Jessie’s mother worked her entire adult life in the field of veterinary medicine. Jessie remembers going to work with her and helping clean kennels, walk dogs, and observing her mom work in her office. It just made sense for Jessie to lean into veterinary medicine, as her mom did. Being raised on a farm further instilled her passion for taking care of animals. Jessie has enjoyed being in this field for a number of years, and is thrilled and thankful to be working for Dr. Brian and Dr. Jessica!

Jessie is a Rose Hill native and started her veterinary journey a number of years ago in Wichita. When the opportunity arose for her to help the pets and animal parents of her hometown here at Hodes Veterinary Health Center, she knew that she couldn’t pass it up. Jessie became a member of the hospital family in September of 2017, and helps keep every area of the clinic running like a well-oiled machine as the practice’s Hospital Administrator.

Here at the practice, Jessie likes working closely with her fellow team members, and she loves to take on special projects that help improve the experience that each and every client and patient has here at Hodes Veterinary Health Center. Jessie also loves learning new things on a daily basis—she finds that no two days are ever quite the same!

Jessie’s hobbies include spending her time with her family and friends, traveling with husband, spending time on the farm, and cheering on her alma materKansas State University. Go Cats!

Her husband, Jamison, supports Jessie’s love for animals. Together they have four horses and three dogs. The horses are Doc-a Quarter Horse, Chief- a Paint, and Dancer and Angel-both AMHA Miniature horses. Their home is shared with the three dogs: A Yorkie named Croix, who is the boss of the house; a protective and loving German Shepherd named Casey; and a sweet and sassy Miniature Australian Shepherd named Gracie-who insists on coming to work every day at the practice!

Amelia, like most veterinary professionals, enjoys the opportunities of enriching the lives of animals through medicine and rehabilitation. A highlight of Amelia’s career however, is helping people. For her, assisting people in a difficult time or situation makes what she does very personally meaningful.

Amelia has known Drs. Brian and Jessica for many years. She was offered a Veterinary Nursing position after graduating from Colby Community College’s Veterinary Technology program in May of 2018. Since then, Amelia has taken part in all aspects of our multifaceted practice. She most enjoys anesthesia and surgery; with all they entail.

At home, Amelia and her husband Kemroy have a dog named Ripley. Ripley is an incredibly intelligent dog whose cleverness never disappoints. He also cannot get enough of being told how extremely handsome he is! Outside of work, Amelia treasures time with her family and loved ones.

Growing up in the Metro Detroit area, Annie Pilcher always had dogs and cats around her. They were an integral part of her life. Yet, it wasn’t until she adopted her most recent canine companion that she felt a strong calling to the veterinary field. Now, as a Registered Veterinary Nurse, she gets to spend every day doing what she loves – making a difference in the lives of animals!

Annie began her journey as a veterinary assistant at a small animal clinic back in Lansing. It was during that time one of the technicians inspired her to follow the same path. Already a student at MSU, Annie changed her major from anthropology to vet tech, and the rest is history. Professionally, Annie has a particular interest in working with cattle. She also enjoys running anesthesia for small animals, including dogs and cats.

At home, Annie is the proud mother to a dog named Kevin, whom she describes as a ‘grumpy old man,’ and a cat named Kali, who runs the house (especially Kevin). Having recently moved cross-country, Annie is currently looking to adopt a few more fun hobbies. In the meantime, she loves swimming and reading, and hopes to one day have her own home library.

Having a dad who is a veterinarian, Maddie practically grew up in an animal clinic. Not only did her father have his own practice, but he also cared for the animals at the Hutch Zoo, where his daughter would routinely accompany him as well. That experience, coupled with the fact that she had every pet imaginable at home, made a career in the animal care industry a natural choice for Maddie.

Initially, Maddie set out to become a zookeeper. Upon finishing school in Buhler, she moved to Tennessee where she graduated from Union University with a bachelor's degree in zoology. After completing several internships around the country, no job opportunities really panned out, so she decided to enroll in nursing school at WSU Tech instead. She never expected to fall in love with the clinical side of animal care, but now she says she’d never go back!

Maddie first discovered Hodes Veterinary Health Center while attending the nursing program. She did an externship for eight weeks and in 2022, after graduating and passing her national and state boards, she came back to join the team full time. Clinically, she loves working in an environment that promotes learning, teaching, and growth. She’s always enjoyed working with exotics but has now also grown to love working with large animals as well!

At home, Maddie is outnumbered in a family of boys, including her husband, Sam, two Savannah cats named Jack and Junior, a European Doberman named Ghost, and most recently a standard Australian shepherd named Echo. A self-professed geek, Maddie loves reading fantasy and sci-fi books (the bigger the better) and enjoys playing video games, D&D, and board games with friends. When she’s not reading or gaming, she likes watching TV, playing outside with the pups, traveling, and going to concerts.

A few fun facts about Maddie: she is a classically trained ballerina of over 15 years, was heavily involved in color guard as both a student and a coach and played the bass clarinet. One of her life goals is to travel to another country to help with animal conservation – anywhere from Africa with cheetahs, to Papua New Guinea with tree kangaroos, or to Australia with all their cool reptiles.

Morgan knew she wanted to be a Veterinary nurse after spending time in an animal hospital with her Aunt. While spending her time there, she was introduced to the profession and shown the impact that a Veterinary Nurse can make on the animals and people they work with.

Morgan grew up in a small town, just outside of Kansas City. She later earned her Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Technology from Michigan State University. Morgan is passionate about providing exceptional gold standard care to patients of any and all species. Some of Morgan’s favorite parts of her work include emergency and critical care cases, and performing phlebotomy. She also uses her Fear-Free certification to help make visits to the practice less stressful for anxious and nervous pets.

When not at work, Morgan loves spending her free time with family and friends. She also enjoys growing succulents, cooking and baking, and playing with her delightful collie named Phoebe. Fun facts of Phoebe: Her favorite pastimes include destroying toys, pouncing on insects, and sleeping upside-down.

Natalie grew up with an innate passion for animals, and frequently participated in animal shows as a member of the 4-H club. She’s always known that she wanted to work hands-on with the earth’s creatures—that’s why she decided to join the world of veterinary medicine. Natalie cares for the pets of the Rose Hill area every day as a Registered Veterinary Nurse!

Natalie is originally from Little River and attended Colby Community College to earn her degree in veterinary technology. She launched her veterinary career at a mixed-animal practice in Hutchinson, then became the Animal Hospital Manager at a feed operation. Next, Natalie moved to Wichita and worked in small-animal medicine for seven years before joining the Hodes Veterinary Health Center team in 2012. She’s been here ever since!

Equine care is a particular passion of Natalie’s, and she loves the way that every case is unique. She’s also fond of neonatal care. Above all, Natalie likes meeting pet owners and their wonderful companions on a daily basis.

Natalie’s love of horses extends outside of her job—she loves to compete in dressage on her Mustang, Just Bob. The pair received the First Level honor in National Mustang Dressage from the United States Dressage Federation in 2019! At home, she and her husband, Josh, have a heeler/australian shepherd mix named Lucy, a border collie mix named Goose, their feline friend named Kechara, and three horses: the aforementioned Bob, a quarter horse named Hotrod, and her thoroughbred named Written Permission.

Stella has adored horses ever since her earliest memories. That sparked a passion for animal care that hasn’t let up to this day. Here at Hodes Veterinary Health Center, Stella gets to care for animals large and small every single day! She’s a proud member of the clinic’s talented Veterinary Technician team.

Stella is a Kansas native and attended Butler Community College to study agriculture before transferring to Kansas State University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in production management-cattle. Next, she moved to Norfolk, Virginia, where her husband was stationed for his Naval duties, and signed on to study animal care at Penn Foster College. Upon her husband’s completion of active duty, the family moved back to Kansas. Stella joined the team here at Hodes Veterinary Health Center a short time later, and the rest is history!

As a Tech, Stella enjoys radiology work, blood draws, and catheter placements. Of course, she’s still passionate about large animals and loves to learn more about their care on a regular basis.

Most of Stella’s free time outside of work is spent with her family. She and her husband have a young daughter (she’s already an animal-lover just like her mother!) and also share their lives with several pets. They have three dogs—Ciya, Mister, and Huck—as well as a loveable cat named Mimi and Stella’s horse, Brea.

Like most in the veterinary industry, Wendy Linot has always loved animals. She also had a general interest in human health, but as someone who describes herself as ‘painfully shy,’ it didn’t take long for her to discover that she was able to connect more easily with her four-legged patients than her two-legged ones!

Wendy began volunteering at a local mixed animal practice as a young adolescent. It was there that she realized she wanted to be a technician instead of a veterinarian. Fast forward a few years, and that same clinic hired her as a kennel assistant. After high school, Wendy attended Colby Community College, earning her associate’s in Veterinary Tech in 2006.

The one thing Wendy missed most while working in human medicine was getting to see repeat patients. She loves it when a pet comes through the doors and she knows exactly who they are without having to ask. She also loves the investigative nature of the veterinary field, whether it is helping a sick patient with a mysterious illness, or finding ways to help her colleagues become more efficient.

Wendy grew up right here in Rose Hill and was a proud Rocket for all 13 years! She and her husband Jeff have 3 beautiful daughters: Lexie, Autumn and Alivia. Rounding out their family are 3 dogs: Blue, Creed, & Yogi; 2 ferrets – Pumpkin and Spice; and 1 rat, Bella.

Outside of work, Wendy doesn’t have much time for hobbies, as school drop-offs, pick-ups and activities keep her pretty busy. In her younger years, she danced competitively and went to 3 national competitions, which helped her earn a scholarship to college.

When Alli was three years old, Santa surprised her with a puppy, whom she named Brutus. She vividly recalls waking up early on Saturday mornings and accompanying her mom to his vet appointments. She remembers being in awe of the clinic and everything the vet was doing. Brutus became Alli’s very best friend, and sparked her interest in dogs, the human-animal bond, and veterinary medicine. As a veterinary nurse here at HVHC, Alli honors the memory of Brutus every day by helping our patients live happier, healthier lives!

Alli worked at a vet clinic during high school and college, and fell in love with the ever-changing, fast-paced environment. She has always been fascinated by medicine and science, and has an unquenchable desire to learn new things, both of which have served her well throughout her career. Alli joined the Hodes Veterinary Health Center team in February of 2023. Clinically, she has a special interest in internal medicine and enjoys “solving the puzzle” of illnesses and diseases through diagnostic testing.

Outside of work, Alli resides with her husband, whom she married in May of 2021. Together, they have three dogs: Harvey, a miniature Schnauzer/Yorkie mix, who has been with Alli since college; Bandit, a German shepherd, and Smokey, a lab/husky mix, both of whom came into the marriage with Alli’s husband. Harvey’s favorite activities include playing ball, going for walks, and hogging the bed. Bandit is a wise soul who loves football, belly rubs, and pouncing on ice cubes. Smokey is into critical thinking, problem-solving, and eating anything and everything, which makes him a bit of a troublemaker.

When she’s not busy at work or playing with her pups, Alli enjoys spending time with family, staying active, and being outdoors.

As a child growing up in a rural area, Cassandra was always coming home with stray cats, many of whom were ill and needed round-the-clock care. This is where her fascination with veterinary medicine began. As a Veterinary Technician here at Hodes Veterinary Health Center, Cassandra is thrilled to finally be pursuing her life-long passion for animal care.

Cassandra started her journey at the Kansas Humane Society, where she obtained invaluable knowledge. She then moved on from there to join the Hodes team in September 2021. Professionally, she enjoys administering medications because it allows her the opportunity to be hands-on with the patients. She also has a knack for putting our clients at ease – something she strives for on a daily basis.

Outside of the clinic, Cass is “Mom” to Barley, her super spunky, intelligent, and loving orange kitty.

Outside of the hospital, Cassandra can usually be found spending time with her husband and family. She loves being with nieces and nephews, playing board games, doing arts and crafts and enjoying a few games of miniature golf on their own homemade course. She also spends a lot of time with her nieces and nephews, playing board games, doing arts and crafts and enjoying a few games of miniature golf on their own homemade course.

Growing up in a small town about 30 minutes north of KCMO, Ciara spent her formative years surrounded by cattle, ranch horses, pigs, chickens, ducks, goats, dogs and cats – practically an entire zoo! Even at a young age, her parents recognized her passion for animal care and did their best to nurture it over the years. When she got older, Ciara discovered what a veterinary technician was and knew immediately that was her calling in life. The rest, as they say, is history!

Following high school, Ciara dove right into college, earning her prerequisites so she could apply to her program of choice. In 2019, she was accepted into the Maple Woods Veterinary Technician program, where she graduated with her AAS-VT in 2021, and officially became an RVT in 2022. Throughout the entirety of her school and afterwards, she worked full time at a mixed animal practice in KC. Clinically, Ciara enjoys performing dental cleanings. She also has an affinity for working with cattle and horses.

At home, Ciara lives with her boyfriend, Brock, and their two cats, Meatball and Sushi. Meatball is the sweet golden child of the family, and Sushi is the crazy but loveable wild one. When she’s not busy at work, you can usually find Ciara reading, writing short stories, dabbling in photography, playing video games, or spending quality time with her family and friends.

Emma was obsessed with animal care from an early age, and spent hours with the family pets and frequently doctored her stuffed-animal “patients.” As she got a little older, her passion just didn’t quit. She always knew that she wanted to do everything in her power to make a difference in the lives of pets! When the opportunity arose for Emma to join the team here at Hodes Veterinary Health Center, she jumped at the chance.

Emma grew up in Derby, Kansas, and moved to Douglass with her family at the age of 12. Her family has been bringing their own pets here to Hodes Veterinary Health Center for many years—when the time came for Emma to look for a job, the clinic was the first call. It wasn’t long before she had started shadowing around the hospital, and she joined the clinic family as a Kennel Attendant a few short months later!

Around the clinic, Emma enjoys getting to know all of the visiting pets, and always finds it rewarding when a boarding pet comes back for another stay and recognizes her. She’s also fond of learning new things on an almost daily basis.

Emma’s interests outside of animal medicine include gaming, reading and writing, and spending quality time with her own menagerie of pets at home. She and her family share their lives with two Black Labradors, Brinkley and Tuf; a Red Heeler named Ralph; three cats who go by Lola, Gigi, and Vanellopy; Snickers the rabbit; three horses named Walter, June, and Rio; and a flock of chickens.

Jamie had always loved biology and chemistry, but her mind wasn’t completely made up until her internship in wildlife rehabilitation. She was responsible for a rabbit who had an unfortunate encounter with a car. Jamie refused to give up and two weeks later, the rabbit was released happily back into the wild. Ever since that moment, she knew that she was destined to help animals professionally!

Jamie is originally from Wichita and moved to Andover for her high school years, and she attended the University of Kansas to earn a Bachelor’s degree in psychology. Next, she went back to school to pursue her dream of working in the world of veterinary medicine. When Jamie had to pick a clinic to complete her mentorship with, she selected the very same hospital that she had been bringing her own pets to for many years: Hodes Veterinary Health Center. She’s been a member of the clinic family since the fall of 2017, and was hired on as an employee early the following year.

Around the practice, Jamie enjoys studying samples under the microscope and doing other tests in the lab. She finds that she never stops learning on the job! Jamie also loves to interact directly with the area’s pet owners and develop lasting relationships with pets and their loving parents.

Outside of veterinary medicine, Jamie enjoys drawing and painting. She’s even done custom pieces for friends and family! She and her husband, Thomas, have a daughter named Zoe, who loves sharing her home with their pets. The family has two cats: Loki, a Maine Coon who considers himself the king of the house, and a black cat named Salem who plays fetch and comes when called. Jamie also has two dogs: a tripod Chihuahua named Foxx with a big personality, and a loyal and loving German Shepherd who goes by Sammy.

Even as a baby, Lauren’s parents say she would naturally gravitate toward animals. Growing up, you would usually find Lauren outside, collecting bugs and finding critters to save. She was always bringing home stray cats or helpless birds and begging her parents to let her keep them alongside her many other pets, which included fish, parakeets, hamsters, ducks, and dogs. It came as a surprise to no one that Lauren would end up working in the veterinary industry!

Lauren’s journey began in high school when she shadowed her family vet in Hutchinson. Shortly thereafter, she was hired as an assistant and continued to work there throughout college and until she moved away. While the degree she obtained was in human nursing, it didn’t take long before Lauren felt the pull to return to vet-med. She joined Hodes VHC in July of 2023, and discovered her passion for pet care once again.

Clinically, Lauren is fascinated with pathology and parasitology, and has a special interest in large animal medicine. She loves learning new things and being excited about coming to work every day. Lauren is especially skilled at tending to emergency situations, where immediate action is needed.

Outside of work, Lauren has one dog of her own, a black labradoodle named Bella who is sweet, smart, and loyal. In her free time, Lauren enjoys being with family and friends, traveling to Arizona where she used to live, fishing in the pond in her backyard, golfing, going on walks, and watching cheesy reality TV shows. Throughout high school, she was involved with band and played for the girls’ golf team. She went to state for both activities every year she was involved with them.

Growing up on a 10-acre property in Rose Hill, Kansas, the youngest of three siblings, Meghan preferred to spend most of her free time outside, playing with the animals. And while the rest of her family chose careers in teaching and engineering, she took a different path and chose the animal industry. Or perhaps you could say it chose her! As a veterinary technician, Meghan enjoys being a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Meghan’s journey began while in high school, when she landed a job at a small vet clinic. While studying for her degree in Animal Science Production Management at Kansas State University, Meghan worked in a veterinary diagnostic lab and necropsy lab, then spent three months as an intern working with ungulates and large cats at a drive-through zoo. Upon moving to Kansas City, Meghan spent time at a research lab before returning to Rose Hill, where she worked as a zookeeper for the Sedgwick County Zoo.

When Meghan and her husband, Bryce, decided to start a family, she knew it was time for a change career-wise as well. She joined Hodes Veterinary Health Center in 2021 and quickly became an integral and beloved member of the team. Clinically, Meghan enjoys the variety of cases and patients she gets to see and the fact that no two days are ever the same. She also has a special interest in emergency medicine because it requires her to think on her feet.

Meghan and Bryce currently reside in Rose Hill with their two young children: Peyton and Wyatt. The family has four pets, including Malakai, a sweet husky who is remarkably quiet for his breed; Duke, a corgi who, despite his small stature, believes he’s in charge; and two black kitties: Mayhem (a.k.a. Ham) and Beans. It’s safe to say there’s always something happening at the Schroeder house, but Meghan wouldn’t have it any other way!

Trish grew up in Augusta, Kansas, where she was surrounded by horses at a young age. She has fond memories of watching Animal Planet programs that her Grandma recorded for her during her early years. She suspects that the shows deepened her desire to help pets professionally. Now, Trish gets to live her dream: she helps pets daily as a Veterinary Technician here at Hodes Veterinary Health Centerr!

Trish attended Kansas State University and graduated with her animal science business degree in May of 2017. She knew Drs. Brian and Jessica Hodes personally, and she knew that she had found the perfect fit when she heard about the practice they were opening. Trish has been here from the very beginning and loves to help all of the pets she possibly can on a daily basis. She particularly likes working on large animal patients, especially cattle, and she also loves the great variety that her work offers.

Much of Trish’s free time is spent showing her mare, Walla, in AQHA ranch versitility. Along with her husband, Kolby, and her daughter, Trish shares her life with many animal companions: an Australian Shepherd named Dally; a Blue Heeler named TJ, a pair of wire-haired Pointing Griffons named Roxie and Rover, and 10 horses.

If there's one thing that Kira knows, it's animals. From her childhood in Derby to her college years as a pre-vet student, animals have always been a passion for her. Though her path may have taken a few twists and turns, Kira knew that she still wanted to work hands-on with animals, so she became a veterinary professional.

Kira knew about Hodes VHC when she started taking her own animals here, and it was the quality of care and detailed information that she received that made her want to join our team!

Kira herself has a whole menagerie of animals, including 7 goats, a chinchilla nug, and even a tortoise zoo. Her interests extend far beyond animals; she's also a skilled stained glass artisan, knitter, sewer, cross-stitcher, and even a paddleboarder.

Lakyn, has had a lifelong love for animals of all kinds. From cats and dogs to chickens and lizards, she has always had a special place in her heart for our furry and scaly friends.

Growing up in Arkansas City, KS, Lakyn was surrounded by pets and nature, which sparked her love for animals. With her parents and siblings, she learned the importance of taking care of pets and treating them like family. Her family's love for nature and animals has influenced her to become a professional in the field, and her passion for animals has never dwindled.

Lakyn's love for cats started at a young age, with a cat poster that she proudly showed off to everyone she met. And her dedication to animal welfare only grew from there. Lakyn now lives in Wichita with her husband, their three cats, and a bearded dragon. First, she adopted Stormy who knows how to spin for a treat! Next came Kara, who just sleeps mostly. Then, Lola who is their kitten, and just crazy! Zurg is their bearded dragon who is around 1.5 years old currently.

Lakyn enjoys spending time with her family and her cats. She also enjoys photography on the side and she even inherited her crafting skills from her talented grandmothers!

Born and raised in Stow, OH, Brooke grew up with a deep love of animals that followed her into her adulthood and ultimately shaped her career path. She relocated to Wichita at the age of 22 and has been living here happily ever since. As part of her application to join the Veterinary Nursing program at WSU Tech, Brooke shadowed at Hodes Veterinary Health Center before officially joining the team a month later.

Outside of the clinic, Brooke is fur-mom to two cats, Calliope and Seoul, who could not be more different. Seoul is a bundle of energy whereas Calliope sleeps like it's her job. Despite their differences, they're both great cuddle buddies. In her spare time, Brooke loves to travel and explore new places. So far, she has been to 25 of the 50 states and is hoping to one day cross all of them off her list.

Growing up in the country, Cheyenne can’t remember a time when she didn’t have a pet. Animals – small and large – were simply a part of her everyday life. One day, while visiting a family member in the hospital, Chey witnessed a comfort dog greeting a child and saw how it instantly brightened the little girl’s day. It was at that moment that Chey knew she wanted to work with animals.

Cheyenne is just starting her career journey after joining the HVHC team in October of 2021. As one of our Veterinary Assistants, Chey enjoys checking in patients, as it allows her the opportunity to connect with clients and get up close and personal with their pets.

At home, Chey has a fur baby of her own – a rescue dog named Jarvis, whose nickname is “Heinz 57” due to the seemingly countless breeds he seems to be mixed with. Jarvis is incredibly smart and can open just about any kind of door on his own.

When she’s not busy working, Chey enjoys drawing – especially animals. She’s also a skilled basketball player – so much so that she was once invited to join a travel team after seeing her play just one game.

Halle lives in Rose Hill, where her family owns land outside of town that they keep cattle on. Halle has been around animals her entire life, so working in the world of pet care just seemed like a natural fit! She’s proud to help animals daily as a member of the hospital’s kennel staff.

Halle first shadowed the other members of the kennel team here at the practice, then joined the hospital family officially in September of 2019. Her favorite part of the job is the variety it brings—Halle is always kept on her toes, and no two days are ever quite the same.

Away from work, Halle is an avid artist and also loves to spend quality time with her family and pets at home. She has three dogs: Gracie the Goldendoodle; a MinPin/Pomeranian mix named Khloe; and a Heeler mix named June.

Hannah knew that she wanted to work in the medical realm in some capacity. Both of her parents, as well as her brother, are human healthcare professionals. But Hannah suspected that she wanted to pursue a slightly different direction—veterinary medicine was the path for her. Now, she gets to help pets as a member of Hodes Veterinary Health Center’s kennel team!

Hannah is from Andover, Kansas and was first introduced to the clinic when one of the hospital’s veterinarians came to Hannah’s family home for a farm call. Hannah shadowed here at the practice a few times, and knew that she would enjoy working here. It wasn’t long before she had signed on as a member of the staff!

Hannah is currently in MHK working on her undergrad at Kansas State University. At home, she shares her love for pets with three dogs, two horses, cats, chickens, and even ducks!

Johnny was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, surrounded by family and an unrelenting love for pets. Johnny initially had no intention of becoming a veterinary professional. However, a chance encounter with a retired veterinarian while ranching changed everything. This veterinarian shared his stories of working with animals, and Johnny was captivated by the compassion and dedication he saw in this profession. Another fact that contributed to Johnny changing his mind was when his little sister's dog, Opal, almost didn't survive one winter after suffering frostbite, but Hodes VHC's team brought her back from the brink of death. The experience left Johnny in awe, knowing he had to be a part of the veterinary field.

Apart from Johnny and his passion for horses and cattle, he has four furry friends: Gilly, Ollie, Tom, and Opal are a part of his family. Johnny is an avid outdoorsman and an eagle scout who loves horses, hunting, fishing, camping, and ranching.

Becky's passion for animals began at a young age, and she knew from the start that she wanted to become a veterinary professional. She pursued her dream, graduating from Kansas State University in 2000 with a degree in Animal Science. Since then, she has dedicated her career to providing compassionate care for pets and their owners.

Becky has worked in a few different clinics over the past +20yrs. She came to Hodes to serve the community she lives in and help the practice grow. She is thrilled to be able to serve her community in Delore by providing top-quality veterinary care for pets of all shapes and sizes.

Becky grew up in Overland Park, Kansas, and moved to Rose Hill in 2006, with her husband and 2 boys. The family loves Rose Hill and is active in their church and community. Becky and her husband enjoy supporting their boys' activities, gardening, traveling, and being outdoors. Becky’s family has 1 dog, 3 cats, and 1 horse. Becky likes to ride horses, hike in the mountains, watch soccer games, and garden.

For Dr. Brian Hodes, veterinary medicine is truly a family affair. Not only does he own and operate Hodes Veterinary Health Center alongside his wife, Dr. Jessica Hodes, he essentially grew up in a mixed-animal hospital that his father owned in northern New Jersey. From the time he could walk, Dr. Hodes wanted to help his father in a hands-on way to better the lives of animals! That passion simply never quit, and Dr. Hodes has been caring for the earth’s creatures ever since.

Dr. Hodes attended Kansas State University for his undergraduate studies and remained at the university to earn his veterinary degree as well. After five years of practicing, he and his wife realized they needed more space to do their best work. Having outgrown their previous practice, the pair decided to make a change. With plenty of support from family, friends, and trusted clients, the Hodes opened Hodes Veterinary Health Center and haven’t looked back since!

Medically, Dr. Hodes enjoys orthopedic surgery and large-animal medicine. He also loves to interact one-on-one with other pet owners just like himself. Dr. Hodes is also passionate about education, and especially loves to mentor veterinary students to get them started off on the right path in the profession.

Away from work, Dr. Hodes likes running, playing ice hockey, fishing, volunteering for 4-H and working rodeo events. At home, he and his wife share their home with their young daughter, Bridget, as well as several pets. The family has two dogs—Miki the Red Heeler, who is Dr. Hodes’ favorite running partner, and a loveable Swiss Mountain dog named Olaf—as well as a housecat named Cricket and two barn cats, Hunter and Ranger.

Dr. Jessica Hodes is a native to the Rose Hill area. She grew up cultivating a love of not only animals and medicine, but of the caring individuals who owned pets. For her, working to better the lives of pets and their loving owners is what lies at the very heart of her profession. Dr. Hodes is proud to own and operate Hodes Veterinary Health Center alongside her husband, Dr. Brian Hodes, in order to best serve the pets and animal parents of the greater Wichita area!

Dr. Hodes attended Kansas State University to earn her Bachelor’s degree in biology—meeting her future husband, Dr. Brian Hodes, during her studies—before continuing on to the University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. During her graduate work, Dr. Hodes focused on equine medicine and surgery. During Dr. Jessica’s senior year, she was selected to serve as Kansas State University’s student representative for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky! She also completed externships at several major equine referral practices, including Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky and Glenwood veterinary clinic in Glenwood springs, Colorado.

Dr. Hodes is interested in various disciplines within veterinary medicine, including equine lameness and dentistry, reproduction, soft tissue surgery, ophthalmology, emergency and critical care, and neonatology. Most of all, she loves to interact one-on-one with pet owners and get to know their animal companions on a personal level.

At home, Dr. Hodes and her husband share their lives with their beautiful daughter, Bridget (known affectionately as Baby B). The family also has one horse, two dogs, and three cats. If Dr. Jessica finds any free time, she enjoys riding. She has shown in classical and Western dressage, and has spent many years showing American Saddlebreds. She even rode for Team USA at the Saddleseat World Cup Invitational in South Africa in 2003, and has won several world and national titles here in the United States!

Dr. Ryan Tanner grew up in Derby, where he spent countless hours exploring nature, hiking with family, and caring for a number of exotic pets at home. Those early experiences with animals made a permanent impression that ultimately led him to the veterinary profession.

Dr. Tanner earned his undergraduate degree in pre-medical cellular biology at Northeastern State University with the intention of going to medical school. While getting experience in a hospital setting for medical school, he shadowed Dr. Brian and Dr. Jessica, finding that there was a more personal, client-friendly approach in veterinary medicine when compared to many human practices. This led him to forego medical school in favor of veterinary school. He attended Kansas State University where he received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. During his doctorate studies, he was inducted into the Phi Zeta Veterinary Honors Society and received both the Anesthesia Excellence Award and the Dr. Wayne and Druecillia Burch Memorial Award for large animal medicine and surgery.

Dr. Tanner graduated as a veterinarian in 2017 and joined the Hodes Veterinary Health Center family shortly afterward. He has a special interest in internal medicine with emphases on neurology, cardiology, and endocrinology, as well as soft-tissue surgery, equine and exotic internal medicine, and emergency medicine.

Outside of the office, Dr. Tanner enjoys playing and watching sports, going hiking, dabbling in graphic design, architecture, programming and spending quality time with his family and pets. He lives in Derby with his wife, Leslie, and their lovely baby girl, Leah. The family has two dogs, Jasper and Shale, as well as tortoises, turtles, snakes, and a bearded dragon.

For Dr. Lucas Moeder, being uniquely equipped to meet the needs of pet parents and their companions is a dream come true. He can’t imagine doing anything other than bettering the lives of pets and people! Dr. Lucas is proud to serve as an Associate Veterinarian here at Hodes Veterinary Health Center.

Dr. Lucas hails from LaCrosse, Kansas and began his animal-care journey by shadowing at a clinic in Hays. He also spent a summer at a hospital in Kansas City before beginning veterinary school at Kansas State University in 2017. Dr. Lucas hasn’t looked back since! He joined the team here at Hodes Veterinary Health Center in 2021 and couldn’t be happier to help the pets and animal parents of the Wichita area. Medically, he’s fond of surgery and complex medical cases, but his favorite part of the work is forming meaningful relationships with the pet owners he helps every day.

In his time away from work, Dr. Lucas enjoys hunting and fishing, staying active by playing basketball or football, and spending time with his wife, Kelly.

Dr. Molly Jaax was born and raised in Wichita - KS, as the youngest of 3. She started her career with a mobile equine practice that helped her to cultivate her love for equine medicine and the many disciplines it has to offer. Dr. Molly Jaax is constantly excited to continue building her knowledge and expertise in the field of medicine. She really enjoys the challenges of sports medicine and also has a passion for equine reproduction.

Since a young age, Dr. Molly Jaax has always had a passion for helping animals and wanting to make them feel better. After starting to work with dogs and horses, she became very interested in ways to help animals with both traditional veterinary medicine as well as regenerative and alternative therapies.

Attending undergraduate and Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University helped her to make that dream a reality. She continued her growth in sports animal medicine and rehabilitation by attending Options for Animals School for Animal Chiropractic and getting certified through the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association.

Dr. Molly Jaax currently lives in Wichita with her boyfriend Zach, their 5 dogs, and 2 cats. She loves riding horses, training dogs for obedience and agility, and gardening!

Dr. Steven Hodes always wanted to help as many animals as he possibly could, but he also wanted to make an impact on the lives of families. He knew that working as a veterinarian would allow him to do both. Dr. Hodes is the founder of Hodes Vet Group and is now semi-retired, but still gets to make a difference in his community by helping and consulting on a regular basis!

Dr. Hodes grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey and attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio to study zoology. Next, he moved on to Ohio State University to study reproductive physiology and dairy science before heading to Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine to earn his Doctorate and become a licensed veterinarian. Upon graduating, Dr. Hodes returned to his home state of New Jersey, where he launched Hodes Veterinary Group in Mine Hill. The rest is history!

One of the things that Dr. Hodes likes most about being a veterinarian is the fact that no two days are ever quite the same. He’s also fond of complex medical and surgical cases. Above all, he likes knowing that his hard work makes a difference for the local community and the families that live here.

Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Hodes enjoys exercising at the YMCA, weight lifting, mountain biking, and spending quality time with his family. He and his wife, Colleen, have three children: Brian, who is now Dr. Hodes’ boss here at the clinic; Tim, who lives in New York; and Alexa, who lives in Wichita. Dr. Hodes and his wife are also proud grandparents to five wonderful grandchildren: Bridget, Hudson, Houston, Sloan, and Alexander. At home, they live with one pet: Avery, an aging Labrador who shares a banana with Dr. Hodes nearly every morning.

As a child, Dr. Jackson was fascinated with science and medicine. Back then, he dreamed of one day becoming a doctor for a sports team. While he was still a freshman in high school, he met a veterinarian named Dr. Gates and, after getting to know him and seeing the work he did, Dr. Jackson knew he’d officially found his calling. Of course, given the fact that his first word was “puppy,” it does seem a bit like destiny!

Dr. Jackson attended Kansas State for both undergrad and veterinary school. While there, he became soccer teammates with Dr. Tanner, who also became a great mentor to him, both on and off the field. The two stayed in touch, and Dr. Jackson was able to shadow here at Hodes Veterinary Health Center during his final three years of vet school. He knew almost immediately this would be the place he would eventually call home.

Clinically, Dr. Jackson has a special interest in soft tissue surgery and dental procedures, and especially likes working with exotics and small ruminants. To date, the only animal that has truly bitten him has been a two-week-old kid goat. Go figure!

Dr. Jackson resides in Rose Hill with his dog, Betty, whom he adopted through the Wichita Animal Action League on his first day working at HVHC. Betty is a very good dog, albeit a total goofball. She has a passion for ice cubes and once ate a cicada, but quickly learned her lesson. In his spare time, Dr. Jackson enjoys golf, backcountry camping (which he coincidentally sometimes does while looking for his golf ball), spending time with family, and both watching and playing sports.