Our Veterinarians:
Experienced Veterinary Professionals for Clarksville, TN
Ronald Whitford, DVM
Dr. Ronald Whitford is a Small Animal Practitioner and Chief of Staff at St. Bethlehem Animal Clinic. He founded the clinic in 1980 after working at another practice here in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Dr. Whitford says he was 12 years old when he decided to become a veterinarian. His beloved dog Nosey had to undergo a front leg amputation due to radial nerve paralysis after being hit by a car, which not only showed him the importance of good veterinary care, but introduced him to Dr. Harry Morgan. "Not long after meeting Dr. Morgan I began working for him and he took me under his wing and became my mentor all through middle school, high school and college," he says. "Upon graduation from veterinary school my first veterinary job was with Dr. Morgan and then two years later I was able to open my own practice."
For his undergraduate studies Dr. Whitford attended the University of Tennessee where he majored in Animal Science and Biology. However, due to early acceptance to the Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine he did not complete coursework for a Bachelor of Science opting instead to immediately begin veterinary studies. In 1972, he graduated at the top 10 percent of his class with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Whitford's areas of special professional interest include surgery, feline medicine and dermatology. In particular, he is nationally recognized speaker, writer and consultant within the veterinary profession and is the primary surgeon for St. Bethlehem Animal Clinic. His professional organization memberships include the American Veterinary Medical Association, Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association, veterinary member of the Tennessee Health Department Board, and a member of the Animal Shelter Board.
Dr. Whitford is also active in a number of local organizations. He is Chairman of the Clarksville/Montgomery County Regional Airport Authority, and served four years as a regular member and then four years as the chairman of the Clarksville/Montgomery County Board of Education. For all four years of his chairmanship, the school board won School Board of the Year. He also was named a State School Board Member of the Year and was asked to speak at the National School Board Association and State School Board Association.
He is married to Kathryn Whitford, our Client Service Coordinator and Lay Staff Supervisor. Dr. Whitford says, "She worked at a competing clinic as a teenager and then through her twenties. I had to marry her to get her away from our competition!" The couple has five adult children, Ryan, Wendy, Charity, Michael, and Jenny.
Dr. Whitford also provides a home for a standard poodle named Lucy; three inside cats named Hazel, Clarabelle and Gerty; and two outside cats named Melanie and Ashley. In terms of outside interests, Dr. Whitford says that practicing veterinary medicine is his hobby as well as vocation so he is something of a workaholic, though happily so. That said, he owns his own plane and is instrument rated. He also is a member of Angel Flights, which is a nonprofit organization providing flights for people in medical need as well as for transplants.
Courtney Gilbreath, DVM
Dr. Courtney Gilbreath is a small animal General Practitioner who joined St. Bethlehem Animal Clinic in August of 2008, where she thrives on helping save the lives of animals who come into the clinic.
Dr. Gilbreath grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, where she owned a Persian kitten who she credits as her first inspiration for becoming a vet.
In pursuing her aspirations, Dr. Gilbreath graduated from University of Tennessee in 1987 with a Bachelor's degree in Biology and Zoology, and then from veterinary school at University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 1990. Her professional interests include internal medicine and feline medicine, and she is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
At home, Dr. Gilbreath cares for her cats, a Golden Retriever named Fetch, a Sheltie named Star, and two horses named Madison and Rizzo. When she rides, she uses the Parelli Natural Horsemanship method to help maintain the trust and dignity of her horses through communicating in ways that are similar to how horses act with one another in the wild.
When Dr. Gilbreath isn't riding, she likes to cross-stitch and spend time with her 12- and 15-year-old daughters.
Philip Wesley Whitley, DVM
Dr. Philip Wesley Whitley is a General Practitioner who has been with St. Bethlehem Animal Clinic since September of 2009.
Dr. Whitley grew up on a small farm in Eastern Kentucky where he was always tending to a variety of farm animals, including a herd of Black Angus Cattle, which he still helps his father with on occasion. He credits his father—an avid Blue Tick Hound enthusiast and breeder, as well as a Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officer—with teaching him to love all animals, big and small, and ultimately motivating him to pursue his career as a veterinarian.
During his teenage years, Dr. Whitley was already becoming serious about his veterinary path. At the age of 16, he worked as a veterinary assistant until he was able to become a licensed veterinary technician, and eventually, attend veterinary school.
Dr. Whitley obtained his Associate's Degree in Veterinary Technology in 2001 with Distinction, and went on to graduate Cum Laude with his Bachelor's degree in Biology and Chemistry from Morehead State University in 2005. While at University, Dr. Whitley was a member of the Ecological Society, Phi Kappa Phi, and the Dawgpatch bluegrass and folk band. He continued immediately into the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine ("WAR EAGLE!"), where he graduated Cum Laude in 2009. During veterinary school, Dr. Whitley was recognized as the Merck-Merial Research Scholar, and was elected by the Small Animal Clinician Council at Auburn as the small animal student resident.
Dr. Whitley is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and Omega Tau Sigma Alumni. His areas of special interest include surgery, internal medicine, and dermatology – for which he worked with a boarded dermatologist during his summer breaks. He also has extended education in the field of ultrasonography, as well as orthopedic and soft tissue surgery, and is certified in bovine artificial insemination procedures. Dr. Whitley did a tour at the raptor center at Auburn University, where he also treated sick and injured avian wildlife. Accordingly, he can currently perform nail, beak, and wing trims for birds.
In describing some of his most memorable moments from his career, Dr. Whitley states, "there are so many moments, but the most memorable would have to be when I helped rescue a Zebra that fell off a truck in Alabama." He was thankful that two to three surgeries later, the Zebra found a new home at sanctuary in Birmingham.
Dr. Whitley has a Border Collie who is 13 years old, but still acts like a pup, as well as a two-year old Silky Terrier who is always glued to his wife Ashley's lap, as well as Charlie, his 12-year-old cat who is the most loving cat he has ever encountered. In addition to caring for his own pets, Dr. Whitley has dabbled in agility groups and has helped with search and rescue dogs. When he isn't tending animals, Dr. Whitley enjoys bass fishing, tennis, archery, and spending time with his wife, "the love of my life and anchor in my world."
Brooke Wicks, DVM
Dr. Brooke Wicks is a General Practitioner who began working at St. Bethlehem in June of 2010.
Dr. Wicks grew up in Williams, Oregon, surrounded by dogs, cats, pigs, horses that she would ride around the hills surrounding her house, and sheep that she raised for 4-H. Dr. Wicks describes raising her own flock of sheep as one of the most rewarding and educational experiences of her childhood. With her love of animals, Dr. Wicks knew from a young age that she wanted to become a veterinarian. In pursuance of this path, Dr. Wicks worked in kennels and as a vet assistant in mixed animal practices throughout high school and college. She describes the veterinarians she worked with during this time as some of "the most wonderful teachers and so encouraging."
Dr. Wicks obtained her Bachelor's degree in Animal Science and minor in Chemistry at Oregon State University in 2006. There, she was a member of the crew team, pre-veterinary club, and Big Brothers Big Sisters program. She was also involved with breaking young colts as part of the University's Colts-in-training program. Upon graduation, Dr. Wicks enrolled in veterinary school at the University of Tennessee, where she graduated in 2010. She is a member of the American Veterinary Asssociation, and her special areas of interest include internal medicine and reproduction.
In describing her most memorable moments of her career, Dr. Wicks states that "sometimes the smallest victories are the best, such as helping a sick animal and sending it home healthy." She recalls one moment in particular when she was watching a dog walk out of the hospital healthy, when only three days earlier she didn't even think he would make it through the night. "But he was a tough boy and fully recovered," she says. Dr. Wicks remembers the phone call from the dog's owner letting her know that their dog was 100 percent back to his old self, "and it was one of the best phone calls I have ever received," Dr. Wicks recounts.
Dr. Wicks owns two dogs: a six-year old Chesapeake Bay Retriever/Lab mix named Ida and a four-year old Miniature Dachshund named Adelaine, as well as an eight-year old cat named Casper. She also has two chickens that she raises for eggs: a white leghorn adopted from the shelter and a black sex-link raised from a hatchling.
When she is away from the office, Dr. Wicks enjoys hiking, walking, kayaking, boating, camping, and being a mom to her wonderful baby boy, Tucker. "Tucker likes to help with the chickens and comes hiking and camping with us; he is a great little traveler," she says. Dr. Wicks also loves spending time with her husband, Josh, who she desribes as her rock, and who helps her see the humor in every day life.
Dr. Randi Timmons
Dr. Randi Timmons, a native of Piedmont, Oklahoma, joined St. Bethlehem Animal Clinic in June of 2010 as a General Practitioner.
Dr. Timmons grew up in the country outside of Oklahoma City, and always had a variety of animals around. Wild armadillos and skunks would come around to eat the cat's food, and often there were cows in the front yard eating the grass. When the wheat was harvested, hundreds of tarantulas would crawl up the walls of the house and show up in the bay windows. "Needless to say, my fondness for spiders is definitely lacking," she says.
Her undergraduate degree, a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry, was earned at Lincoln Memorial University. During her undergraduate career, she was on the National Dean's List every semester and graduated cum laude. She was active in sports, being named to the Academic All Conference and First Team All Conference in soccer, and was named MVP for Lincoln Memorial University Soccer. She was also the team captain.
Before becoming a veterinarian, Dr. Timmons volunteered at a cat rescue center and a veterinary clinic in Rochester, NY, and worked at Loggerhead Marine Life Center in Juno Beach, Florida as a docent and veterinary intern. She also researched Leatherback Sea Turtles in Juno Beach.
Prior to enrolling in the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Timmons pursued a Master's of Science in Zoology at Middle Tennessee State University, studying the Berry Cave Salamander. She served as a graduate teaching assistant at Middle Tennessee State University, and taught Biology for Majors. While at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Timmons received the Parasitology Award, and served as president of the Student Alliance of Veterinarians for the Environment (SAVE). She earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2010.
Dr. Timmons' professional interests include internal medicine, parasitology, and treatment of exotic pets, especially pocket pets and reptiles. She is a member of the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and is a Credentialed Responder of the Disaster Animal Response Team of Tennessee.
At home, Dr. Timmons enjoys spending time with her husband, John, and their infant son. She also shares her home with three beautiful "furry" children: a black tabby named Ariel, an orange tabby named Bert, and Codi, a Beagle/Wire Terrier mix. In her leisure time, Dr. Timmons can be found playing soccer, hiking, or biking.