Introducing our devoted team of pet-saving professionals

Kyle Shaw

DVM, Medical Director

Dr. Shaw was born and raised in Fort Smith, AR. He graduated from Hendrix College in 1997, and later that year, he married his high school sweetheart, Danielle. He then attended veterinary school at LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, where he graduated in 2001. After graduation, Dr. Shaw initially worked with race horses in Kentucky, but quickly realized small animal medicine was more his speed. After a few years of working in small animal general practice, he decided to attend law school. To do this, he began working nights as an emergency veterinarian. In 2007, Dr. Shaw transferred to the law school at the U of A, and began working here at AESC. Dr. Shaw graduated from law school in 2010. At that point, he realized that emergency medicine was his true calling. He is now the medical director here at AESC. He lives with his wife, three kids, and furry family members. Dr. Shaw and his wife own a ballet studio and dance wear boutique. Most of his free time is spent at the studio or at the soccer fields watching his sons play.

Carol Rushing

DVM

Dr. Rushing’s alma mater is the University of California, Davis where she earned her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1993. She worked for a day practice in Southern California for nine years before moving to Arkansas in July of 2001. She began working at AESC in November 2001, and her favorite part of emergency veterinary medicine is working on critical cases. Dr. Rushing shares her home with a small herd of English Springer Spaniels and a husband. In her free time, she loves to train and show her English Springer Spaniels.

Kayla Martin

DVM

Denny Koontz

DVM

Dr. Koontz grew up in South Central Kansas and graduated from Kansas State University Veterinary School in 2001. She completed a rotating small animal medicine and surgery internship at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists in East Greenwich, RI. Since 2002, Dr. Koontz has worked as an emergency veterinarian at busy 24-hour specialty and emergency animal hospitals in the Pacific Northwest (Veterinary Specialty Center in Lynnwood, WA; Northwest Veterinary Specialist in Clackamas, OR; and Summit Veterinary Referral Center in Tacoma, WA). She relocated to NWA and joined the AESC team in October 2019. When not at work, Dr. Koontz enjoys road and gravel biking, leading bike trips, camping, exploring the world internationally and locally, cooking and enjoying food, and reading great books. She and her chocolate Labrador, Max, are looking forward to exploring Arkansas.

Stephanie Rainbolt

DVM

Dr. Rainbolt grew up moving between the Midwest and the South, with a variety of animals, particularly dogs, keeping her company. After graduating from high school in South Dakota, she attended the University of Arkansas for both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Animal Science.

Dr. Rainbolt then attended Kansas State University for her veterinary degree. She moved back to Arkansas and has worked in high volume spay/neuter and shelter medicine prior to starting at AESC. She spends her downtime with her husband and two kids, along with dogs, cats, horses, sheep, and chickens.

She also loves to run and hike the great spaces that NWA has to offer. Dr. Rainbolt has a passion for surgery and helping pets and their people during what can be an emotional and stressful time.

Melanie Spaink

DVM

Originally from Dallas, Dr. Melanie Spaink finished her undergraduate at University of North Texas, then graduated from Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine in 2018.She was actively involved in organizations to offer veterinary care within communities whether that was at local Catnippers in Los Angeles or traveling with World Vets to Nicaragua.

After realizing her love of emergency medicine, she jumped right in and started practicing at a busy emergency clinic in Northern California for 3 years. Family brought her to the NWA area including the arrival of her son. She is particularly interested in surgery and offering client education to owners so they can advocate for their pet’s health strengthening the human-animal bond.

In her free time, Dr. Spaink enjoys exploring new hiking trails and paddle boarding with her 3 dogs; Emma, Alice, and Samson.

Sarah Kim

DVM

Dr. Sarah Kim was born in South Korea and moved to Southern California when she was four years old, where she spent most of her childhood. She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology.  She then graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2018.

After graduation, she moved to WA to be with her now husband, Dr. Matt Finney, who she met at Ross University. Dr. Kim worked in general practice for three years while working as a relief veterinarian for AESC before joining the AESC family full time. Dr. Kim and her husband share their home with their two dogs and three cats.

In her free time, she likes to travel, bake, online shop, and tend to her plethora of house plants.

Ashley Dinkins

DVM

Dr. Dinkins was born and raised in Southwest Louisiana. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Louisiana State University in 2012. She practiced general medicine and surgery for two years in Canton, MS before joining Animal Emergency and Referral Center in Flowood, MS. In 2018, Dr. Dinkins relocated to NWA where she started as a relief veterinarian and today works in emergency medicine at AESC. When not practicing emergency medicine, she enjoys high volume spay and neuter surgeries. Dr. Dinkins works with Spay Arkansas and has volunteered with Spayathon in Puerto Rico through ViDAS. She is mother of two children, two dogs and two cats. Dr. Dinkins enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and experiencing the great outdoors when not working

Ashley McMullen

DVM

Angela Collins

DVM

Dr. Angela Collins founded her first veterinary hospital and pet shop, called Pet’s Delight, in her hometown of Tyler, Texas. She was five years old and the clinic was imaginary, but she never outgrew her love of animals. She pursued a veterinary career first at The University of Arkansas and obtained her bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M. In 2011, she received her doctorate of veterinary medicine from the University of Missouri. Her interests include oncology, soft-tissue surgery, dentistry, and ultrasound. Her first 5 years were spent practicing in Wilmington, North Carolina, but family ties pulled her back to Arkansas. 

Outside of work she enjoys traveling around the world, hiking, kayaking, playing padel, rock climbing, live music, and game nights with friends. In 2021 she ventured to Santiago, Chile where she spent almost 2 years living abroad, harvesting grapes and working as a web coordinator. In 2022 she and her partner, Francisco, moved back to Fayetteville where they currently share their casa with King Arthur, the Boxer mix.  Together, they are proud to call Northwest Arkansas home.

Savanna Bruce

DVM

Dr. Bruce is an Arkansas native. She grew up in Little Rock, AR spending most of her time outside with her dogs and cats. She attended the University of Arkansas and received her Bachelor’s in Animal Science in 2017. She worked at various general practices during her undergraduate time and worked with our local small animal internist at Ozark Veterinary Specialty Care for 3 years before attending veterinary school. She graduated from Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine in May of 2024. She moved back to Arkansas, where she lives with her husband, chocolate lab and fish. In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to live music, traveling and kayaking. She is passionate about surgery and is excited to start her journey at AESC.