Get to Know Our Team!
We are fully committed to your pet’s well-being! We’re eager to connect with you and invite you to learn more about us by scrolling down.
Veterinarians
Dr. Jaime R. Kurucz
D.V.M.
Dr. Jaime Kurucz is honored and privileged to provide the highest level of care to your beloved pet. Galloway Village Veterinary continues to practice excellence by investing in state-of-the-art technology and committing to high-quality medicine, patient-centered delivery of services, and enhanced public education.
Dr. Kurucz, a native of southwest Missouri, comes to Galloway Village with exceptional experience as a small animal clinician.
She graduated from the University of Colorado in 1999 with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. After earning her Doctorate from Kansas State’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005, she completed an internship at the VCA Emergency and Referral Hospital in San Diego where she focused on Internal Medicine, Surgery, Dermatology, Exotics, and Emergency Medicine.
After working in San Diego as a small animal clinician, and enjoying life in southern California, she moved back home to be closer to family. She has been working in Springfield in both relief and associate positions since 2007.
Dr. Kurucz’s family includes her two sons, two Great Danes, one cat, and a dachshund. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, yoga, riding bikes, hiking, and spending time outdoors.
Dr. Bethany J. Rust
D.V.M.
Dr. Bethany Rust joined the staff at Galloway Village Veterinary in June of 2011. She is a native of Springfield and loves being at Galloway.
Dr. Rust earned her undergraduate degree from Southwest Missouri State University with a Bachelor’s in biology in 2000.
After several years of working as a veterinary assistant, and later as a medical assistant in a pediatric office, she realized that she would never truly be happy until she made her lifelong dream come true. Dr. Rust earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2011 from Ross University.
Dr. Rust loves spending time with her husband and kids, along with Stripe, her 9-year-old domestic shorthair who sometimes acts more like a dog than a cat. She loves family vacations where Stripe gets to tag along, too!
At home, she cares for a 15-year-old Chinese Water Dragon, Lizzie, who has a very big personality. On her days off, and if the weather cooperates, Dr. Rust can be found on a river or lake, working in her garden, or walking with her mom. She looks forward to a long career with Galloway Village Veterinary and establishing a relationship with you and your pets.
Dr. Zachariahs
D.V.M.
Bio Coming Soon
Dr. Henderson
D.V.M.
Bio Coming Soon
Practice Manager
Christina Bane
Practice Manager
Christina joined the Galloway Village Veterinary team as our Practice Manager in August 2019. Christina loves working with the staff and sharing her office with her trusty sidekick, Toothless, our office cat.
When Christina isn’t at work, she enjoys being a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur. She loves to spend time traveling and hanging out with her daughter, Olivia.
Registered Veterinary Technicians
Erica Wheat
Registered Veterinary Technician and Head Veterinary Technician
Erica joined the Galloway Village Veterinary team in June of 2013 and has been working in the veterinary field since 2008. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Missouri State University and an Associate’s degree in Veterinary Technology from Crowder College.
Her favorite parts of the job are dentistry, assisting in surgery, and spending the day with great pets and owners.
She and her husband, Kody, have what they affectionately call their petting zoo: Nora, a cocker spaniel; Wallace, a Plott hound mix; Fanta, an orange tabby cat; Carmen, Helga, and Olga, the guinea pigs; Samus and Shinobi, the turtles; and Agnes and Enid, the redfoot tortoises.
Erica’s favorite hobbies are finding or creating enrichment opportunities for all of her animals, and playing board games, card games, or video games with friends.
Jacey Epperson
Registered Veterinary Technician
Jacey has been working in the veterinary medicine field since 2016 and has been with us at Galloway Village Veterinary since 2018.
She loves seeing and caring for all the patients at the hospital. One of Jacey’s favorite procedures as a veterinary technician is performing ultrasounds.
When Jacey is not at GVV caring for your pets, she enjoys spending time with her husband Dalton, and her two pets—a chihuahua named Toby and a blue tick coonhound/beagle mix named Precious.
Hunter Kinser
Office Manager and Registered Veterinary Technician
Hunter has been working with our team since December 2018. He enjoys every opportunity to assist the veterinarians in surgery and handle and care for patients.
He is always ready to be an advocate for animals to help them receive the best medicine—which is what is offered at Galloway Village Veterinary!
When he isn’t caring for your pets, Hunter is most likely at the gym, spending time with his own pets, playing video games, or cooking.
Assistant Techs
Morgan Kinder
Veterinary Assistant
Morgan has been working as an assistant technician at Galloway Village Veterinary since December 2020. She loves that she is always learning new things and growing in her position.
Morgan’s favorite part about her job is the staff she gets to work with and the animals she gives love to every day.
When she’s not hanging out with our lovely patients, Morgan is at home with her two cats. She also enjoys spending time by the water, reading, and listening to music.
Mackenzie Wheeler
Assistant Tech
Mackenzie started working at Galloway Village Veterinary as a receptionist in March 2020 becoming a Assistant Technician soon after.
She studied at Missouri State University for her Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife Biology.
Mackenzie enjoys anything outdoors but especially likes kayaking and hiking. When she isn’t at work, she is most likely baking and spending time with her dogs Dakota and Eleanor.
Tawny Stowell
Assistant Tech
Tawny joined the team at Galloway Village Veterinary as a Receptionist in September 2020. She soon after moved into an Assistant Technician position.
One of Tawny’s favorite parts of her job is hearing good news from clients that their pets are doing better.
She also loves that we are able to give clients hope for their pets when they have been told there is nothing left they can do.
Tawny enjoys reading and painting. She also loves going on hikes with her dog!
Head Receptionist
Katie Boyer
Head Receptionist
Katie started working as a receptionist at Galloway Village Veterinary in October 2020. One of her favorite parts of being here is getting to see all the different breeds that come through.
In her free time, she loves to spend time with her daughter and snuggle her two cats (Indie and Toulouse) and her five dogs (Nova, Sophie, Priscilla, Hugo, and Pepper).
Receptionists and Assistant Techs
Jenna Browning
Receptionist and Assistant Tech
Jenna joined the team in December of 2021 as a Receptionist soon moving into an Assistant Technician position. She is currently attending Missouri State University studying Animal Science.
In her free time, she enjoys hiking and being in the outdoors with her dogs.
Riley Hoenes
Receptionist and Assistant Tech
Riley has been a receptionist with us since May of 2022. Riley’s favorite thing about being here is getting to watch all of the animals we cared for get to go home with their family.
Both the owners and pets are always so excited. Riley likes to spend her free time running with her dog Sophie or painting in the park.
Jessica Shields
Receptionist and Assistant Tech
Jessica joined the team as a Receptionist in March of 2023 and quickly began training as an Assistant Technician.
In her free time, she enjoys riding her motorcycle and spending quality time with her family.
Abbie Johnson
Receptionist
Bio Coming Soon!
Nicole Knudsen
Receptionist
Bio Coming Soon!
Head Kennel Technician and Assistant Tech
Haley Fuldner
Head Kennel Technician and Assistant Tech
Haley has been working with pets at Galloway Village Veterinary since August 2018. She loves caring for and keeping our clients happy.
She enjoys helping and working with all the amazing veterinarians and technicians at the hospital.
When Haley isn’t caring for your pets at GVV, she is caring for her own at home! She spends her free time with her husband Jake, her dogs, and her cats, and she also has a hobby of taking care of her reptiles.
Her goal is to become a vet for all animals and she plans to pursue that in the next year.