Fair Oaks Ranch Veterinary Clinic (FORVC) is led by a team of co-owners who treat their patients like family. Drs. Kelsey Marquez, Kelsey Smith, and Jaci Carriker bring almost 40 years of combined experience to the clinic, and, for each of them, caring for our four-legged family members has been a lifelong passion. One knew it was her calling in the first grade. Another grew up helping her dad at his own clinic. And the third? She discovered her passion while working at a pet shop as a teenager.
While their paths were different, they all share the same heart for patient care, and that is what has led them to launch FORVC. They love working closely with pet owners to find practical, comfortable medical plans that fit every unique family.
We asked the doctors about their journeys, their philosophy on care, and what makes their work so incredibly rewarding.
fairoaksranchvet.com | 830-755-8770 | 28615 IH-10 W.
(Responses edited for length and clarity)
Name: Kelsey Marquez
Years of Experience: 13
What inspired you to become a veterinarian?
In the first grade, I told my parents I wanted to be a veterinarian. I made some backup plans along the way in case it didn't pan out, but thankfully it did! My passion for animals grew into a curiosity for medicine. I can't pinpoint one single experience, but it felt like one of God's callings for my life from the beginning.
Describe your approach to care.
I truly love formulating a plan that meets the owner and their pet where they are. Not everyone can run a full diagnostic workup for every ailment. Not every owner can easily give a pill to their dog. My own dog had a major surgery recently, and I found out that I can barely give her a pill myself, as a trained veterinarian! I've really discovered that one of my passions in veterinary medicine is helping owners make their own educated decisions about their pet's care. When there is mutuality in a diagnostic plan, that is a win!
What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?
The most rewarding aspect of my work is helping pet owners feel confident and at peace with the medical plan we create together for their pet. Veterinary medicine often involves difficult decisions, and when an owner truly understands the options, feels heard, and trusts the path forward, I know I’ve made a meaningful difference. That outcome doesn’t happen every time, but when it does, it is incredibly rewarding.
Name: Kelsey Smith
Years of experience: 10
What inspired you to become a veterinarian?
Veterinary medicine has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My dad was a veterinarian, and I grew up helping around the clinic. Watching the relationships he built with families and the difference he made in their pets’ lives inspired me to follow the same path. From an early age, I knew I wanted a career that combined science, problem-solving, and the opportunity to help both animals and their owners.
Describe your approach to care.
My approach to care is centered on the individual needs of both the pet and the owner. Every family, lifestyle, and patient is unique, so I believe it is important to take the time to understand each pet’s specific situation and the goals their family has for their care. My goal is to provide thorough education, discuss all available options, and help owners make informed decisions that are right for them and their pets. I want to create a partnership with pet owners built on trust, communication, and compassion.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?
One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is being actively involved in the community and having the opportunity to give back to the people and pets who make it such a special place. Veterinary medicine allows me to make a difference beyond the exam room through education, outreach, and supporting the human-animal bond that is so important to families. I enjoy building long-term relationships with pet owners, helping them make informed decisions, and being a trusted resource throughout their pets’ lives. Knowing that our team can positively impact both the health of pets and the well-being of our community is what makes this profession so meaningful to me.
Name: Jaci Carriker
Years of Experience: 14
What inspired you to become a veterinarian?
My first job as a teenager was working in a pet shop, where I quickly realized how much I loved being around animals. At the same time, I was always drawn to science and problem-solving. When it came time to choose a career, veterinary medicine felt like the perfect combination of those passions. I found a profession that allows me to help animals while using critical thinking and medical knowledge to solve complex challenges every day.
Describe your approach to care.
My approach centers on practical, individualized medicine. While there is often an ideal treatment plan from a medical standpoint, every pet and family has unique circumstances. I believe the best care happens when veterinarians and pet owners work together to create a plan that is both medically sound and realistic for that particular pet, family, and situation. My goal is always to provide compassionate guidance and help clients make informed decisions that support the best possible quality of life for their pets.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?
Without question, the most rewarding part of my work is being a member of the Fair Oaks Ranch Veterinary Clinic (FORVC) team. Our staff feels like family, and I am fortunate to work alongside an incredibly dedicated group of people who genuinely care about both our patients and our community. Sharing a common purpose—helping pets and the people who love them—creates a special environment, and being part of that mission every day is something I find deeply meaningful.
PULL QUOTE 1 (Vet 1 - 20):
I truly love formulating a plan that meets the owner and their pet where they are.
PULL QUOTE 2 (Vet 2 - 20):
I enjoy building long-term relationships with pet owners, helping them make informed decisions, and being a trusted resource throughout their pets’ lives.
PULL QUOTE 3 (Vet 3 - 20):
My goal is always to provide compassionate guidance and help clients make informed decisions that support the best possible quality of life for their pets.