Meet the Doctors

I grew up in McMinnville, TN with an older sister and two younger brothers. We lived on a farm across the garden from my Grandparents where my parents still live. My grandfather and dad role-modeled to me how to work hard.  My grandmother taught me how to spit, dig for worms and make homemade biscuits. I shared the love of horses with my Dad and the love of nurturing small animals with my mom. We had every pet imaginable – birds, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, horses, dogs and cats. We even raised chickens until they started roosting in my brothers’ bathroom.

I went to Austin Peay State University where I was a cheerleader and graduated in 1999. During that time I could not settle on a career path. My Dad and Mom always gave the advice to their children “Whatever career path you choose, make sure it’s one you love, because that is what you will do for the rest of your life.” And so I did just that and changed my focus to pre-vet.

I went to University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2003. After graduation I worked emergency medicine at Animal Medical Center in Murfreesboro, TN. I also did ambulatory equine medicine during the day until I got married and moved to Shelbyville. My Husband, Smitty and I love to trail ride and be outdoors. We have 3 boys each with their own special personality. Our household in general is loud and crazy!

In 2010 I started working at Southside Veterinary Hospital. Kristin Wilhelm is a great veterinarian and an even better person. In 2015 we became business partners in Southside Veterinary Hospital. A few years later we began a new adventure of opening a new hospital on the north side of town and Northpoint Animal Hospital was born. I am so fortunate to have a wonderful husband, family, business partner and work family. I love living in Bedford County and I am honored and blessed by those in the community who trust me and my staff with the care of their pets every day.

I was born and raised on a family-run Walking Horse farm in Belfast, Tennessee. As the middle daughter of a horse breeder and pharmacist, I developed a love for animals and medicine at a very early age. At kindergarten graduation,  I announced “when I grow up, I want to be a veterinarian.”

After graduating from Marshall County High School in 1991, I attended the University of Tennessee where I earned a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. I was fortunate to further my education at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine from which I graduated in May of 2000. After a few years in mixed animal practice, I chose to focus on companion animals and made Southside Veterinary Hospital in Shelbyville my home. In 2010, the Southside Vet family welcomed the hard-working and compassionate Dr. Sally Schmidt, whom later became co-owner in preparation for the construction of Northpoint Animal Hospital.

I’m married to my best friend and talented equine veterinarian Richard Wilhelm. We have been blessed with 2 children, Hunter and Grace. Our family also includes 5 dogs, 1 cat, 2 rabbits, and numerous horses. I enjoy watching my children playing sports, riding horses, and fishing.