Meet Our Team!
Meet the veterinarians and team at SmartVet! We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets!
Our Staff
We are so pleased that you are viewing our staff page. All of us at SmartVet feel we are a close-knit family, bonded together by longevity, affection, and compassion for animals. We are proud that many of us have been working at SmartVet since we opened our practice. This makes us unique in the most wonderful way possible.
Dr. Romanie Walter
Founder & Veterinarian
Dr. Romanie Walter graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois in 2005. She then completed a veterinary clinical science small animal medicine and surgery internship (IPSAV) from 2006 until 2007 at the University of Montreal. Dr. Walter opened SmartVet in November of 2011. She focuses her time on serving you, our SmartVet clients. Dr. Walter has a special interest in continuing education, emergency medicine, and critical care. Her family includes her husband, a daughter, a Doberman named Keema, and a cat named Frank.
Dr. Laura Peterson
Veterinarian
Dr. Laura Peterson graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois in 2010. After graduation, Dr. Peterson worked for a mixed animal practice in the St. Louis area. In 2015 she moved back to central Illinois to be closer to her family and joined SmartVet. She has a special interest in wellness and preventative care and loves seeing patients in their own homes. Dr. Peterson’s hobbies include travel, her family cattle farm, and anything outdoors!
Dr. Erin Adkins
Veterinarian
Dr. Erin Adkins graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California Davis in 2009. She went on to complete a 1 year internship at a veterinary hospital in San Francisco and since that time has practiced in emergency/specialty hospitals and general practices in Northern California and Australia. She joined SmartVet in 2019. Dr. Adkins has a special interest in internal medicine, ultrasound, and emergency medicine. Although she has enjoyed her travels, she is now happy to be settled down in Normal with her family.
Dr. Emily Tabor
Veterinarian
Dr. Emily Tabor graduated from the Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2015. She spent several years working in large animal medicine prior to turning her attention to small animal medicine. While Dr. Tabor loves all fluffy animals, she has a soft spot for felines, especially large ginger tabbies. Dr. Tabor’s interests outside of the clinic include sharing her love of cooking, playing board games, and traveling.
Chrissy
Chrissy is new to veterinary medicine but brings over 23 years of experience in managerial roles, including working in dog and cat daycare since early 2021. Her passion lies in making a meaningful impact, not only in the lives of pets but also in supporting pet parents through thoughtful care plans, emotional moments, and everything in between. Chrissy takes great pride in helping ensure every patient and client leaves feeling healthy, heard, and cared for.
A graduate of Oak Forest High School, Chrissy went on to earn her medical assistant certification from Everest College in 2006. While she’s always been drawn to healthcare and caregiving, veterinary medicine has offered her a deeply fulfilling way to connect her skills with her love for animals.
Outside of work, Chrissy enjoys diving back into photography after a nearly decade-long break. She’s a proud mom to an incredible seven-year-old daughter who keeps her young, inspired, and always on her toes. Chrissy is also a self-proclaimed pop culture geek who loves everything from Game of Thrones to music of all genres. She’s currently in the process of completing several large tattoos that showcase her creative side.
A fun fact about Chrissy? She can plan a spontaneous road trip faster than most people can plan dinner—bonus points if tacos and quirky side trips are involved. She also has a huge heart for reptiles, sharing her home with two boa constrictors, a Savannah monitor, a gecko, and three cats (who sometimes have to compete for her attention!).
Sarah
Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT)
Sarah loves veterinary dentistry! Sarah started in vet med in 2008, and her favorite thing about her job is building trust with fearful pets. She attended Parkland College’s Vet Tech program. She prides herself in taking a Fear Free approach to treating patients. She loves how far vet med has come in treating pet pain.
In her free time, she enjoys going on nature hikes with her husband and dogs, bike rides, and spending time with family and friends.
Bianca
Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT)
Bianca has been a veterinary assistant since 2019. She completed her Veterinary Technician degree at the end of 2023, and after passing the national exam, has earned her Certified Veterinary Technician license. She believes in Fear Free patient care. She worked in zoo medicine for 9 years and knows the value of cooperative care for all animals. Bianca shares her life with a Labrador named Whiskey and a cat named Newt. As you might have guessed, Bianca is a big fan of the Harry Potter franchise. In her free time, she enjoys playing pool, spending time with her pets, going to concerts and festivals, getting tattoos, and watching movies.
Anna
Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT)
Anna is one of our Veterinary Assistants. She’s been with SmartVet since 2024. She graduated from Parkland College in May 2024 with her Veterinary Technician degree. She loves providing the best possible care to all animals and guidance to pet owners. Everyone wants the best for their pets, and she takes pride in anything she can do to help achieve the goal of having a happy, healthy pet. In her free time, she loves spending time outdoors, hiking, and paddle boarding; she also enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Gabby
Veterinary Assistant
Gabby has been a veterinary assistant since 2007, with 10 years in emergency medicine. She participates in canine agility and modified bickering with her Beauceron, Zico. They share their life with two cats, Chevelle (spicy cat) and Skillet (one-brain-cell cat).
Vanessa
Veterinary Assistant
Vanessa has been with us since 2023, and she is Fear Free certified. She brings compassion and empathy to every interaction with both her patients and their human companions. Outside of work, she is a marketing committee member for her sorority, Omega Phi Beta. She also enjoys time with her fur baby, Dixie, as she brings immense joy and companionship to Vanessa’s life.
Rosalind
Veterinary Assistant
Rosalind joined SmartVet in January 2024. She loves watching her patients grow and helping them heal. Outside of work, she loves riding and showing horses.
Alyssa
Veterinary Assistant
Alyssa became a valued member of the SmartVet team in 2023 as a Veterinary Assistant. She began her journey in veterinary medicine while serving in the military, where she honed her skills and developed a passion for animal care. Her favorite part of being a veterinary assistant is calming nervous patients. Alyssa shares her life with 11 geckos, 5 tarantulas, 4 rats, 3 ferrets, and 2 snakes. She also breeds and sells isopods for reptile habitats.
Keandra
Veterinary Assistant
Keandra prides herself on being the calm to her parents’ storm and on providing high-quality care. She enjoys using her skills to help animals in distress and loves building relationships with both patients and their owners. In her free time, she likes going to the beach, boating, and hiking.
Alicia
Veterinary Assistant
Alicia is a current student at Illinois State University. She prides herself on her passion for veterinary medicine, specifically veterinary nursing. Learning and gaining new experiences are her favorite parts of the job, aside from working with furry friends. She also enjoys seeing patients grow and receive care. In her free time, Alicia likes spending time with friends, going to the gym, or watching her favorite shows.
Cassidy
Veterinary Assistant
Cassidy takes pride in supporting the veterinary team so they can provide the best care possible. Whether it’s preparing equipment, assisting during procedures, or keeping the clinic organized, she enjoys making sure everything runs smoothly so the veterinarian can focus on the patient. In her free time, Cassidy enjoys spending time outdoors or with her loved ones. She likes hiking, fishing, swimming, and being with her friends, family, and animals, who bring her a lot of happiness.
Isabelle
Veterinary Assistant
Isabelle prides herself on creating a positive experience for both pets and their owners. She pays close attention to detail in all aspects of care and is always seeking to expand her knowledge and skills as she continues to grow in the veterinary field. Isabelle is dedicated to providing the best possible support to her team and patients. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, gardening, and solving Sudoku puzzles. She also loves taking her dog, Brutus, on new adventures around town.
Aaron
Client Service Representative
Aaron is one of our Client Service Representatives. He’s been with SmartVet since early 2023. He takes great pride in his communication skills, which are helpful in a multitude of situations, whether it be scheduling routine exams, discussing treatment plans and details, answering questions, or being empathetic when needed. He also prides himself on making sure the patient and client are at the forefront of his mind, always looking for ways to make their visit perfect. In his free time, he is a dad first and foremost; he loves spending time with his son exploring nature, taking photos, and traveling locally. Good food, fun times, family, and friends (furry ones included) are his keys to a happy life.
Alex
Client Service Representative
Alex is one of our Customer Service representatives. She’s been with SmartVet since 2019. She attended U of I and has a degree in Animal Sciences. Her favorite thing is helping senior pets live their best lives. Alex shares her life with a 19-year-old cat named Duff and a Shiba Inu mix named Dory.
Zico
Lunch Monitor
Zico loves spending his lunch hour with his best friend Liam. His favorite activity is walking himself with his leash while sporting Dobby ears. Zico gets plenty of exercise bikejoring. He has two cats, Chevelle and Skillet, and one human he calls Mom.
Tablo
Skater Boy
Tablo had to follow in his big brother, Zico’s, shoes and come to work at SmartVet. This pup is always on the move zooming around the clinic and making sure every room is ready for all his friends to come visit!