Jim Hicks, D.V.M.
Veterinarian/Owner
Dr. Hicks is a native Nevadan who grew up in Las Vegas when it was a small town. After graduating from Las Vegas High School, he attended UNLV before transferring to Washington State University, where he earned a degree in Veterinary Medicine in 1973. He operated his first practice for eighteen years before building his dream hospital in 1995 at Spencer Springs. We have the best clients in town, and I"m very proud to have an excellent facility as well as a highly-educated, talented, and caring staff who provide our clientele with excellent service and quality care for the pets they cherish. We"ve all worked hard to create an environment dedicated to promoting the highest standards in our industry. It makes coming to work each day a pleasure. Dr. Hicks lives with his wife, a daughter and a son (both teenagers), five cats, a golden retriever, and a conure. In his spare time he enjoys skiing, mountain hiking, and windsurfing. Dr. Hicks is a member of several veterinary associations, including AVMA, (American Veterinary Medical Association) and NVMA (Nevada Veterinary Medical Association).
Chad Bower, D.V.M.
Veterinarian
Dr. Bower was born in Coon Rapids, Iowa, where he attended high school and enjoyed playing on basketball and golf teams. After graduation, he attended Simpson College on an honors scholarship and was awarded a degree in biology and chemistry in 1993. He was admitted to the lowa State University School of Veterinary Medicine that same year and graduated with honors in 1997. After enduring many cold winters in the Midwest, he wanted a change of scenery. He moved to Las Vegas, where he began working at Spencer Springs in 1998. Dr. Bower especially enjoys surgery and internal medicine. His hobbies include golf, snowboarding, and fishing (catch and release). He is a member of AVMA and NVMA.
Susie Costa - Fakler, D.V.M.
Veterinarian
Dr. Costa was born and raised in Las Vegas. She played tennis throughout high school at Valley High and attended the University of Utah on a tennis scholarship. She graduated in 1992 with a degree in civil engineering and worked for two years in that field both in New Mexico and Nevada. While in New Mexico, she began volunteer work at a veterinary hospital on the weekends. She loved it and decided to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. In 1995, the year that Spencer Springs opened, she moved back to Las Vegas, started working for Dr. Hicks, and attended UNLV for the prerequisites for veterinary school. She was admitted to Colorado State and graduated in 2001, returning that same year to Spencer Springs as a veterinarian. She is happily married and enjoys her two golden retrievers. Her hobbies include hiking, camping, and tennis. Dr. Costa is a member of AVMA and NVMA and enjoys her volunteer work for Heaven Can Wait Animal Sanctuary and the Golden Retriever Rescue of Southern Nevada.
Jon R. Pennell, M. S., D.V.M.
Veterinarian
Dr. Pennell has been a resident of Las Vegas for 27 years. Dr. Pennell has a beautiful wife, two wonderful children and two amazing grandchildren. He received his M.S. degree in Veterinary Science from the University of Idaho in 1976 and his D.V.M. degree from Washington State University in 1981. Following graduation he moved to Las Vegas to work for Dr. Hicks and considers Dr. Hicks his mentor. Dr. Pennell worked for 3 years at Carey Animal Clinic with Dr. Hicks and then purchased his own practice, Rancho Animal Clinic. In 2002, after 18 years at Rancho Animal Clinic, Dr. Pennell rejoined Dr. Hicks, this time at Spencer Springs Animal Hospital. Dr. Pennell enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine, but he devotes much of his time to dental procedures. He was on the Nevada Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners for 9 years and is the immediate Past President. Dr. Pennell serves as Vice President of the North Las Vegas Canine Teams, a non-profit group that raises money for the North Las Vegas Police Canine Unit and is a member of the advisory board for the technology program at the College of Southern Nevada. He is a volunteer with the National Veterinary Response Team 4, a federally sponsored team that operates under the National Disaster Medical System. Dr. Pennell also volunteers for the Medical Reserve Corps and was a speaker at their 2007 National Leadership Conference. He is a member of the American Veterinary Dental Society, American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association. He is a member of the Nevada Veterinary Medical Association and serves as a Director. Dr. Pennell is an Examiner for the Clinical Proficiency Examination which is given to graduates of non-accredited foreign veterinary colleges.
In 2002 Dr. Pennell was one of two veterinarians from Nevada to attend the First National Training Exercise on Bioterrorism Preparedness for veterinarians in Orlando, Florida. He remains interested in disaster preparedness and has given talks on the subject for Southern Nevada Area Health Education Center and for the Nevada Veterinary Medical Association. He is chairman for Nevada Veterinary Medical Association's Southern Nevada Veterinary Disaster preparedness team and participated in Operation Rotunda Thunda, a county wide training exercise conducted in July 2005. Following Hurricane Katrina Dr. Pennell traveled to Baton Rouge and volunteered at Louisiana State University's College of Veterinary Medicine to help care for Katrina's smallest victims. He also was deployed to Texas following Hurricane Rita as a member of the National Veterinary Response Team.
In 2006 Dr. Pennell returned to school to become an EMT. He currently works part-time for MedicWest Ambulance as an EMT-Intermediate and also volunteers for local events when time permits.
Steve Jacobek, D. V. M.
Veterinarian
Dr. Jacobek grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, IL. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and moved west to Colorado following graduation. While residing in Colorado, Dr. Jacobek worked with children and adolescents in the mental health field before deciding to return to Veterinary Medical school. While completing the veterinary medicine pre-requisites at the University of Colorado-Denver, Dr. Jacobek worked as a veterinary assistant at a small animal surgical facility, as well as spending summers doing mosquito abatement. After graduating from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005, Dr. Jacobek moved to Las Vegas and began working at Spencer Springs Animal Hospital. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and spending time with his wife and very spoiled Boston Terrier. Dr. Jacobek is a member of the AVMA.
Cary Adams, D. V. M.
Veterinarian
Dr. Adams is a native of Mason City, Iowa. He attended Iowa State University where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology, a Master's degree in Veterinary Microbiology, and also his D.V.M. degree. After graduating from college, he spent a year in Virginia where he completed an internship in wildlife medicine and surgery at the Wildlife Center of Virginia. He has worked at Spencer Springs Animal Hospital since July 2005. His interests include small animal medicine and surgery. Dr. Adams also has a special interest in exotic animal medicine and surgery and enjoys seeing birds, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals as well. He enjoys spending time outdoors in his spare time by hiking, camping, and biking. Dr. Adams is a member of the AVMA and the American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians (AAWV).