Our Team
If you’re looking for vets in West Knoxville who will love your pet just as much as you do, you’re in the right place! Lange Animal Hospital is staffed with friendly, experienced doctors who are committed to caring for pets with the same level of care that they’d want for their own pets.
Randall L. Lange, DVM • Retired
Education: Earned DVM from Iowa State University in 1975, along with my twin brother, Rick.
Personal life/career journey: I’m a farm boy from Iowa who has resided in beautiful east Tennessee for 40 years and is proud to say that my blood is definitely orange now! Go Vols! Rick and I opened up the original Lange Animal Hospital in December, 1977, but we were condemned by the Pellissippi Parkway and forced to relocate to our current location in March, 1993. Tragically, Dr. Rick was involved in a fatal automobile accident in November of 1999, but his spirit continues to guide all of us at LAH every day. He is missed very much!
Pets: Josh 4.0, a golden retriever, and the face of Lange Animal Hospital's non-profit for children, Josh and Friends
Family: Wife, Christy, and daughter, Jessica
Hobbies: Working out, basketball, biking, shooting, guitar, and writing children’s books (including ones about his golden retriever, Josh, as the main character)
Most rewarding part of your career: Becoming a part of so many families by caring for their family pets, and using the human-animal bond to help people, especially children in need
Favorite comfort food: Cookies and cream ice cream, chili, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
Three things you love: My Lord Jesus Christ, my family (including my dogs), and children, especially those in need
Advice for pet owners: 1) always be alpha in your pack of pets, 2) make time to become a big part of your pets’ lives, and 3) always feed the best diets to your pets (and not human food).
Wade Milam, DVM • Medical Director
Education: University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, 1995
Family: Wife, Courtney, and four children
Pets: Hazel, chocolate lab, Darby, a golden doodle, and Naama, a doodle
Hobbies: Hiking, fly fishing, and reading
Favorite part of your career: Relationships built with people and their pets
Greatest life accomplishment: Convincing my wife to marry me
Favorite comfort food: Hamburgers and fries
Three things you love: Singing in church, reading history, and exploring national parks
Kelly Miller, DVM • Veterinarian
Education: University of Tennessee, 1992
Family: Husband, Kevin, and daughter, Josie
Pets: Nelli (Corgi), Cosette and Wickham (cats)
Most rewarding part of your career: All the wonderful relationships I have with the owners of my patients
Greatest life accomplishment: Being a mom
Favorite comfort food: Coffee and chocolate
Three things you love: My family, my pets, and afternoon naps
Advice for pet owners: Basic obedience is a must for all dogs, and preventative care is essential for a healthy pet.
Fun fact: I have run five marathons.
Melinda Shumpert, DVM, CVA • Veterinarian
Education: Certified in Veterinary Acupuncture from Chi University 2023 and Graduated University of Tennessee CVM in 2004.
Family: I am married to my wonderful and supportive husband, Berry. We have three beautiful daughters - Naomi, Mikayla, and Lydia.
Pets: Bo Ziggy - Red Moyen Poodle
Favorite comfort food: chicken and dumplings, mint chocolate chip ice cream and dark chocolate.
Three things I love:
- The Lord, Jesus Christ and serving in my local church
- My family and spending time with them.
- The beach
Fun Fact: I was born in Ohio but have lived and practiced veterinary medicine in 5 states— Miami, FL; Surfside Beach, SC; West Lafayette, IN; Los Angeles, CA; Knoxville, TN. I have lived in the South more than anywhere else and now proclaim myself a Southerner.
Hobbies: Gardening, baking, reading, stained glass art work, exercise and fitness, and supporting my children’s activities.
Most rewarding part of my career: I find great joy in building relationships with clients and ministering to my patients throughout their entire lives.
Richie Burdeaux, DVM, DABVP • Veterinarian (Avian)
Education: University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, 2012; Board-certified bird specialist by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP - Avian Practice) and completed a residency with avian and exotic pets.
Pets: Peaches (Moluccan cockatoo), Sophie (Double yellow-headed Amazon parrot), Athena (dog), and two horses.
Hobbies: Hiking, cooking, gardening, bird watching, kayaking, and horseback riding.
Most rewarding part of your career: Building relationships with my clients and making the world a better place for their pets.
Favorite comfort food: Pizza and chocolate.
Three things you love: Jesus, my family, the outdoors.
Sarah Estep, DVM • Veterinarian
Education: University of Tennessee CVM, 2021
Family: Husband, Mark and Daughter, Maggie
Pets: Ellie (Boston Terrier), Shyla & Oliver (Cats), Dorris (Tortoise), Ralph (Rabbit), Stitch (Flying Squirrel), Curley and Bert (guinea pigs)
Most rewarding part of your career: Using my passion for helping animals everyday to make a positive impact on families and their pets lives.
Favorite comfort food: Chick-fil-A all the way
Three things you love: My family, my pets, and enjoying the outdoors
Hobbies: Cooking & baking, gardening, hiking, crocheting and running with my dog!
Shannon Cruze • Practice Manager
Family: Husband, Michael, and four kids, Lydia, Elijah, Vivian, and Gabriel.
Pets: Lulu (lab), Sophie (tabby cat), Night terror (demon cat), Meka (tiny cat) and Sunny (Leopard Gecko).
Most rewarding part of career: Getting to do what I love and build relationships both with employees and clients.
Greatest life accomplishment: So far, keeping four tiny humans alive.
Favorite comfort food: Mac and cheese.
Three things I love: My family, watching my kids play sports, and reading in silence (with a nice glass of wine).
Arwen • Lead Customer Service Representative
Family: Fiancé, Brody, and our sons Killian and Greyson
Pets: Dakotah (Blue Nose Pit), Nimue (German Shepherd), Baelfire (German Shepherd)
Most rewarding part of career: Learning new things every single day and bettering myself and helping others with that knowledge
Greatest life accomplishment: Becoming a mom has been the best accomplishment by far
Favorite comfort food: Mexican food 100%
Three things I love: My family, competing in shows with my dogs, and cooking/baking
Sara • Lead Assistant
Pets: Eleanor (Staffordshire bull terror), Pepe (cat), and Fry (cat)
Most rewarding part of career: Is getting to come to work and help creatures that cannot help themselves!
Three things I love: Jesus, my pets, and my fiancé.
Favorite comfort food: Mexican
Nicole • Lead Assistant
Education: Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Virginia Tech, 2017
Pets: Roscoe, Duke and Tripp (Australian Shepherds)
Favorite part of your career: Anesthesia! I love learning more and improving my skills on how to keep our pets as safe as possible during surgical procedures.
Hobbies: I used to ride horses and am dying to get back into that. I also enjoy helping my boyfriend work on our trucks.
Favorite comfort food: Mac and Cheese!
Three things I love: my boyfriend, Dyllan, snacks, and making people laugh.
Summer • Kennel Manager
Education: Roane State Community College
Pets: Remi (lab), Riley (Border Collie), River (Husky mix, receptionist at LAH), Luna, Stanley, Autumn (cats), and all of our fish
Hobbies: Hiking and backpacking
Most rewarding part of your career: Getting to spend time with pets and making them feel at ease and stress-free
Favorite comfort food: Mashed potatoes and rolls
Three things you love: I am loved by my 3 dogs and 3 cats who like to take up lots of my time and energy. I enjoy being outside hiking and camping and just playing with my dogs. I also have a passion for naps and tacos.