador Retrievers; she has 3! One in every color (black, chocolate, & yellow). Their names are Otis, Layla, and Waylon. She enjoys the outdoors, running, anything sports related, plants, and cooking.
Melany joined Babcock Hills in August 2021 but has been in the veterinary field since 2019. She is a proud cat mom of 8 cats: Earl, Belle, Chip, Lumiere, Figaro, No Name, 2 Chainz, and Paul. She enjoys hiking, traveling, taking long road trips, donuts and trying new coffee shops.
Dayanara was born and raised in Central Florida. She grew up with different kinds of animals such as dogs, cats, and chickens! Dayanara recently moved to San Antonio in 2020 with her fiancé and has two fur-babies of her own, Legend and Lola. Dayanara is very happy to be part of the Babcock Hills Family!
Alexus graduated from UTSA with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Athletic Medicine. She absolutely loves kids, and her dream is to one day become a physical therapist for children. Until then, she is happily helping all the puppies and kittens any way she can.
Kennel Technicians
Travis is our Kennel Tech lead and has been part of our team since 2017. He’s fantastic with all animals and our resident “dog whisperer”. He also assists the vet techs and doctors when needed and helps Nathan keep our facility looking great!