PREMIER EQUINE VET SERVICES - Key Persons

Alejandro started working at Premier Equine Veterinary Services in the spring of 2018. Prior to this he was employed at Taymar Ranch in Pilot Point, Texas. Alejandro has worked with horses his entire life, and has extensive experience caring for and handling horses. He also is very talented at starting young horses under saddle. Alejandro helps care for the hospitalized horses and assists with treatments and examinations.

Braulio has been with Premier Equine Veterinary Services and Sports Medicine Center since 2014. Prior to that he was employed at an equine veterinary clinic and reproduction center for over 20 years. Braulio has extensive experience in taking care and handling horses of all ages, as well as other duties necessary in a veterinary clinic. Braulio is Dr. Rhoads' main technician. He assists in examinations, cares for hospitalized horses, and helps in surgery. He also oversees grounds and facility maintenance.

Daniela joined the team at Premier Equine Veterinary Services and Sports Medicine Center in April, 2018. Daniela is originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil and has been in Texas since 2010. She has a bachelors in Animal Science and currently is doing the online school program at Penn Foster College to become a certified veterinarian technician. Daniela managed Sliding K Performance Horses for 7 years prior to becoming a veterinarian technician. Daniela helps runs the laboratory equipment, blood work, prepares the surgical suite, and makes sure the surgical packs are clean and sterile and ready to be used when needed. She also helps Dr. Rhoads with examinations, assists in surgery, provides care and treatments for the hospitalized horses, and anything else that might come up in the course of the day at a busy equine veterinary hospital. When asked about working for Dr. Rhoads, she replies "Dr. Rhoads is great to work for. He is great teacher, a horseman, showman, and very ethical veterinarian. I couldn't ask for a better equine vet clinic to work at. The whole team at Premier Equine is outstanding. I'm beyond excited to be part of Premier Equine team! The future is bright here.

Debbie has been employed at Premier Equine Veterinary Services and Sports Medicine Center since 2014. Debbie runs the laboratory equipment , blood work, progesterone assays, and prepares other samples to send to outside laboratories. She prepares the surgical suite, and makes sure the surgical packs are clean and sterile and ready to go at a moments notice. When asked about working for Dr. Rhoads, she replies "His clientele are the best, from clients bringing in their pet pony to the winner of the last show. Dr. Rhoads is great to work for. He is a horseman, showman, and very ethical veterinarian."

Job Titles:

• Premier Equine Sports Medicine Center Manager

Premier Equine Sports Medicine Center manager Kelsie Kean moved to Texas from a small town in Nebraska in 2014 after obtaining a degree in Agribusiness Management and Technology. Prior to working for Dr. Rhoads, she trained and showed reining, ranch riding, and all around horses. She has always been passionate about the well being and health of horses as well as learning about the most recent rehabilitation technology to aid in the recovery from injury. Kelsie enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, trail riding, and biking. She is committed to giving owners a great experience while creating a positive atmosphere to help sick and injured horses.

Sharon Klingler RVT, VTS (Anesthesia, EVN) has been a veterinary technician for over 30 years. She worked in private practice for almost 20 years where she worked in both an emergency and a general practice as the office manager, the anesthesia technician, and emergency technician. In 1997, Sharon joined the anesthesia department at the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital to pursue a career as an anesthesia technician specialist. She is a credentialed member of the Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthetists. Sharon joined Dr. Rhoads' staff in 2006. She currently provides anesthesia to Dr. Rhoads' surgical patients and assists in other areas of the practice. She also assists Dr. Wendy Rhoads at All About Pets Animal Hospital. For the past few years, Sharon has been involved with the American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians and is a member of the organizing committee for the newly recognized Equine Veterinary Nursing Academy. She also speaks to technicians at both local and national conferences. Sharon resides in Sadler, Texas, with her daughter Megan and grandson Bradley. Sharon enjoys horseback riding, gardening, watching Bradley play sports, and taking care of her menagerie of animals.

Dr. Rhoads grew up on the east coast in the state of Maryland. His love of horses began early in his youth while he was active in the horse program of the local 4-H. He obtained his first show horse in 1984 and competed in Western Pleasure at AQHA shows. Dr. Rhoads attended undergraduate school at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg Virginia, where he gradated summa cum laude with a degree in Biochemistry in 1991. Dr. Rhoads graduated from veterinary school in 1995 from Oklahoma State University. He went on to complete an internship in equine medicine and surgery at Kansas State University. Following this he entered an equine surgery residency at the University of Georgia, which he completed in 1999. Dr. Rhoads stayed at the University of Georgia for an additional year as a lecturer in equine surgery. From 2000-2003, Dr. Rhoads was the staff surgeon at Equine Services, a referral equine surgery hospital in Simpsonville, Kentucky. In 2003, Dr. Rhoads fulfilled a lifelong dream of living in North Central Texas when he moved to Whitesboro to work as an associate surgeon at Performance Equine Associates. Dr. Rhoads became Board Certified in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2000. In 2001, he became Board Certified in the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, Equine Specialty. Dr. Rhoads is one of only several individuals in the entire world that is board certified in these two organizations collectively. Dr. Rhoads enjoys riding and showing reining horses in NRHA aged events. While attending these events, Dr. Rhoads is able to provide continued care to many of his patients with his mobile equine clinic. Dr. Rhoads' current show horse, Mega Maggie Mae, was the 2015 NRHA Futurity Levels 1-3 champion and level 4 reserve champion. In 2016 the pair won the preliminary rounds of both the NRBC and NRHA Derby and was crowned the Level 4 NRHA Derby Champion. Dr. Rhoads has been involved with the Texas Equine Veterinary Association since its inception in 2009. He served as the organization's treasurer from 2011 until 2016, when he became the vice president. Dr. Rhoads will take the reins as the organization's president in 2018.