Old Town Animal Hospital | Katy, TX
Some people try a dozen jobs before they find the right fit. Courtney Coursey didn’t need the experiment phase. She started at Old Town Animal Hospital as a high school senior in 2000 and never left – because she didn’t just find a workplace, she found her people.
From the earliest days of the practice to today’s busy, full-service hospital, Courtney has helped shape what Old Town is known for: steady care, loyal teams, and a genuine connection to the community it serves.
Starting Young, Stepping Up Fast
Courtney’s first role at Old Town was as a kennel tech while she was still in high school. Not long after, staffing changes meant she was doing a little bit of everything – technician duties, reception, kennel support – keeping the hospital running alongside Dr. Hicks.
A few years in, she was tapped to step into management. No big handoff. No formal training. Just the classic “you’ve got this” moment – and a lot of learning as she went.
Growing with the Hospital
Old Town didn’t stay small for long. After outgrowing the original space, the hospital moved into its current building in 2008 and expanded from a tiny team to a thriving staff (now around two dozen team members, including doctors).
Along the way, Courtney watched veterinary medicine evolve dramatically – in technology, standards of care, and what clinics can offer pet families. Old Town kept pace by continuing to invest in its people and its ability to serve clients well.
Choosing Vet Med — Without Becoming a Veterinarian
Courtney always loved animals and once thought she’d become a veterinarian. She grew up around all kinds of animals, from farm life to horses, and that passion never changed.
But seeing the reality of practice ownership up close shifted her path. Watching Dr. Hicks carry the “always on” load made her realize she wanted a long career in veterinary medicine and a life outside the hospital. That’s where her leadership journey really took off.
Building People, Not Just Processes
Ask Courtney what she’s most proud of and she’ll point to her team.
Old Town has helped team members grow from entry-level roles into skilled veterinary assistants and leaders. Courtney values teaching, mentoring, and giving people room to build real careers – the kind that keep talented people in the profession instead of burning out and leaving it.
That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when someone decides development is part of the job.
The Full Circle Moments with Clients
Courtney has spent long enough at Old Town to see generations of pets and the stories that come with them.
One moment sticks with her: meeting two six-week-old Chihuahua puppies and being the first person at the hospital to hold them. Years later, she was also there at the end – the last person to hold them when it was time to say goodbye. The family remembered that full-circle moment, and so did she.
That’s the part of veterinary medicine that’s hard – and also deeply meaningful. It’s not just medical care. It’s showing up for people through every stage of loving a pet.
Support That Strengthens Leaders
Courtney credits key Lakefield leaders who helped her grow into a stronger hospital administrator, especially Angie Cantu and Amy Holland. After being thrown into management young, having steady support, real coaching, and leadership that backed the hospital made a lasting difference.
She also points to the broader support structure that comes with being part of Lakefield – HR, finance, marketing, and other teams that hospitals can lean on when questions come up and challenges hit.
Looking Ahead
Old Town is preparing for a remodel focused on flow and capacity – improving space for surgery and dental services and helping the team serve a growing client base.
For Courtney, that’s a sign the hospital is doing something right: earning trust in a community with plenty of choices, and staying a clinic people return to because they know Old Town genuinely cares.
