OUR DOCTORS
Jeff Walcoff, DVM
Owner
Dr. Walcoff grew up in Montgomery County and began working toward opening a new animal hospital in Clarksburg in 2003. He and his family are pleased to offer the greater Clarksburg area the same high-quality veterinary medicine and pet care he has been providing his clients for nearly 20 years.
Dr. Walcoff is a graduate of Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda and Washington University in St. Louis. He earned his doctor of veterinary medicine with honors from the prestigious Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine in New York.
Dr. Walcoff began his career in Miami, Florida at a 24-hour multi-doctor practice where he obtained extensive emergency training as well as quality medical and surgical skills. Dr. Walcoff relocated back to his roots in Maryland to a large multi-doctor hospital in Annapolis where he practiced for 4 years. In September of 2000, he and his wife, Sheila, built and opened Old Farm Veterinary Hospital, a full-service veterinary hospital in Frederick, Maryland. He practiced full time at Old Farm until February 2008 when they sold the hospital. Dr. and Mrs. Walcoff have two young sons, and share their home with a black Labrador “puppy” named Rosie, a Maltese named Nola, and a chocolate Labrador named Biscayne.
Mrs. Walcoff is a health and science lawyer and the Founding Principal of Goldbug Strategies LLC. She is a recognized regulatory policy expert in personalized medicine and genomics. Mrs. Walcoff is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) in Washington DC and encourages friends of Bennett Creek Animal Hospital to support our national zoo and join FONZ.
Rachel Duncan, DVM
Managing Urgent Care Veterinarian
Dr. Duncan grew up all along the East Coast living everywhere from New England to South Carolina. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire then attended Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine for her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. Upon graduation in 2009, Dr. Duncan participated in a rigorous year-long, small animal internship at a private referral hospital to further her education and experience. It was during this time that she developed a love for emergency medicine.
She has since practiced in multiple hospitals in different states focusing on emergency management and critical care. Dr. Duncan enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine from urgent medical treatment to emergency surgery. When not working, Dr. Duncan enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, yoga, and drawing. She has 2 wonderful dog-like cats and 1 perfectly spoiled little dog.
Kelly Hinkle, DVM
Dr. Kelly Hinkle was born and raised in Montgomery County. She attended the University of Delaware and received her Bachelor of Science in animal science. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from St. George’s University in Grenada and got to complete her clinical year at the University of Tennessee.
Dr. Hinkle then started working right away at a busy mixed animal emergency practice in Central Pennsylvania. She saw everything from horses, cows, pigs, dogs, cats, goats, chickens, and even a bobcat. She then moved back to Maryland and worked strictly with companion animals and small mammals for about 2 years. After that she was able to pursue her passion for emergency medicine at a large local hospital. She hopes to continue to pursue that passion with Bennett Creek.
In her off time, Dr. Hinkle loves travelling, skiing, and hiking. She also enjoys hanging out with her two dogs (Maizie and Addie).
Matthew Felrice, DVM
Dr. Matthew Felrice grew up in Montgomery Village and graduated from Watkins Mill High School. He attended Northwestern University in Evanston, IL and graduated with honors in 1998 with a degree in Neurobiology. Dr. Felrice is a 2003 graduate of Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and has worked in Montgomery County as a veterinarian since he graduated veterinary school.
His veterinary interests include medicine and surgery with dogs, cats, small mammals, bird and reptiles. Other areas of specialty include emergency medicine, dentistry and ultrasound.
Dr. Felrice lives nearby in Boyds, MD with his wife Erin and their two boys, Leo and Dylan. He has two dogs, an Australian Cattle Dog/Beagle Mix named Raven and a Shorkie Poo named Sophia. He also has a Uromastyx (African spiny tailed lizard) named Stanley. He enjoys bowling, all word games (words with friends, crossword puzzles, etc.), local team sports (Orioles, Commanders, Capitals and Wizards), going on bike rides and hikes with his family, and playing softball.
Shirley H., Practice Manager
Shirley is a part-time receptionist at Bennett Creek, she is a graduate from Wheaton HS, and is currently studying sonography and plans to become an OBGYN. Shirley loves animals and previously worked at a pet resort but is excited to finally be working in a veterinary environment. She is ambitious to learn more about animals, and looks forward to giving tons of love to all our patients! She has 3 dogs of her own and 1 cat, Kahlah her rambunctious Shepherd mix, her 2 crazy Jack Russell mixes Kai and Kora, and her bossy kitty Rosie. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her dogs, spending time with family, and learning new recipes with her boyfriend.
Brittany Simmons, Hr Manager
With over 15 years of experience in Human Resources and Talent Management, Britiany Simmons is a solution-based leader whose passion is team development, retention, workplace culture, coaching, and recruitment. Britiany’s focus is helping companies and organizations recognize that their greatest asset is their team.
Brittany G, Urgent Care lead
Brittany went through a veterinary technician program in Pittsburgh, where she found Colbi, her first cat. She then returned to Maryland where she worked at a local ER vet clinic, becoming ER department lead. Along the way, she met her heart dog, Oogie Boogie, a Siberian husky, then Bearbo Baggins or “Bear,” a loveable black lab, her first bottle-fed kitten, Tigger, and a foster fail shepherd mix, Reagan. Always keeping a love for guinea pigs (and other rodents) since college; she has plenty of guinea pigs: Tater Tot, Swiffer Sweeper, Hot Fudge Sundae, Fudge Ripple, Cream Puff and Cadbury, as well as a handful of rats! In her free time, Brittany also enjoys riding her horse, Corona, named after the beer of course!
Jennifer B, Urgent Care Lead
Born in Maryland and raised in Olney, Jen has been in the Veterinary field for over 18 years. She is a mom to 3 amazing kids and several fur babies to also include one shell baby, a red eared slider turtle. She is a huge advocate for Pit Bulls, and tries to stress the importance of spay and neuter, rescue, foster, and adoption to help fight the overwhelming number of homeless pets stuck in shelters every day. Jen loves spending time with family, going to the beach, eating crabs, and playing with her pit bulls. She loves all aspects of being in the Veterinary field, but most of all, being an advocate for those who don’t have a voice and hopefully making whatever they are going through a little easier.