Jillian Courson, DVM
Founder
Opened the hospital in 2020 with the goal of ending the long midnight drives in the wrong direction.
Doctor-owned since November 2020
A hospital that exists because the drive was ninety minutes in the wrong direction.
Valdosta Veterinary Associates was founded by a veterinarian who kept having the same conversation at closing time: something is wrong with your dog, and the nearest open hospital is in another state.
Built for the hours nobody else covers.
The hospital opened in November 2020 on Old US Highway 41 north of Valdosta, and was built to AAHA facility criteria from the ground up: a dedicated surgical suite, an in-house laboratory, digital radiography and ultrasound, and a ward staffed overnight rather than locked at closing.
That last detail is the whole point. A hospital can own excellent equipment and still be dark at midnight. Here there is a veterinarian in the building at every hour of every day of the year — including the holidays, when emergencies are statistically at their worst and options are at their fewest.
Alongside the emergency caseload, the practice runs ordinary weekday medicine: puppy visits, senior exams, dentals, spays and neuters, and boarding on the same campus. Families who come in once at 3 a.m. often stay for the routine care, which is how it should work.
The founder
One veterinarian, one very long to-do list.
Dr. Courson is joined by a team of associate veterinarians, licensed technicians, and client-care staff who rotate through nights, weekends and holidays so the door stays open. We are always taking applications.
Our veterinarians
The doctors behind the open door.
Dr. Courson
Owner and Medical Director
Dr. Jillian Courson is the owner and Medical Director of Valdosta Veterinary Associates. A 2018 graduate of Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Courson founded VVA in 2019 with a vision of creating a veterinary hospital that could provide dependable, high-quality care whenever pets and their families need it most.
Under her leadership, VVA has grown into a 24/7 emergency and general practice hybrid hospital serving Valdosta and the surrounding communities. As the only emergency veterinary hospital within approximately a two-hour radius, VVA regularly manages urgent, critical and medically complex cases while maintaining strong relationships with specialty and referral hospitals.
Dr. Courson is committed to progressive medicine, continued learning and developing a skilled, technician-forward veterinary team. She also enjoys mentoring future veterinarians and giving students meaningful, hands-on exposure to emergency medicine, patient stabilization, general practice, surgery and inpatient care.
Outside of the hospital, Dr. Courson enjoys traveling, live music and side-by-side rides with her beloved pit bull rescue, Scotti Sue.
Her dedication to her patients, clients, team and community remains at the heart of VVA’s mission: “We are here when you need us.”
Dr. Antal
Associate veterinarian
Dr. Shaye Antal grew up in Oceanside, California. She earned her BS in Animal Science from UC Davis in 2016 and graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2022, completing her clinical rotations at Kansas State University. She has a passion for emergency medicine, neurology and wildlife conservation.
Her husband serves in the US Air Force, and they welcomed their daughter at the end of 2023. Dr. Antal enjoys reading, musicals, hiking, camping, water polo, NFL football (Go Cowboys!) and all things Marvel comics. Every one of her animals is named after a Marvel character.
Dr. Temples
Associate veterinarian
Dr. Zachary Temples is a staff veterinarian at Valdosta Veterinary Associates and a graduate of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. A Valdosta native, Dr. Temples is proud to practice veterinary medicine in the community he calls home.
As part of VVA’s 24/7 emergency and general practice team, Dr. Temples provides care for patients with a wide variety of needs — from routine wellness visits to urgent and complex medical cases. He values building trusting relationships with clients and working alongside VVA’s skilled veterinary support team to provide compassionate, high-quality care to every patient.
Outside of the hospital, Dr. Temples enjoys traveling, snowboarding and spending time with his dog, Luna.
Dr. Randolph
Associate veterinarian
Dr. Matthew Randolph earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2000 and his PhD in biomedical research in 2015. He is one of VVA’s long-time wellness and vaccination veterinarians, and is passionate about helping pets live long, healthy lives through routine examinations, vaccinations, diagnostic screening, parasite prevention and individualized health recommendations.
With a calm and thoughtful approach, Dr. Randolph enjoys building lasting relationships with pets and their families. He believes that preventive care and client education are essential to identifying concerns early and supporting each patient through every stage of life.
Dr. Randolph also provides in-home pet euthanasia through CodaPet, an independent company serving the majority of pet owners across South Georgia. Families referred by VVA can let their pets spend their final moments peacefully in the comfort and familiarity of home.
Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Randolph enjoys spending time with his wife and their two sons, hiking and traveling. Together, they share a love of history, learning new things and exploring interesting places.
Hospital administration
Tiffany Bentley
Hospital Administrator
Tiffany Bentley serves as the Hospital Administrator at Valdosta Veterinary Associates, overseeing the daily operations of the hospital and supporting its team of veterinarians, technicians, assistants and client service representatives. Her responsibilities include team development, recruitment, scheduling, policy implementation, financial oversight, client relations and ensuring that VVA’s 24/7 emergency and general practice services operate effectively.
Before entering veterinary administration, Tiffany built an extensive background in human healthcare, working in OB/GYN nursing. She also served as a combat medic in the United States Army and earned her degree in Healthcare Administration.
In addition to her role at VVA, Tiffany is a business owner. Her entrepreneurial experience gives her a valuable understanding of business operations, financial management, customer service, leadership and the importance of building a strong and dependable team.
Tiffany is passionate about developing knowledgeable and confident employees, improving hospital systems, and creating an environment where team members feel supported and patients receive compassionate, high-quality care. She takes pride in helping VVA continue to grow while remaining committed to its team, clients, patients and the community it serves.
Outside of the hospital, Tiffany loves spending time with her French bulldogs, Rooster and Goose (yes, she loves Top Gun), and her vintage Chihuahua, Greer. She enjoys traveling and keeping up with her two grown sons, who both serve in the US Air Force.
How we practice
Four commitments we will hold ourselves to.
01
The sickest patient goes first
Triage by severity is the only fair way to run an open door. It occasionally means waiting with a stable pet, and we will always tell you why.
02
An estimate before treatment
Once your animal is stable, you get written options and costs. Nobody should learn the price of care after the fact.
03
Your regular vet stays in the loop
Records, radiographs and discharge notes go back to the practice that knows your pet. We are not trying to replace them.
04
Diagnostics stay in the building
Bloodwork, cytology, radiographs and ultrasound are read on site. A courier schedule should never decide when treatment starts.
Come meet us on an ordinary Tuesday.
The best introduction to a 24-hour hospital is a routine appointment, long before you need the other kind.
Request an appointment