Meet Our Veterinary Team

Dr. Emily Whitehouse

Doctor

Dr. Emily has wanted to be a veterinarian since the third grade, after her dad mentioned that she was pretty good with the family pets. She worked at veterinary clinics throughout her high school weekends in Ohio, before attending The Ohio State University for her undergraduate and veterinary school degrees. She moved to Southwestern Iowa in 2008 with her now-husband to practice mixed animal medicine. After four years, she headed into town to a predominately small animal clinic. She’s decided to start her own practice in Omaha after seven years, and she is SO excited to care for you and your pets! Dr. Emily and her husband have two dogs, three indoor cats, a bunch of barn cats (more show up every day, right?), and some chickens on their acreage. In her free time (ha!), she loves to garden/landscape (native plants only, please), read voraciously, prep for the apocalypse, and build furniture as a novice.

Deb Allen

Veterinary Technician

Debbie has been caring for animals since she was little. She would nurse baby rabbits and birds, helping with piglets with her dad, always taking care of the family dogs and cats. She knew she wanted to pursue a career with animals. While attending college, she worked at Strohbehn Veterinary Clinic. After earning her veterinary technician degree in 1986, she began working at Strohbehn full-time. She stayed there as a veterinary technician for 33 years. She began working with Dr. Emily at Lone Tree in 2020.

Debbie and her husband, Gene, have three grown kids, a dog, four cats, a potbellied pig, two rabbits, a guinea pig, and five outdoor cats – all filled like every other veterinary technician household. In her spare time, she loves to go camping, and spend time with her family and friends.

Kali Upton

Veterinary Technician

Kali has worked in the animal healthcare field for seven years. She loves helping care for animals. She knew from a young age that is the job she wanted. When Kali was 10 years old, she started bringing home stray animals. It started as cats and dogs, and eventually other animals. One day, she brought home a toad, and named it Fireball. As she grew up, her affinity for animals blossomed.

As a mother of four beautiful boys, there is never a dull moment in her daily routine. Her husband has always said they will need to buy a farm with animals to tend. Chickens, ducks, dogs, cats, and even pigs have been fostered by the family. During her free time, Kali’s passion is playing with her kids, pets, and spending time with family and friends.

Jackie Rowan

Veterinary Assistant

Shortly after high school, Jackie went to work for her first veterinary hospital, and has been working with veterinarians ever since. She has two boys – one is 9 years old, and the other is 11 years old. They like to go to the zoo and swim on weekends. She also has a Boston Terrier and three cats!

Jackie likes to go camping, and go to the movies (Dr. Emily and Jackie have regular movie dates, since no one else will go with them! Ha!). She loves football; her favorite college teams are the Huskers and Notre Dame. Her favorite pro team is the Steelers.

Jackie has four sisters and one brother. She loves to see her family on holidays and birthdays. Her dream vacations are Paris, Jamaica, and Hawaii. Her dream car is a Jaguar SUV and a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am (since seeing Smokey and the Bandit).

Chelsey

Veterinary Technician, CCRP (Certified Canine Rehab Practitioner) license

Chelsey has been caring for animals alongside her mom since she was little. She would help bottle feed piglets and lambs on the farm, along with the occasional baby rabbit. There was always cats, dogs, and horses to take care of as well. She always knew she wanted to pursue a career with animals. She attended Iowa State University to obtain her Bachelor of Science in animal science in 2009. After not finding the right fit in a career, she decided to become a veterinary technician just like her mom. She attended Kirkwood Community College and received her Associates of Applied Science Degree as a veterinary technician in 2011. Chelsey began at Banfield Pet Hospital. Then, she moved on to Iowa State University’s Large Animal Hospital as an equine technician in 2013. She switched to Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital in 2017.  She received her certificate as a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner in 2021. After being away for 17 years, Chelsey decided it was time to move back home. She began working with Dr. Emily at Lone Tree in December of 2022. Chelsey and her husband, Mitch, live on an acreage with ducks, chickens and an iguana named Louie. In her spare time, Chelsey loves to spend time outdoors, go camping, and spend time with her friends and family.

Ryleigh

Customer Care Representative

Ryleigh found Lone Tree through her love of animals and Steely Dan. One day while working at Felius, the cat cafe next door, Dr. Emily’s partner in crime, Joel, came in to order the “Joel and Emily special”: a plain latte and a hot chocolate. Joel heard Steely Dan playing through the cafe, and they chatted about how Steely Dan is so dope and clinic vs. cat cafe life. Ryleigh inquired about a job, and now she is a client care representative for Lone Tree Animal Care Center. She is currently pursuing a Horticulture degree at Metro to become a permaculture farmer, specializing in herbs and animal care. In her free time, Ryleigh reads like her life depends on it, cuddles with her two kitties, Benny and Aelio, and plans her future farm and next season’s garden with her partner, Henry.