Dr. Tamra Walthall
Dr. Tamra Walthall is the principal veterinarian, and owner of La Vega Veterinary Clinic, with her husband Roy Walthall.
Dr. Walthall is active in both her local and veterinary community. She served on the Board of Trustees for the La Vega ISD for 18 years, and as a Director the Texas Association School Boards (TASB) for 4 years.
She has served on the board of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) for many years. She was elected to Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) President in 2022. She is a former President of the Texas Academy of Veterinary Practice (TAVP).
Dr. Walthall also works with the Waco Humane Society providing spays and neutered to recently adopted animals.
Dr. Walthall’s husband, Roy, was a Government Instructor for McLennan Community College for 27 years. Their daughter, Telly, married to Kyle Ramsey, teaches at University High school in Waco. Their son, Rydell is a Transportation Engineer and soccer referee while he attends graduate school at the University of Texas in Austin.
Dr. Michael J. Joyner
Dr. Michael J. Joyner hails from New Castle, Indiana. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science at Purdue University and is a 1984 graduate of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. He relocated his family for the warm weather and the sunny blue skies of Texas.
A leader in veterinary continuing education, he holds a degree from Purdue University Veterinary Management Institute (1994). He served as Chairman of the Board of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) in 1998 and as TVMA president in 2003. Currently, Dr. Joyner is the Texas representative to the Southwest Veterinary Symposium, the treasurer of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association and the president of the North Central Veterinary Medical Association. He is responsible for setting up speakers for continuing education seminars in the North Central Veterinary district.
Melody Berend
Melody is our practice manager. Melody began working at LVVC in January of 1999 as lead veterinary technician. Prior to her years at LVVC she worked at Wise County Animal Clinic and Mellina Animal Hospital as a veterinary technician. Melody spent 2 years away from LVVC to work for the Texas Department Of State Health Services as a Public Health Technician for Zoonosis Control. She then returned as the Practice Manager. Melody loves animals and enjoys in helping provide care to all your animals. She is also an avid barrel racer and break-a-way roper and loves training horses and children. Melody is married to a wonderful man, Jeremy that is a welder and helps with all their animals and helps haul them to the rodeos and barrel races. Melody is a mother of three wonderful children. Calder is her 24 yr old son who is very involved in rodeo and team roping and has given Melody a very amazing daughter in law, Skyler. Skyler as well loves animals and loves to barrel race and rope and hauls with Melody and LJ. Lindsey Jo (LJ) is her 12 year old daughter, that most of you clients are familiar with since Lindsey Jo spent a few of her first months at the clinic. Lindsey Jo is following in her mom and brothers footsteps and has began her rodeo career and she enjoys showing lambs in her free time, She also has a 17 yr old stepson they have custody of, Matthew that enjoys video games, football and is taking an interest in roping. They have 4 corgies and several horses that are also part of her family.
Bridgit Rodgers
Hello, my name is Bridgit Rodgers and I am 21 years old. I love all animals and love this field of work and plan on going to school to become a licensed vet tech in the near future. Outside of work I continue my love for animals by working with horses and live stock at home. I also enjoy barrel racing, it brings me a lot of joy.
Debbie Eckstrom
I have been in the veterinary field for over 10 years now. Have done kennel work, front desk and tech. Have worked for rescue groups, shelters and veteriarians. Do not have a LVT certificate but on the job training with some of the best technicians, veteriarians in the field and online classes.
Staci Ehlers
Hello, my name is Staci Ehlers. I was born on July 2, 2002, along with my twin sister. I am a mom of three wonderful furbabies, two labs (Whiskey and Honey) and one Pomeranian (Sophie). I also have 4 chickens (Betty, Goldie, and the Stooges). As long as I can remember, I have wanted to do something with animals for a living. So, I decided to become a vet tech and go to college to get a degree in vet tech, I love all kinds of animals, except reptiles of any sort and spiders. My favorite color has always been any shade of blue. My favorite holiday is Christmas. My favorite season is fall. I like to collect rubber ducks and little dog statues (when I say little like size of my palm). In my free time I like to read books (any genre), crochet, and do word searches. My favorite types of movies are the ones you see on hallmark (so mainly romantic) that have a predictable ending, yet you watch it anyway. I am a simple person who goes with the flow most of the time.
Jess
Jess started working at La Vega Veterinary Clinic in April 2019. She is our quarterback, she answer phones, enters charts, and so much more. Before she worked at La Vega Veterinary Clinic she worked at the animal shelter for 14 years. She has 7 fur babies, Tuxs, Biscuits, George, Lambert, Grayly, and Loki. Jess loves the number 13 and black cats.
Katt
Katt started working at La Vega Veterinary Clinic in March of 2020. Katt is our personal groomer. She has been a groomer for the last 22 years and enjoys every moment of it. Katt has 2 fur babies named Prince and LuLu. Katt has earned two degrees from college both in Commercial Art, one from Paloalto in San Antonia and the other from TSTC Waco.