Mission Road Animal Clinic

Meet Our Team

Our team at Mission Road Animal Clinic is a fundamental building block that helps us strive for and achieve gold standard quality veterinary service. Highly experienced, our professionals offer our patients love and care while working towards an effective treatment plan or helping to maintain their already stellar health and wellness.

Gib Benschoter

DVM & Owner

Dr. Gib Benschoter heads our medical team. He attended Shawnee Mission East and is a 1990 graduate of Kansas State University. After obtaining his degree, he practiced in Southern California. During that time, he served as Chief of Staff of a large 24 hour emergency hospital. When he returned home, he brought a special interest in dermatology, internal medicine, and surgery to Mission Road Animal Clinic. In addition, he feels client education is the foundation to providing quality health care for your pet. Dr. Benschoter and his wife have 4 boys and a big yellow lab named Rocky. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, tennis, and travel.

Jenny Tate

DVM

Dr. Jenny Tate grew up in western Kansas. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame with degrees in English and French. Deciding to finally pursue her true passion, working with animals and the people who love them, Dr. Tate graduated from Colorado State University in 2000, and has been practicing in the KC area ever since. She and her husband have two kids and two dogs Delilah and Tanner. In her free time, Dr. Tate enjoys reading and is an avid runner.

Erin Whitacre

DVM

Dr. Whitacre is a 2007 graduate of Kansas State University. Upon graduation, she moved to Texas to practice, returning to the KC area in 2012 working in General Practice as well as Emergency Medicine. When not in-clinic, Dr. Whitacre enjoys fitness and wellness in her personal life including running, yoga, cooking, and gardening. She shares her home with Cinna the Australian Shepherd, Zane the Lab mix, and Grifter, the Bengal kitty.

Andrea DeLuke

DVM

Dr. Andrea DeLuke is our MOVES™ veterinary surgery partner, available to perform advanced soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries at Mission Road Animal Clinic. Dr. DeLuke earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Ross University in 2004 and later completed a small animal surgery residency at Mission MedVet in Mission, KS.

Emily McLeod

DC, CAC, MTAA

Animals have always been part of Dr. McLeod's life.  She's rescued too many strays to count, has always cared for furry friends, and has a heart to help those who can't always help themselves. Now she has the joy of helping restore health to your best friends.

A graduate of Cleveland Chiropractic College in 2000, Dr. McLeod earned both the Clinic Service and Clinic Excellence awards while completing her clinicals. She opened a family wellness center in 2001 and joyfully served hundreds of people each week with chiropractic care. In 2004 Dr. McLeod returned to school to earn her National Certification in Equine and Small Animal Chiropractic Care through the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association.

In June of 2013, Dr. McLeod left her 2-legged practice to pursue a full time animal practice. She can be found working at our hospital on Wednesday’s and some Monday’s. Dr. McLeod is licensed in both Kansas and Missouri. Dr. McLeod also teaches animal chiropractic to veterinarians and chiropractors at Parker University in Dallas, TX.

Amy Crawford

Certified Massage Therapist

Amy grew up in Lawson, Missouri on a farm. She graduated from Mizzou in 1996 with her Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science. After college, she lived near Glacier Park, Montana for 6 years where she was a riding instructor and horse trainer. She moved back to Missouri and obtained her certification in Animal Massage in 2003. In her spare time, she enjoys horseback riding, charcoal drawing, being outdoors and spending time with her husband, two children and lab, Molly.

Melissa

Practice Manager

Melissa joined us in February 2005 with 10 years of experience in the veterinary field and a special interest in dentistry. She grew up in Prairie Village, and graduated from the UMKC conservatory of Music in 2002. With her husband and two busy daughters, there's not a lot of free time, but when there is, Melissa sings in a band and loves to cook and bake! She and her family share their home with Walter, the Miniature Australian Shepherd and Scarlett, the Standard Poodle.

Jess

Office Manager

Jess hails from Las Vegas, NV where she found her passion for Veterinary Medicine in 2007. After a brief stint in Tokyo, Japan, she moved to the Midwest in 2010. She and her husband share their home with their 5 kids, 4 kitties: Panda, Yuki, Bobbi and Dahlia, Lilo the lab and Pip the rabbit. Jess loves to travel, and while not in clinic, she stays busy leading a Girl Scout Troop, crafting for her side business, and cheering on her kiddos from the sidelines.

Gina

Registered Veterinary Technician

Gina comes to us with a degree from KSU in Veterinary Sciences. Married to Heath since 1998, they have one son and share their home with Rose the dog and Smokie the cat. When not caring for your pets, Gina loves rooting on the Royals and the Chiefs and spending time with her family, both 2 and 4-legged!

Natalie

Veterinary Technician

Natalie moved from Lawrence to join our Mission Road family. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Art History at KU, but decided to pursue her love for animals. When not working, Natalie loves to read, paint and spend time with her rabbits, Milo and Willow and her cat, Bopper.

Alex

Veterinary Technician

Alex is originally from San Diego, CA. She spent a lot of time travelling for college lacrosse before returning home to San Diego where she discovered her love for veterinary medicine merely out of pure luck, and boy are we happy she did! She obtained her bachelor's degree in health and wellness, and due to COVID was able to obtain her master's in just a year from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO. While not in clinic, Alex along with boyfriend Coulter, enjoy spending time with their 2 Australian Shepherds; Buddha and Rocky and 2 cats; Oliver and Wednesday.

Monica

Veterinary Assistant

Monica comes to us all the way from Romeoville, Illinois. Monica graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor's of Science in Animal Sciences from the University of Illinois. She shares her home with her boyfriend (who works with NASCAR) and her cat, Sammy (who looks like a cow).

William

Groomer

William joined our team in 2020 with 10 years grooming experience and we couldn't be happier! Our very own gentle giant spends his day making your kiddos look amazing. Outside of work, he is very involved with extended family and shares his home with rescue dogs and cats.

Join the Mission Road Animal Clinic Family Today!

Phone: 913-649-0552

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We are open select Saturdays every month. Please call our clinic for our Saturday availability.