Meet The Team

Emma has been part of Countryside Veterinary Service since September 2020 and plays an essential role in keeping our clinic running smoothly. She enjoys the fast-paced environment, where every day brings the opportunity to learn something new and think creatively.At home, Emma has many beloved pets including Teeter, a three-legged Corgi mix, and JC, a mischievous orange tabby. Her family also raises show pigs, so animals have always been an important part of her life.When she’s not at the clinic, Emma enjoys reading, playing pickleball, and keeping up with the latest pop culture news. She’s also known as our resident Taylor Swift expert! Potatoes in any form are her favorite food, and an iced latte or flavored iced tea are her go-to pick-me-ups. Her all-time favorite series is Harry Potter.

Haley is the friendly face you’ll often see first at Countryside Veterinary Service. Growing up around horses and livestock sparked her love for animals and inspired her to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. She has a special interest in learning about all aspects of patient care and enjoys helping both pets and their families feel comfortable and supported.One of the things Haley values most about working at Countryside is the teamwork and camaraderie she shares with her coworkers. At home, she has a mini Goldendoodle named Pippen (lovingly nicknamed “Pippen Skippen”), who adores treats and dressing up in pink. Outside of the clinic, Haley enjoys pickleball, golf, and sand volleyball.
Her natural strengths include problem-solving and mentoring new staff members, making her an integral part of our team.

Abril joined Countryside Veterinary Service in 2023, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge after graduating from veterinary school in Mexico in 2019. She has a strong interest in surgery and wound care and loves that her role allows her to see different animals every day while working alongside a supportive and dedicated team.
At home, Abril has two beloved dogs: Riley, a pitbull that looks more like a pig, and Mia, a husky who rules the household as the princess. She enjoys the quiet, friendly community of Taylorville and feels right at home here.
Outside of work, Abril loves McDonald’s and lasagna, watching Twilight, and dreams of traveling the world one day. Her clinical superpower is placing catheters and drawing blood, even from patients with the trickiest veins. To keep energized, she loves an Cappuccino from The Coffee Can, and her go-to karaoke song is Tik Tok by Kesha.

Barb has been part of the Countryside Veterinary Service family for 9 years, after spending 5 years working alongside Doc Lacey in Nokomis. Before entering veterinary medicine, she had a 27-year career in banking, but her love of animals and passion for client communication led her to the veterinary field. Barb takes pride in ensuring every client feels heard and understood, and her attention to detail helps keep things running smoothly.

Her favorite part of working at Countryside is the teamwork — she loves that each staff member brings their own strengths, but everyone pitches in to help one another when needed. She also enjoys watching puppies and kittens grow up over the years and being part of their journey.

At home, Barb and her husband Mike share life with Teddy, their beloved 9-year-old Cocker Spaniel.

Outside of work, Barb enjoys crafting, pizza, and chocolate. She and her husband, Mike, are well known for their Christmastime yard display, though her favorite holiday is Halloween. Barb’s reliability and compassion shine through in every role she takes on, and one of the best parts of her day is hearing that a patient she called to check on is back to feeling happy and healthy.

Coming Soon

Jazmin joined Countryside Veterinary Service in 2025, bringing her veterinary school training from Mexico and a lifelong love of animals from growing up on a horse ranch. She has a special interest in equine and large animal medicine and enjoys working in an environment where teamwork, client interaction, and hands-on care are valued.
At home, Jazmin has a cat named Haku and a horse named Ariel. She enjoys living in Taylorville, appreciating its beauty, charm, and friendly community. Her clinical superpower is her strong stomach — she isn’t afraid to get dirty and handle even the messiest situations with skill and care.
Outside of work, Jazmin enjoys going for walks, listening to heavy metal, playing the drums, and meeting new people. Her favorite foods are pasta and chilaquiles, and she keeps her electric vibe by always having an energy drink in hand.Adventurous, outgoing, and free-spirited, Jazmin brings heart, humor, and a fearless attitude to our team every day!

Payton joined Countryside Veterinary Service at the beginning of 2025 and quickly became an important part of the team. She has always loved animals and was fascinated by what happens behind the scenes at a veterinary clinic, which inspired her to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.

She loves the compassion, teamwork, and supportive environment that make Countryside such a special place to work. At home, Payton has a cat named Goose and a dog named Charlie, who both keep her entertained.

Her favorite comfort meal is soup, and she enjoys spending her free time drawing and reading. Payton loves musical theatre—especially Hamilton—and her favorite TV show is Supernatural. When it comes to music, she’s a big fan of K-pop.

Emily joined Countryside Veterinary Service in 2025 after earning her degree in Animal Science from Purdue University. With four years of prior experience in veterinary practices, she brings both knowledge and enthusiasm to the team. Emily loves the diversity that veterinary medicine offers, especially the opportunity to work with large animals, and appreciates Countryside’s wide range of patients and species.If she could be any animal, Emily would choose a peacock — a perfect fit for her vibrant personality. She is known around the clinic for her sense of humor, quick wit, and endless knowledge of TikTok sounds, keeping the team laughing throughout the day.In her free time, Emily enjoys watching New Girl and Modern Family, with Superbad topping her list of favorite movies. She also enjoys karaoke, with Bohemian Rhapsody as her go-to performance. If stranded on a desert island, Emily says she would bring her phone, a Wi-Fi router, and a blanket.