Meet Our Team

Dr. Koryn V. Swearingen

Owner/CEO/Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Koryn Swearingen graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 1987 and became the owner of Village Veterinary Clinic in 2005. She and her husband have four children and proudly welcomed their first grandson in 2023. While their children are now spread across the Midwest, their home remains lively with Ivy, a Golden Retriever, and Jack Frost, a Flame Point Siamese cat.

Outside of the clinic, Dr. Swearingen enjoys an active and creative lifestyle. She loves spending time at the lake participating in water sports, horseback riding, hiking forest preserves with Ivy, traveling, interior decorating for friends and family, and making cherished memories with her grandsons.

Dr. Swearingen is passionate about practicing a blend of traditional and holistic veterinary medicine. She is deeply committed to providing exceptional care while ensuring both pets and their owners feel comfortable, understood, and truly at home.

Her favorite part of Village Veterinary Clinic is the strong sense of culture and community. She feels grateful to practice in the same town where she raised her family and values the lasting relationships she has built with clients and friends. She firmly believes that the community is the foundation of the clinic.

Above all, Dr. Swearingen is dedicated to always putting patients first. She takes pride in connecting with animals on an emotional level, beginning every exam by greeting and comforting them to build trust and understanding.

To learn more about Dr. Swearingen’s journey and the story of Village Veterinary Clinic, check out OurStory.

Dr. Cindy Marks

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Cindy Marks always knew she wanted to become a veterinarian. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Illinois before graduating from the College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005. In 2007, she joined Village Veterinary Clinic, where she continues to provide compassionate, high-quality care to her patients (check out OurStory to learn more).

At home, Dr. Marks enjoys life with her husband, their son and daughter, two dogs—Ginger and Stella—and three cats—Smokey, Milo, and Callie. Outside of the clinic, she loves being a dedicated dance mom and track mom, as well as spending time walking her dogs, ATVing, and hiking.

Dr. Marks is passionate about practicing exceptional medicine alongside a supportive and talented team. She values the deep bond shared with clients and their pets, while also recognizing that veterinary medicine can be an emotional journey—often all in a single day.

Her dedication is a true reflection of Village Veterinary Clinic’s commitment to treating every pet like family.

Dr. Raquel Carbajal

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

​​​​​​​Dr. Carbajal is a 2020 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and practiced in the Champaign-Urbana area for 3 years. She was born and raised in northern Illinois and is excited to be back home and serving clients in the community as part of the VVC team. Dr. Carbajal has special interests in internal medicine, dentistry, and soft tissue surgery. She strives to provide compassionate and high-quality medical care to her patients, working together with clients to optimize the health and well-being of their pets.

Outside of the clinic, Dr. Carbajal enjoys spending time with her husband, their friends and family, and their clan of rescued pets consisting of a retired senior research beagle named Panchita, an energetic Border Collie mix named Willow, a Pug mix named Dozer, a Pomsky named Kai, and two spoiled cats, Oliver and Bandit. She enjoys fostering senior dogs for local rescues (with a soft spot for elderly beagles), kayaking, attending live music shows, and watching movies.

Dr. Sam Landry

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Sam is a 2021 graduate from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She grew up in Southeast Wisconsin and is happy to be staying somewhat local to serve clients and their furry family members. Dr. Sam enjoys doing surgery, educating clients, and has a strong interest in alternative medicine. Eventually, she would like to become certified in acupuncture and rehabilitation! She is passionate about educating clients and ensuring they always feel heard. One thing Dr. Sam adores about Village Veterinary Clinic is the homey feel it provides from the moment she walks in the door - the entire staff are always so fun to be around!

Outside of work, Dr. Sam tends to her “chaos crew!” She has three dogs -her old man Charlie who is a black Lab; Oakley, her spunky rescue who is a Great Dane mix; and Bunker, her goofy black Lab puppy. Dr. Sam and Bunker participate in competitive dock diving! In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, and snuggling with her puppies.

Nicole B.

Nicole has been a valued member of Dr. Koryn Swearingen’s team since 2000, bringing decades of experience, warmth, and dedication to the Village Veterinary Clinic family. What Nicole loves most about her role is building lasting relationships with both patients and their people—along with the camaraderie and laughter she shares daily with her coworkers.

She is passionate about helping pets live their happiest, healthiest lives and believes that informed pet ownership is key. Nicole encourages future pet owners to fully understand the time, commitment, and financial responsibility that come with welcoming a pet into their home—because every pet deserves the very best care from day one.

Outside of the clinic, Nicole’s world revolves around her family. She and her husband, Wade, stay busy cheering on their three sons at sporting events and making the most of their time together. Their home is also filled with love (and a little extra fur!) thanks to their two Golden Retrievers, Charley and Brody.

When she’s not at work, you’ll likely find Nicole enjoying the outdoors—camping, boating, and traveling—or at home cooking up something delicious for her family.

Alix M.

Alix joined Village Veterinary Clinic in 2014 as a Veterinary Nurse and has grown alongside the practice ever since. In 2025, she was promoted to Assistant Manager, and she now serves as both a Practice Manager and Chief Operating Officer. Alix brings a strong passion for team development, clinic operations, and creating an exceptional experience for both clients and patients.

Alix values the strong team culture and family atmosphere that make Village Veterinary Clinic unique. She encourages pet owners to consider pet insurance to help ease financial stress and allow for the best possible care.

Outside of the clinic, Alix enjoys staying active, cheering on her son at his sporting events, and riding her thoroughbred horse, Copper. She also shares her home with her beloved pets—Mauser, Sig, and Colt.

Cheryl N.

Director of Client Service Representatives

Cheryl started as a receptionist at VVC in 2006 before coming on staff full-time. She loves working with clients and patients. She and her husband live in Hainesville, and she has two dogs named Karma and Brogan.

Emily EM.

Lead Veterinary Nurse

Veterinary technician with 10 years of experience and a passion for all things animals—big, small, and everything in between. I’ve been part of the team at Village Vet since 2024, where I love combining hands-on care with building real connections with both pets and their people.

At home, I’m kept on my toes by my two dogs, Malone (boxer mix) and Letty (lab/pit mix), who make sure life is never boring. When I’m off the clock, you’ll usually find me spending time with friends and family, getting my hands dirty in my indoor and outdoor garden, or heading to the drag races with my boyfriend for a little adrenaline and a lot of fun.

Rachel D.

Veterinary Nurse/Marketing

Rachel has been in the veterinary field for over 6 years and joined our team in 2023. She loves to garden and care for her 100+ house plants! In addition to the care she devotes to her plants and animals, Rachel loves to spend time with her family, which includes her four cats: Korra, Azula, Stone, and Gutz. One hobby you may not guess of Rachel is that she is also interested in cars!

Rachel’s favorite part of working at Village Veterinary Clinic is her co-workers, who make the clinic exude a family energy that is absolutely undeniable. She feels this palpable energy allows clients to feel like they are part of the clinic family as well! ​​​​​​​

Valerie B.

Veterinary Nurse

Valerie has been with Village Veterinary Clinic since 2008. Outside of work, she loves to spend time with friends and family, including her husband, son, and their Am Staff named Rexy. Valerie also loves to camp, kayak, and hike in her free time!

Valerie’s favorite part about being part of our clinic is the staff and the fun that they get to have together each day!

Emily JM.

Veterinary Nurse

Emily joined the Village Veterinary Team in 2015. She has worked in the veterinary field since 2008. She received an Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology from Rockford Career College in 2011. Outside the clinic Emily enjoys spending time with her dog, Teddy, family and friends. She is thrilled to be helping animals and making a difference in their lives.

My favorite thing about the clinic is the warm and welcoming atmosphere provided by the friendly staff. I love to ensure that every client’s experience is comfortable, educational and memorable.

Jennifer M.

Veterinary Nurse

Jennifer has been in the veterinary field for over 20 years and joined our team in 2023. In her free time, she loves to craft as well as watch her son play sports. Jennifer also has a hound mix named Rocky and a Cairn Terrier named Finn. Her two cats are named Emma and Spud!

If there’s one thing Jennifer wants you to know, it’s that the team at Village Veterinary Clinic treats our patients just as we would treat our own animals. Your animals really are family at our clinic.

Destiny A.

Veterinary Nurse

Destiny has been in the veterinary field for over three years and joined our team in 2025. She is currently pursuing her Associate of Science degree and working toward her veterinary technician certification. In addition, Destiny enjoys spending time with her family and friends, as well as traveling.

Destiny really enjoys working alongside a supportive team that shares the same passion for helping animals. She loves building relationships with both patients and their owners and enjoys watching pets grow and stay healthy over time.

Ashley

Veterinary Nurse

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Lily

Veterinary Assistant

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