West Texas Veterinary Specialists
Animal Medical Center is proud to partner with West Texas Veterinary Specialists (WTVS) to bring advanced specialty care directly into our hospital. Through this collaboration, we offer on-site internal medicine services with Kirk Sears, DVM, DACVIM and oncology teleconsultation with Avenelle Turner, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology). By working closely with our AMC team, these board-certified specialists provide advanced diagnostics, specialized procedures, and expert treatment planning—allowing pets to receive high-level specialty care locally with the convenience of staying within our trusted hospital. To learn more about WTVS and the specialists we collaborate with, please visit txvetspecialty.com.
About Dr. Kirk Sears
An Internist Serving the Specialized Needs of the patients of Lubbock Animal Medical Center
Dr. Kirk Sears is a board-certified specialist in small animal internal medicine and has spent the last decade working in specialty veterinary care.
A West Texas native, he was born in Amarillo and grew up in Lubbock. He earned his degree in Animal Science from Texas Tech University, graduating with honors in 2000, before going on to complete veterinary school at Texas A&M in 2004.
After vet school, Dr. Sears headed to the East Coast for advanced training. He completed a rotating internship in New York City, followed by an internal medicine internship in New Jersey, while also working emergency and general practice shifts at local animal hospitals. He later finished a residency in small animal internal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania’s veterinary hospital and became board-certified in 2011.
Over the years, he’s worked alongside specialists across nearly every corner of veterinary medicine, including cardiology, oncology, neurology, dermatology, critical care, ophthalmology, and surgery. Before returning home, he spent several years practicing in Dallas and southern Colorado.
Eventually, West Texas pulled him back. Now based once again in Lubbock, Dr. Sears is proud to bring advanced internal medicine care to the region while raising his family in the city he’s always considered home.
Outside the clinic, he spends most of his time with his wife and sons. He’s also a longtime Texas Tech football fan, enjoys playing guitar, traveling, learning foreign languages, and finding any excuse to be outdoors, whether that’s soccer, hiking, or whatever sport happens to be nearby.
About Dr. Avenelle Turner
An Oncologist Serving the Specialized Needs of the patients of Lubbock Animal Medical Center
Dr. Avenelle Turner has dedicated her career to advancing cancer care for pets. Originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University. She completed a small animal internship in New Jersey followed by a three-year oncology residency in Texas, becoming a board-certified veterinary oncologist.
Over the course of her career, Dr. Turner has led oncology services at specialty hospitals in New York City and Los Angeles, where she also participated in and directed numerous clinical research trials. She has authored publications, presented educational programs for veterinary professionals and pet owners, and remains passionate about advancing the field of veterinary oncology.
Her professional interests include lymphoma, clinical research, chemotherapy, palliative care, and integrative cancer treatment approaches. Dr. Turner is committed to providing compassionate, individualized care that prioritizes both effective treatment and quality of life for pets and their families.
Outside of work, Dr. Turner enjoys travel, reading, yoga, and spending time with her dachshunds and rescue cats. She is also active in community education through CLEAR (Canine Lymphoma Education Awareness and Research).
