dr. joshua bruce, dacvs-sa

veterinary surgeon

As a young kid, Dr. Bruce always wanted to take in all the stray animals and get veterinary care for them.  He considers himself one of the lucky ones who never grew out of that passion as he got older. 

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Dr. Bruce is a graduate of Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. After veterinary school, he worked in a general practice in Alabama teaching him the importance of a strong relationship between the referring veterinarian and surgeon. Dr. Bruce then pursued a rotating internship at Georgia Veterinary Specialists in Atlanta, followed by a surgical internship in Kansas City and finally his residency in Detroit. He then spent a few years as a surgeon in Kentucky before joining us here at VSEC South.

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Dr.  Bruce enjoys all aspects of surgery - soft tissue, orthopedic and even neurological.  Surgery specifically allows him to take an animal with a very real, and many times very visible problem, and often provide a solution that affects a major change for the quality of life for the animal.  The best cases allow him to return a normal animal to their families.

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When not in the clinic, he and his wife can usually be found chasing the "Twinadoes" around town, or finding a new hole-in-the-wall restaurant to try.  He is an avid sports fan and follows both collegiate and professional sports of all kinds. 

dr. bridget dixey

emergency veterinarian

A graduate of Franklin Central High School, Dr. Dixey attended Purdue and received her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences with a minor in Biology.  She was a member of the Shelter Medicine Club, Pre-Vet Club and played intramural 4x4 sand volleyball.   She then attended Lincoln Memorial University where she obtained her DVM.   Her  veterinary interests include small animal internal medicine, surgery, and emergency and critical care.

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When not taking care of patients, Dr. Dixey enjoys going on hikes, walks/runs with her 6-year-old Dalmatian, Vegas, as well as working out at the gym, baking/cooking, traveling, trying out breweries and wineries, and just relaxing, watching TV with a pint of Häagen-Dazs ice cream.

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We are excited to have Dr. Dixey as part of the Noah's & VSEC family!

dr. gena fagerberg

emergency veterinarian

Dr. Fagerberg was one of those kids who wanted to be a Veterinarian.  She's always liked the idea of being able to help creatures who can't explain where it hurts.  She attended veterinary school at the University of Wisconsin, and has been with us since September of 2019,.  

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A self-proclaimed "bird nerd," Dr. Fagerberg has her Master's Degree in Avian Science through the University of  California-Davis.  She's worked with various parrots and raptors at flying shows around the country.  Dr. Fagerberg also volunteers at the Red Wolf Sanctuary in Rising Sun, Indiana.

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Her family includes her English Toy Spaniel, Walter, and her Tortie, Hecate.  We are so thankful to have Dr. Fagerberg on our team.  

dr. mary grabow

emergency veterinarian

Dr. Grabow knew she wanted to be a veterinarian ever since she was in the 4th grade. Her love of animals, people, and medicine has inspired a 30-year-plus career in veterinary medicine!

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Mary was born in California, but moved to Connecticut when she was only one year old. In the 7th grade, she moved to Indiana and has lived here ever since. She started working as a kennel assistant when she was only 14, and worked her way up by filling any position that she could.

As a veterinarian, Dr. Grabow particularly enjoys client education, preventative care, behavior, and training. She also has a special interest in reproduction and purebred dogs; she says there’s nothing better than performing a flawless c-section and helping puppies come into this world!

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At home, Mary lives with her husband and two children. Her kids are active in Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H, AKC dog shows, and sports. Mary’s husband is in the Indiana National Guard and has completed two deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. The family has a multitude of pets: three dogs, a guinea pig, three cats, three lizards, and three African Thigh Spurred tortoises.

Outside of work, Dr. Grabow likes spending time with her family and traveling. She also loves sea turtles, and even got to see the turtles lay their eggs on the beach during a recent South Carolina family vacation!

dr. kristi herr

emergency veterinarian

Dr. Herr has been with us since July of 2016.  She always liked animals and science, so Veterinary Medicine was the perfect match for her.

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When not at work, she enjoys gardening, canning & preserving.  She and her husband, Steve, have a cat named Oskar, and 2 dogs:  Colonel & Samantha.  They also have 2 barn cats, a Jersey cow, Toggenburg goats, a Halflinger , a miniature horse and multiple chickens.  

dr. joni kirch

emergency veterinarian

Dr. Kirch was born and raised in Indianapolis. From an early age, she knew her passion for animal care was something special—she never had a second thought about becoming a veterinarian!

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In high school, Joni studied hard to be accepted into Purdue University’s pre-vet- program. After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Purdue, she was accepted into their School of Veterinary Medicine, graduating with her DVM in 1993.

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As a veterinarian, Dr. Kirch enjoys all aspects of general practice. She finds the relationships she develops with families are the most rewarding parts of her job.

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At home, Joni lives with Giggsy, a poodle rescue. When she’s not working, spending time with family, or caring for her pets, Dr. Kirch enjoys playing soccer, her hobby of 30 years. She even travels occasionally to play in tournaments! She’s also hiked through more than 30 of the country’s national parks, and plans to visit many more.

dr. betheny lewis

emergency veterinarian

Bio is on its way!

dr. austin vaughn

emergency veterinarian

Dr. Vaughn's introduction to the veterinary world started at an early age in his hometown of Evansville, Indiana.  He shadowed the family veterinarian in middle school, and worked his way up the ladder.  In high school he was a Kennel Technician and then a Veterinary Assistant.  His main area of interest is emergency veterinary medicine. and enjoys the wide variety of cases.  

When not taking care of patients, Dr. Vaughn enjoys spending time with the love of his life, fiance' Ellie, and their dog, Rosie.  They enjoy exploring local trails, restaurants, and craft breweries (especially ones that allow Rosie!).  

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We are excited to have Dr. Vaughn  on our team.  

susie crockett, cvpm

practice manager

Susie grew up in Fort Wayne, and moved to Indianapolis in 2003 after graduating from Purdue.  She started working in Customer Service at a veterinary hospital in 1999 while attending college, and soon worked her way up to Office Manager and then Practice Manager.   After graduating and working in the corporate world for a while, she quickly realized that the hands-on work with the clients and staff in a veterinary practice was her true passion.

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She was encouraged to join a local veterinary managers group and met her first Noah’s employee there.  She was soon introduced to the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association and Certified Veterinary Practice Manager Program.  Susie worked incredibly hard to master the skills required and earned her CVPM designation in 2006.

She is a Board Member of the CVPM, and is an active member of the Veterinary Hospital Manager's Association and Veterinary Managers Association of Indiana.  Susie has 2 kids who keep her incredibly busy, and a dog named Bradley.

crystal schaeffer, bs, rvt

surgical team & director of technician development

Crystal has been a part of the Noah's family since December of 2002.   Her passion for animal advocacy and owner education is a part of why she loves her job.  She has a special interest in  anesthesia, teaching and mentoring.

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When not at work, Crystal's family includes her husband, Mike, her sons Tristan and Ethan, and a daughter, Harper.  Her four legged family members include 5 cats:  Soma, Tripp, Hope, Zombie and  Esther; one dog: Breaker, a Texas Heeler; and a Triton Cockatoo named Lilly.  

josie imus

client service representative

A native of Fairbanks, Alaska, Josie had an early (and unique!) introduction to animals.  Her family raised sled dogs, and her Mom even ran the Yukon Quest!  Dog mushing was a big part of her family, and where there are working dogs - there are vet visits.  Josie quickly became interested in veterinary medicine.

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She worked as a Veterinary Assistant at multiple practices in Fairbanks before moving to Indianapolis and joining the VSEC team in 2015.   Her family includes her girlfriend and their daughter, and their four-legged kids: dogs Trance, Basher & Goose, and cats Chaeli, Stitch & Olivia.  They also have a  very unique fish family - including Bucky, Steve, Clint, Phil, Kate Basil...and 4 catfish known as the Tracksuit Mafia.  

nikki king

clinical manager

Nicky has been on the VSEC South team since July of 2018.  As the Clinical Manager, Nicky loves being able to make our patients feel better and try to figure out how best to help them.

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When not at work, Nicky is a Board Member and Medical Coordinator for Kentuckiana Pug Rescue.  Her furry family includes Bosco, Olive, Kirby, Meatball, Cashew, Itty Bitty & Teeny Weenie.  We are glad to have Nicky as part of our VSEC family!  

donna luzzi

client service representative

Donna has been a part of the VSEC team since 2016.  She's always had a passion for animals and for helping people.  

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In her spare time, Donna and her husband, Rich, are active in animal rescue. They've been doing it for over 20 years! Their family includes Jersey (a Rottweiler/Chow mix), Champ (a Husky mix), and Movi (a purebred Rottweiler).  

brittany searcy, rvt

surgical team

Growing up on the west side of Indianapolis, Brittany was the kid taking naps with the dogs outside—sometimes in the dog house! Her affinity with animals at a young age convinced her to become a veterinary professional.

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Brittany applied to the Vet Tech Institute at International Business College and was quickly accepted. 18 months later she graduated with her Registered Veterinary Technician’s license. Now she loves coming to work every day at Noah’s Stop 11 Animal Hospital! She especially likes assisting with surgeries because of the challenge, and also is passionate about client education and helping pet owners understand their furry friends’ health.

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Brittany’s personal interests include animal behavior, holistic medicine, traveling, crafting, and continuing her education. At home, she has five dogs: Snoopy, Tate, Lily, Chubbers, and Tyson, as well as two cats named Tootie and Lucy who enjoy basking in the sun.

mandy young

client service representative

Mandy was inspired to work in the veterinary profession by her Newfoundland dog. Since the Newfoundland breed comes with specific health concerns, Mandy had to be very responsible for her beloved pet’s health. It ended up sparking an interest in specialty veterinary medicine, and now Mandy gets to work alongside the pros at Veterinary Specialty and Emergency!

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Mandy was born and raised as an only child in Indianapolis. After being a stay-at-home mom for many years, she wanted to re-enter the workforce. She began as a part-time receptionist, then worked full-time in the office of a local florist. When she heard about at opening at VSEC, she took a leap of faith and applied. She was hired on in May of 2014.

Along with husband of 20 years, Mandy lives with her two sons, one daughter, and three dogs: a 14-year old Alaskan Malamute, a seven-year-old pug mix, and her Newfoundland.  Mandy says she loves spending time outdoors, as long as it’s not raining or humid! She also likes watching and participating in American Kennel Club dog shows. Her proudest moment came when her 20-month old female puppy took Best of Breed over several male dogs!