Community Partner Spotlight:
ARPets Hospital
Arkansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine is proud to have ARPets Hospital as an official clinical training site. Founded by A-State alumni Dr. Kristin Sullivan and her husband, Michael, the state-of-the-art Brookland campus is thrilled to welcome and mentor the next generation of Arkansas veterinarians. Through this collaborative model, prospective students will gain hands-on, real-world experience within our newly expanded small animal facility and luxury pet resort, PAWliday Inn, learning to deliver the highest standard of progressive, personalized patient care.
Dr. Kristin Sullivan, an Arkansas State University alum, graduated from St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2012 and is the sole practitioner of ARPets Hospital. She and her husband, Michael Sullivan, also an A-State alum, opened ARPets Hospital in Brookland, Arkansas in 2017, just a 15 minute drive from Arkansas State University Campus in Jonesboro. ARPets Hospital is a recently expanded and completely renovated small animal facility, offering wellness and preventative medicine, urgent care, elective and emergency surgery, and hospitalization with a 24 hour monitoring system to its patients. Dr. Sullivan also serves as the Consulting Veterinarian as part of IACUC for Arkansas State University’s Biosciences Institute. She and Mr. Michael Sullivan both proudly support A-State CVM.
ARPets Hospital, during its recent expansion, now includes separate dog and cat facilities. The Cat Clinic is certified Cat Friendly with its own Cat Holding Area, Cat Exam rooms, Cat Reception Area, and Cat Treatment Area. ARPets is environmentally concerned and is a paper-less workplace with digital and cloud-based software and integrated, digital, state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment including on-site ultrasonography. ARPets Hospital also has a sister business on the ARPets Campus: PAWliday Inn. PAWliday Inn is a luxurious pet hotel and daycare facility. ARPets Hospital and PAWliday Inn combined currently employ one DVM and 32 support and technical staff. PAWliday Inn offers veterinary care and services, obedience and behavioral training, daily activities, as well as boarding and daycare.
The distributive model that A-State CVM has chosen to employ will allow many Arkansas DVMs to act as teaching resources bringing centuries of collective experience and practice to the local program and provide these students with a multitude of real-world cases specific to this geography. Of which, ARPets Hospital is thrilled at the opportunity of working with the prospective veterinary students preparing to enter the workforce. ARPets Hospital aims to provide these students with the knowledge they will need in order to provide their future patients and clients the best in veterinary medicine with progressive and personalized patient care options while promoting the human-animal bond and acting as an advocate for their patient.
On why they chose to partner with A-State CVM, Dr. Sullivan shared: “ I consider it an honor and a privilege to help guide the next generation of Arkansas veterinarians through my years of learned experience and personal challenges in order to develop strong, prepared, mentally focused and highly trained doctors.”
Previous Spotlights
Rooted in a tradition started in 1977, Harrison Animal Clinic continues to find new ways to elevate veterinary medicine. See how Dr. Jones and his growing team are expanding the clinic's physical footprint, opening new regional locations, and preparing to host Arkansas State University veterinary students for hands-on clinical experience—bringing a unique blend of mentorship and fresh medical perspectives to local communities.
In 2020, Dr. Heath Jones and his wife Brittany purchased Harrison Animal Clinic, continuing
the legacy Dr. Joe Melton started in 1977. Dr. Jones graduated from Harrison High
School before earning his bachelor’s degree in Poultry Science from the University
of Arkansas and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Oklahoma State University.
Under his leadership, they have grown their team into five dedicated doctors, bringing
a wide range of experience and heart to every patient interaction.
As the clinic continues to evolve, the mission remains the same: to provide exceptional,
compassionate care for both small and large animals across the community. Over the
past several years, the clinic has expanded the services, strengthened emergency capabilities,
and invested in new technologies to help diagnose and treat patients with greater
accuracy and comfort. Their doctors are continually expanding their skills through
ongoing training, advanced certifications, and hands-on experience with the latest
developments in veterinary medicine. Their commitment to growth ensures that the
patients receive the highest standard of care, whether they are here for routine wellness
or complex medical needs.
Harrison Animal Clinic is excited to share the near completion of the new addition
to the facility. The expansion will nearly double the current footprint, giving space
to better service clients, reducing wait times, and grow services. Most importantly,
this will allow the clinic to bring additional advanced medicine services to their
community. In 2024, Dr. Jones also opened a second location in Leslie, Arkansas,
improving quality care for clients in that region. This opened more opportunities
for the rapidly growing client base in that area.
As they look ahead, Dr. Jones remains focused on continuous improvement through facility
enhancements, expansion of service offerings, and a continued clinic culture based
on value and support. Dr. Jones stated, “We are grateful for the trust our community
places in us and excited for the future we are building together.”
When asked about working with the Arkansas State College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr.
Jones stated that he is thrilled to welcome an in-state veterinary school at ASU and
looks forward to supporting students as they learn through the new community- based
model. He anticipates not only teaching future students but also learning fresh perspectives
that the students will bring during their rotations.