Meet Our Doctors

Megan completed her undergraduate (Biology Major, emphasis in Pre-Vet) at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. Megan has been passionate about becoming a Veterinarian since she was 5 years old. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 2017, although she misses the seasons of the Midwest as she loved spending time outdoors and on the water, Megan then went on to perform an Internship at Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson from 2017 to 2018. She has always had a deep love and enjoyment for emergency and critical care. She enjoys having the opportunity to see cases recover and getting to send them home to their loving families. She currently lives in Tucson with her husband, daughter Mackenzie, their 4 dogs Max, Lady Bug, Cricket, and Wrangler and two cats Owen and Cleo.

Dr. Hodges is originally from Tyler, Texas. He has always been an animal lover, and volunteered at a wildlife rehabilitation facility where he had the opportunity to work with many interesting species, including raccoons, otters, beavers, skunks and even a wallaby! He received a Bachelor of Arts in Animal Behavior from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas in 2014. After graduation he worked as a veterinary technician for almost 4 years before moving to Arizona for Veterinary School. Dr. Hodges received his DVM degree from Midwestern University in 2021. While attending Midwestern Dr. Hodges developed a strong interest in emergency and preventative medicine, and is looking forward to building long lasting bonds with his patients and their humans at GQ Vet. In his free time he enjoys spending time exploring restaurants and craft breweries in the valley with his wife Kelsi, hiking, snowboarding, and spending time with his golden retriever puppy, Mia.

Dr. Logan Hille was born in 1991 in Southern California and moved to Arizona in 1995. He graduated from the University of Arizona in 2013 with a degree in veterinary sciences and attended Colorado State University for veterinary school. After graduating in 2018, Dr. Hille moved to Dallas, Texas where he lived for 8 months. Knowing Texas was not the place for him, Dr. Hille moved back to Arizona in 2019 to be closer to his friends and family. He has two dogs, Rory and Lincoln, who he loves dearly. In his off time, Dr. Hille likes golfing, relaxing with friends, and playing video games. 

Dr. Hille has a special interest in Oncology and advanced Valley Fever.

Dr. Bronstein is originally from New York CIty. She has always been interested in working with animals but did not begin her path to veterinary medicine until sophomore year of college. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College in Massachusetts with a major in Philosophy. After graduating, she spent 6 months in Thailand volunteering at an elephant sanctuary before completing a pre-med post-baccalaureate at City College in New York City. She then moved to Arizona to complete her veterinary degree at Midwestern University. She has an interest in emergency medicine and preventative care. She places a keen emphasis on building relationships with clients, working with them to treat their pets, and giving them happy and healthy lives. In her free time she enjoys kickboxing and dance classes, playing volleyball, and spending time with friends and family. She has a 5 year-old dog named Amos and a 9 year-old cat named Messi.

Dr. Sembach is a Midwest native who fell in love with the southwestern lifestyle while attending veterinary school at the University of Arizona where she graduated. She grew up playing competitive soccer and showing American Saddlebred horses on the world and national circuit. She continued these passions throughout undergrad at the University of Kentucky where she graduated with a degree in animal science. Her passions in veterinary medicine include internal medicine, ultrasound/radiology and behavior. She is fear free certified and loves finding ways to make visits as stress free as possible for both her patients and their owners. In her free time Dr. Sembach can be found running and hiking with her border collie mix, Beau, reading or trying new recipes out for her friends and family!

Dr. Courtney Phongsavath, also known as Dr. Phong, spent her formative years in a rural town in North Carolina before relocating to Florida, where she attended the University of Florida. There, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, with a specialization in Biology, complemented by a minor in Entomology and Nematology. She then moved to Arizona where she obtained her degree in Veterinary Medicine at Midwestern University. Given her love for the sunshine, heat, and low humidity that this state had to offer, she decided to stick around and pursue a career here following graduation. Dr. Phong’s special interests in the field include emergency and large animal medicine, anatomic pathology, and neurology. She enjoys practicing evidence-based medicine while promoting the human-animal bond. In her spare time, Dr. Phong enjoys lifting weights, gaming, axe-throwing, and trying new donut shops to satisfy her sweet tooth.

Dr. Mikes was born and raised in Alaska. Arizona is the only other state that she has lived in. Emergency Medicine is her passion. She is the second youngest of 13, and has a big family. She currently has two cats, adding a dog, horse, cow, and chickens in the future. She is a lover of tattoos and anything wild. She loves the outdoors, camping, hiking, bird watching and being around natural bodies of water. She also loves reading in her free time and recently started a little book club with her sister.

Dr. Krista Miller was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and attended Iowa State University (go Cyclones!), where she earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science. She continued her education at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine to become a veterinarian, which was an absolute dream-come-true. While she will always have a place in her heart for the great state of Iowa, she is beyond excited to be in Arizona as a part of the team at Gilbert Queen Cree Emergency & Specialty Center! Her greatest passion in the veterinary field is emergency and critical care. In her free time, Dr. Miller loves traveling, live music, and hiking or kayaking with her husband and 3 dogs, Daisy, Dodger, and Jetta. She also has a 3-legged cat, Stella, who does not enjoy hiking and/or kayaking.

Dr. Hintz was born in Calgary, Alberta in Canada, but considers himself a Phoenician after residing in Arizona for most of his life.  While he has a love for all animals, he has an especially soft spot for cats. He has worked in the valley as a veterinary technician for the last 16 years, 10 of those years in emergency medicine.  He earned his doctorate in Veterinary medicine from Midwestern University. He is passionate about utilizing his education and applying his skill sets toward the evolution of medicine, with a focus on emergency/urgent care and client education. In his free time, he enjoys cooking (and more importantly, eating), attending plays, and traveling the world with his fiancé as often as he can.

Dr. Jessica Schneider’s life has always been full of animals, from house pets to horses. Growing up in Idaho, Texas, and Illinois, she now enjoys the warm Arizona winters. Dr. Schneider graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho’s Animal Science Program before attending veterinary medical school at Washington State University, graduating with her DVM and a certificate in Global Animal Health.

Her special interests include surgery, emergency medicine and spay/neuter. Dr. Schneider particularly enjoys giving back by donating her time and skills. While in vet school, she spent 3 months in Nepal vaccinating dogs for rabies, she donated 250+ hours providing free veterinary services on Washington Indian reservations, and currently volunteers with local dog and rabbit rescues.

In her free time, Dr. Schneider enjoys traveling with her husband, horseback riding, jewelry making, and reading. Their family consists of 4 cats – 3 of which are orange, 2 dogs, and a spunky rabbit. Dr. Schneider understands the profound impact animals have on our lives. She looks forward to providing high-quality, compassionate care to your furbabies.

Dr. Capell was raised in Washington State where she attended Washington State University and obtained her bachelors in zoology. She moved to Tucson to attend vet school as part of the inaugural class at the University of Arizona. Dr. Capell is excited to start her career as a doctor in small animal ER medicine. She has an adorable dog named Shay and a spunky cat named Fern. In her off time you can find her hiking, traveling, reading, cooking or binge watching her favorite tv shows.

Dr. Walker is from the small community of Chilchinbeto, Arizona, located on the Navajo reservation. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arizona in 2022 and has proudly been a Wildcat for the past seven years. Dr. Walker’s professional interests include emergency medicine and, more recently, soft tissue surgery. His long-term goal is to become a mixed animal practitioner and eventually open his own ambulatory practice, with the hope of growing it into a full-service clinic. He shares his life with two dogs— Bailey, who has a torn CCL, and Hattie, who he adopted during an externship at a zoo in Mississippi and who is currently undergoing treatment for heartworm. Despite their medical challenges, he lovingly refers to them as his “lemons.” In his free time, Dr. Walker enjoys hiking and traveling, having already explored countries such as Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Costa Rica. A self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie, he has also gone whitewater rafting, zip-lining, and skydiving, and looks forward to continuing his adventures both personally and professionally.

Dr. Rowitt is a recent graduate of the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine and is eager to begin her career in emergency veterinary medicine. Her dedication to animal care is matched by a strong foundation in public health, having earned a master’s degree in the field prior to attending veterinary school. She is deeply passionate about the well-being of both pets and their people, and she strives to support healthier communities through a holistic approach to care. Outside of her professional pursuits, Dr. Rowitt holds a black belt in TaeKwonDo and enjoys staying active through training, hiking, and running. She and her husband share their home with two beloved pets—a dog named Bo and a cat named Willow—who bring joy and companionship to their everyday lives.

Dr. Rhoads completed their undergraduate studies at Penn State University Park, majoring in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences with minors in Equine Science and Wildlife and Fisheries Science. During this time, they gained clinical experience working as a veterinary assistant at a small animal clinic in State College, Pennsylvania, and spent a summer as a wildlife rehabilitation intern at Centre Wildlife Care. Dr. Rhoads earned their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where they also completed a certificate program in Shelter Medicine. While in veterinary school, they worked in the KSU Veterinary Health Center’s small animal emergency room, further developing a strong interest in emergency and critical care medicine, as well as shelter medicine. Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Rhoads enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time outdoors exploring local wildlife. They are accompanied by their six-year-old Alaskan Klee Kai, Nero, who provided invaluable support throughout veterinary school. Dr. Rhoads looks forward to spending more quality time with Nero, including renewed efforts in trick training and possibly exploring dog sports.

Dr. Perez was born and raised in Arizona and earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University in 2020. Growing up surrounded by a variety of animals, including chickens, ducks, turtles, dogs, cats, hamsters, and mice—she developed a deep passion for animal care from an early age. She is particularly interested in preventative medicine, client education, soft tissue surgery, and urgent care. In her free time, Dr. Perez enjoys hiking, playing pickleball, reading, and traveling. She is also an avid Grey’s Anatomy fan and shares her home with two beloved dogs, Rosie and Scooby.

Dr. Niergarth is originally from West Michigan, where his journey in animal care began at the age of 14 through hands-on work with horses. It was during these formative years that he developed a strong passion for animal husbandry. His early experiences eventually led him to shadow at a veterinary clinic, where he discovered a deep interest in veterinary medicine—particularly in surgery. Dr. Niergarth is currently pursuing his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Arizona. His passion for surgery has shaped his professional focus and continues to guide his aspirations within both general practice and shelter medicine. He is committed to applying his skills to provide high-quality surgical care while supporting underserved animal populations. Outside of veterinary medicine, he is an avid woodworker, enjoying projects that range from crafting cutting boards to completing full basement renovations. He’s also a nature enthusiast who loves hiking and exploring the outdoors. During his clinical year, he’s had the opportunity to hike through the redwoods of California, explore the landscapes of Washington, and even visit Hawaii. Now based in Arizona, he looks forward to discovering more of the Phoenix area’s natural beauty alongside his girlfriend.

Dr. King grew up in Southern Utah, where his family raised cattle and quarter horses. It was there that his passion for caring for animals first began. During his undergraduate studies, he had the opportunity to work closely with several mixed animal practitioners, which sparked his interest in small animal medicine. During that time, he also got married, and he and his spouse have since welcomed two children. In August 2022, Dr. King and his family relocated to Tucson when he began veterinary school at the University of Arizona. They have greatly enjoyed living in Arizona. His professional interests include oncology, surgery, and emergency medicine. Dr. King is excited to join the team and looks forward to working with the clinic’s clients and patients.

Dr. Henkel was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. He began his academic journey playing tennis for Pima Community College before completing his undergraduate degree in Veterinary Sciences at the University of Arizona. He went on to earn his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine, further solidifying his Wildcat pride—Bear Down! Dr. Henkel is passionate about emergency and urgent care, ultrasound, and strengthening communication in clinical practice. He has a deep appreciation for the state of Arizona and its stunning sunsets, and he especially enjoys supporting local teams, including the Tucson Roadrunners. Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Henkel enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, and traveling to national parks with his wife. He is also an avid fan of crocheting, knitting, and watching sports—particularly hockey, football, and baseball. A dedicated Halloween enthusiast, he has attended Six Flags Fright Fest in both Santa Clarita and San Antonio for the past six years. Dr. Henkel shares his home with a senior Jack Russell/Chihuahua mix who prefers staying in and watching The Real Housewives and Frasier when the family is away.

Originally from Guangzhou, China, Dr. Cen is a proud Midwestern graduate and long-time Las Vegas resident who has a deep love for the outdoors. During veterinary school, she adopted two cats—though both have since been lovingly “stolen” by her mom. Her favorite hobbies include cooking, browsing for new houseplants, and watching anime. A self-proclaimed houseplant enthusiast and former viola player of seven years, she brings a creative and thoughtful energy to everything she does. Despite living in Las Vegas for over 20 years, she has never gambled in a casino. Now, as she works toward her goal of becoming an emergency veterinarian, she’s thrilled to take the next step in her career alongside a team of passionate and dedicated colleagues.

Justyss was born in Germany and attended The University of Alabama at Birmingham for her undergrad. She then went to the University of Arizona for Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2024.

She is passionate about veterinary medicine because she loves how animals have the power to make you feel loved no matter what. Animals are family and she wants to help make them as happy, healthy, comfortable as possible. For fun Justyss likes baking, singing, hiking, and hanging out with her 3 dogs; Leo, Darwin, and Marley and of course her 2 rabbits Simon and Poppie.

Mazie is all about faith, family, fitness…and animals, of course! She is the fourth out of six kids with four brothers and one sister. Her childhood involved backyard games and growing up on a private farm surrounded by llamas, horses, chickens, cats, dogs, ducks, and those pesky wild racoons. She has always loved staying active and found an obsession with CrossFit in her undergraduate years and now an elite competitive athlete (well, trying to be competitive in consideration of managing vet school). Mazie’s goal is to advance her athletic career alongside her Veterinary Medicine career. Some fun facts about her are that she loves walking on her hands, can out-eat just about anybody, is addicted to peanut butter, and is notorious for spontaneous long road trips!

Dr. Mike Conzemius received his DVM and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Iowa State University. He completed his surgical residency at the University of Pennsylvania. He has served as a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania, Iowa State University at the University of Minnesota. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and an ACVS Founding Fellow in Joint Replacement Surgery.

Dr. Roth was born in Colorado, and has lived most of her life in Arizona. She first attended the Air Force Academy, but then exchanged her career as a pilot for that of becoming a veterinarian! She graduated as a DVM from Colorado State University, and spent most of her career in entrepreneurial endeavors. She has a passion for educating others, and in addition to teaching veterinary ultrasound within the industry, she also helped build the education department for Sound Technologies. After 20 years in the veterinary industry, she completed an alternative radiology residency in 2017 and enjoys practicing her specialty of radiology in both clinical and teleradiology settings. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing her Christian faith while trying to humbly navigate life. She enjoys spending time with her two adult children, both with special needs in the autism spectrum. She has been an equestrian coach for the Special Olympics, and once traveled to Greece for the World Games. She enjoys being athletic (basketball, swimming, triathlons, or just staying fit). She enjoys spending her free time in warm places, sunny beaches, and watching beautiful Arizona desert sunsets.

Lisa Shubitz, DVM, is a Research Scientist at the Valley Fever Center for Excellence (University of Arizona, Tucson). She has spent 25 years conducting valley fever research as well as consulting on cases of valley fever in animals. Recent research includes working on a vaccine to prevent valley fever in dogs, improved mouse models of infection, studies on vaccine protection in immunodeficient mice, immunology studies in dogs with valley fever, and a study of fluconazole doses in alpacas.  She shares her life with her three dogs and dog agility and other sports are her primary hobby.  She also enjoys hiking and biking both with and without the dogs, and baking cookies and bread. Dr. Shubitz will be providing consultation services for our Emergency Hospital related to valley fever cases, and assisting with our patient’s treatment for valley fever including the use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy!

Valley Veterinary Cardiology: The veterinary cardiologist behind our mobile services is Dr. Christopher Paige. Chris has been working in the field for more than 10 years but has had a passion for animals all of his life. Dr. Paige is board-certified in Cardiology by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). For more than nine years, he has worked in private specialty practices in Mesa, Phoenix, and Flagstaff, Arizona, offering full, interventional cardiology service. In 2012, Dr. Paige was recruited into cardiovascular research at a world-renowned human medical device company. He also served as Chair of the ACVIM Residency Training Committee and is Adjunct Faculty at Midwestern School of Veterinary Medicine. In 2014, he founded Veterinary Specialists of Northern Arizona to provide cardiology services to the Flagstaff, Cottonwood, Campe Verde, Sedona and surrounding areas. He opened Valley Veterinary Cardiology in August 2016 to offer the Valley’s first cardiology specific practice dedicated to patient, client and primary care veterinarian support. In his free time, Dr. Paige enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids, as well as their family pets. He also likes to hike, run, mountain bike and downhill ski.

Dr. Venable is Board Certified as a medical oncologist from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Dr. Venable has always been surrounded by animals growing up on a farm in the Midwest. She obtained her veterinary degree from the University of Missouri and graduated cum laude. After veterinary school, Dr. Venable pursued further training as a small animal intern at the University of Georgia. She then completed her 3-year medical oncology residency at the world-renowned Colorado State Flint Animal Cancer Center. During her residency, she achieved a master’s degree and studied new cancer therapies and clinical trials. She continues to seek out clinical trials and cutting-edge therapies for her patients. Dr. Venable has authored numerous publications and has been a speaker on local and national levels. She is the founder of Pet Cancer Care Consulting, an innovative teleconsulting service which consults with the family vet and pet owner together to give personalized responses and needed information to make an informed decision on treatments. She is also a VIN consultant, research consultant, and was an adjunct professor of veterinary oncology at Midwestern University. She is a member of many organizations and currently a director of the board of the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association. Her oncology philosophy is one of a team-based approach with the family and referring veterinarians for compassionate, individualized care, and optimal quality of life for cancer patients and their families.

Dr. Venable enjoys the outdoors and being on the trail with her wonderful husband and their young daughters. Service opportunities are important to them as they volunteer at church and abroad as her husband works for a non-profit building schools in the developing world. Together they go on projects all over the globe with Be the Change Volunteers.