05/14/2026
✨ BIG NEWS AT DOGWOOD TRAILS ✨
Our doctor team is growing AGAIN (!!!) and we are so excited to officially welcome the newest member of the Dogwood family - Dr. Kennedy Garcia Cartagena! 🩺🐾
Dr. GC is joining us after graduating veterinary school this month, and we already know our clients and patients are going to love her compassionate approach, dedication to quality medicine, and fun personality.
During veterinary school, she spent time with us on multiple externships and already had the chance to meet many of our clients and patients. Dr. O’Keefe loved getting to play a small role in mentoring her along the way in school, and if you love Dr. O’Keefe, we know you are going to LOVE Dr. GC too. We cannot wait for the pets and pet parents of NWA to officially meet her! She will begin seeing patients on Tuesday, May 26th - so book online or give us a call to schedule an appointment with her!
⬇️ Meet Dr. GC ⬇️
Dr. Kennedy Garcia Cartagena was born in Nashville TN but grew up in Fort Smith AR and North West AR. She was raised around snakes, fish, dogs, cats, sugar gliders, and lizards so developing a passion for creatures only made sense; However, It wasn’t until she adopted a Pyrenees puppy with epilepsy her senior year in high school that she decided veterinary medicine is where she belonged. It was also around that time when Dr. Garcia Cartagena met her high school sweetheart husband who encouraged her pursuit of becoming a DVM.
Dr Garcia Cartagena (or Dr. GC for short) earned her pre veterinary science undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas in 2022 and then attended Oklahoma State University for veterinary school where she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2026. From there she graduated and is starting her career here at Dogwood Trails Animal Hospital. Here she plans to stay to continue learning and growing.
Dr. GC has a passion for preventative care, behavior, end of life management, soft tissue surgery, and serving underrepresented communities.
Dr. GC believes that transparency and empathy are the foundation of her career and she is extremely excited to start serving the pets of NWA where she plans to build strong client relationships through her high quality compassionate care.
On her days off she likes to hike with her dog and husband, watch movies, and make homemade pet treats. She also enjoys soccer, making balloon animals, and bird watching.
Dr GC has two cats (Horchata and Orange Juice) and a Bernese mountain dog named Venus but she is hoping to expand the family in the near future.
