Our Doctors
Dr. Jason Verbeck
DVM
Dr. Mark Tichacek
DVM
Dr. Tichacek is a beloved veterinarian that has been serving Carbondale and the surrounding Southern Illinois area for more than two decades. A graduate of the nationally renowned University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. T provides quality medical and surgical care for dogs and cats.
Before moving to Carbondale in 1996 to become the owner of Spears Animal Hospital, Dr. T worked as a veterinarian at animal hospitals including Oakland Animal Hospital in New Jersey; Care Animal Hospital in Arlington Heights, IL; and All Creatures Animal Hospital in Lake Zurich, IL.
When he’s not taking care of the community’s adorable pets, Dr. T and his wife love to get outside and enjoy the scenic beauty of Southern Illinois and its kind-hearted people. An avid sports fan, you’ll also find him cheering on his favorite teams with his two cats snuggled up at his side, tinkering around the garage with his dog in tow, fishing at Little Grassy Lake, or pretending he’s still a teenager and tubing at Crab Orchard with his two grown children.
Dr. Sarah Placek
DVM
Dr. Placek is an associate veterinarian and our newest addition to the Spears Animal Hospital family. She was born and raised here in Southern Illinois and has been serving as a veterinarian for the last two years. She is a 2019 graduate from the University of Missouri-Columbia, School of Veterinary Medicine. Her passion for animal health has led her down this career path to provide quality medicine and surgical care to animals.
When Dr. Placek is not at the clinic, she enjoys spending her free time with family, friends, and outdoor activities. An avid hiker, kayaker, and gardener, she enjoys spending time outside when the weather is nice.