Jackpot Veterinary Center: Grand Opening of the Equine Surgical Center

Tucson, Arizona – Jackpot Veterinary Center has been serving the community since 2014 providing sports medicine, preventative medicine, surgery, mobile emergencies, and much more. The center has come a long way in over a decade. Jackpot Veterinary Center is proud to announce the grand opening of its brand-new equine surgical center.

Jackpot Veterinary Center
6745 N La Cañada Dr, Tucson, AZ 85704
Phone: 520-999-3888

Photo Courtesy of CLN’s Megan deFabry

Background of Jackpot Veterinary Center

Dr. Lindsey A. Smogor, DVM is the proud owner of Jackpot Veterinary Center. Jackpot Veterinary Center started as an ambulatory equine practice in 2014. It has since grown into a brick-and-mortar mixed animal practice over the past decade. The practice offers extended hours for companion animals and is open 7 days a week for the weekend’s urgent care cases. They have hospitalized horses for medical management since 2019 and are excited to offer equine surgery to the community. Jackpot is a private veterinary-owned small business that is invested in bringing quality pet health to the community. Dr. Smogor is an exceptional owner and has worked on integrating positivity and teamwork into both sides of the practice. The large and small animal clinics both offer routine appointments along with more urgent cases.

Photos Courtesy of Jackpot Veterinary Center

Meet the Equine Veterinarians

Dr. Lindsey A. Smogor, DVM

Dr. Lindsey Smogor was raised just west of Las Vegas, NV. Before attending veterinary school, she’s always had a passion for animals and managed her family’s horseback riding stables and arena. In 2008 Dr. Lindsey received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Las Vegas Nevada (UNLV) in Pre-Professional Biology with a minor in Psychology and Chemistry. She attended her first year of Vet School in the Caribbean at Ross University then transferred to Oklahoma State University (OSU) during her second year of veterinary school and graduated in 2013. After she elected to complete an internship at Arizona Equine Medical and Surgical Centre in Gilbert, Arizona. Dr. Lindsey has a special interest in Podiatry and Lameness. She attended Farrier School in 2011 at Oklahoma State Horseshoeing School and started a horseshoeing business while obtaining her DVM at OSU. She has attended many seminars/labs hosted by well-known farriers/equine podiatrists and received continuing education on equine podiatry. She recently completed 240 hours in animal chiropractic education and passed the AVCA exam becoming certified in animal chiropractic.

Pictured: Dr. Lindsey A. Smogor, DVM – Photos Courtesy of Jackpot Veterinary Center

Dr. Autum Busarow-Kosco, DVM, CVA

Dr. Autum Busarow-Kosco is a native of Tucson and completed her undergraduate degree in Veterinary Science at the University of Arizona. She attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine on the island of St. Kitts for her pre-clinical training then completed her clinical training at the University of Florida School of Veterinary Medicine. Upon graduation, she completed an internship at Southwest Equine Hospital in Scottsdale, AZ, and has continued to serve there as an associate veterinarian specializing in equine medicine. Dr. Kosco enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine including internal medicine, animal welfare, anesthesia, pain management, nutrition, and preventive care. She has extensive training in acupuncture for large and small animals from the Chi Institute in Florida and enjoys customizing conventional and integrative wellness programs for each of her patients to promote healthy and balanced animals. Dr. Kosco has spent the majority of her life around horses and couldn’t imagine any other profession than to be working with them as a veterinarian. She also has a passion for traveling. She’s been able to tie her two passions into one as she’s been on several overseas trips to provide teaching and veterinary care to animals around the world. She is always looking for the next adventure to pursue.

Dr. Mackenzie Luick, DVM

Dr. Mackenzie Luick is the new equine surgeon for the new Equine Surgical Center. Dr. Luick attended veterinary school at the University of Missouri, but it was in a special course at Harvard University in undergrad where she discovered she wanted to be a surgeon. Following graduation from veterinary school, she completed two rotating internships in surgery, medicine, and anesthesia at San Luis Rey Equine Hospital and Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital. Dr. Luick stayed on for the surgery residency program at Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital. This program provided diverse experiences with a high volume of surgical caseload as well as medicine and critical care training. Dr. Luick particularly enjoys colic surgery and minimally invasive techniques (laparoscopic and arthroscopic surgeries).

Photos Courtesy of Dr. Mackenzie Luick, DVM

Equine Surgical Center

The equine surgical center will offer a variety of procedures including colic surgery, arthroscopies, cryptorchid and ovariectomies, sinus surgery, arthrodesis, urinary surgery, mass removals, tie-back surgery, and more. They want their clients to be at ease knowing there’s a surgical center in Tucson available for their equine family members.

Creation

The equine surgical center was created with the help and knowledge of Large Animal Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) Kelsey Thoms. She had full reigns of this project choosing every small and large detail of equipment. With that, she pieced together the surgery center with how she envisioned it. She put in all of her time and love into this task. I was lucky enough to take a look at this beautiful facility in person and speak with (CVT) Kelsey as she shared some fascinating insights into the equine veterinary world with me.

Background of Kelsey Thoms, CVT

Kelsey Thoms grew up in Reno, NV where she attended a 2-year veterinary technology program at Truckee Meadows Community College. She’s had a passion for horses since a young age that grew into a love for veterinary medicine. Kelsey has her beloved horse Griz who she loves to take trail riding, ranch sorting, and breakaway roping. Not to forget her pointer-mix pup, Bentley who is always up for an adventure going hiking.

Pictured: Kelsey Thoms, CVT with her horse Griz & pup Bentley – Photos Courtesy of Jeanette Felix

Kelsey worked as a licensed veterinary technician at Comstock Large Animal Hospital in Reno, NV for five years where she had the opportunity to be a part of multiple surgeries. During that time she started to feel confident to begin running anesthesia on her own for various procedures. She started to enjoy the complexity and rewarding nature of seeing difficult cases pull through and help with their road to recovery.

Photo Courtesy of CLN’s Megan deFabry

“There are always the ones that you can’t save which can take a toll, however, the importance of being an advocate for an animal much bigger than myself is something I hold value in. During that time in my career, I was looking to progress as a technician, and I was pleasantly surprised when I heard Jackpot Veterinary Center was looking for a technician to be in charge of creating the new equine surgical center and taking on the role of an anesthesia technician. Over the last year, I have been ordering, organizing, and stocking the surgery facility. It has been an amazing experience to be a part of this tight-knit team here in Arizona and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity.”

-CVT, Kelsey Thoms

Photo Courtesy of CLN’s Megan deFabry

Process to the Equine Surgical Center

It has been a journey to get to the grand opening of this new equine surgical center. The surgical suite was built in 2019. It took about 4 years to recruit an equine surgeon who’d be a great fit for the practice. Kelsey took on her new position at Jackpot Veterinary Center and dove right in. She was very excited to be a part of the process. The past year has been about ordering equipment, and supplies, training support staff, and working with local equine practitioners to get the practice equine surgery staff ready.

Photo Courtesy of CLN’s Megan deFabry

Achievement

When Kelsey first arrived in Tucson a little over a year ago the surgical room was being utilized by the small animal team as their facility was being remodeled at the time. She began searching for big-order items such as the anesthesia table, anesthesia machine, and surgery lights. As that process continued, she ordered surgery packs and different instruments and supplies that were needed for the facility. Once the small animal team had moved over to the other building, she was then able to piece together the surgery room as she saw fit. Seeing the finished product at the end of everything is very rewarding and Kelsey and her team can’t wait to be able to take on new patients and provide a surgical facility to clients in the Tucson area, especially to those that may need surgery more urgently.

Equine Surgical Center – Photos Courtesy of Kelsey Thoms, CVT

“The most rewarding thing about being a veterinary technician is spending time with the patients and nursing them back to health. Being able to see a sick patient walk out of the hospital obtaining the gold standard of care, knowing that our team has done everything we could for it is always an aspect of my job that makes me proud. I am currently working towards becoming certified with the AAEVT Anesthesia Society. I will be working primarily as an anesthesia technician at Jackpot Veterinary Center alongside our new surgeon Dr. Luick. However, I will still be part of general appointments and routine care. My goals are to become specialized in anesthesia down the road and I am always interested in furthering my knowledge and going to various continuing education.”

– Kelsey Thoms, CVT

New Clients

Looking for an appointment? New clients can call Jackpot Veterinary Center at 520-999-3888 to book elective surgeries. The receptionist is more than happy to go over estimates with owners and explain the steps necessary in moving forward. Jackpot Veterinary Center is open for emergency procedures during the week from Tuesdays through Saturdays (including evening and overnight hours).

Best Team in Tucson

Jackpot Veterinary Center is proud to have a strong large animal team. With three outstanding large animal doctors including the owner Dr. Lindsey A. Smogor (DVM), Dr. Autum Busarow-Kosco (DVM, CVA), and Dr. Mackenzie Luick (DVM). These doctors are accompanied by five of the best large animal technicians including Kelsey Thoms, Brittany Gouger, Jeanette Felix, Brianna Young, and Dani Robbins. Jackpot Veterinary Center is thankful for their receptionist Victoria Moreno for handling inquiries and scheduling for the facility. All of these individuals share a passion for veterinary medicine bringing the top level of care and love to your equine family member. The Jackpot Veterinary Center team is thrilled for the grand opening of the Equine Surgical Center to the community.

Photos Courtesy of Jackpot Veterinary Center