| Veterinarians: |
| Sarah
Love |
Bill
Marlatt |
Phil
Topham |
| Jerry
Vanek |
Nick
Vukich |
Sarah
Curry |
| Kim
Rozinka |
Kendra
Carlson |
Gayle
Tate |
| Paul
Gibbons |
Kathy
Topham |
Dr.
Jackie Piepkorn |
| |
|
|
| Veterinary
technicians: |
| Chris
Schriever |
Beckie
Hacker |
Heather
Mohan-Gibbons |
| |
|
|
| Assistants: |
| Jodi
Nelson |
Chuck
Nelson |
Keven
Kelly |
| Ben
Turman |
|
|
Sarah
Love,
Head Vet
|
Dr.
Sarah Love is a specialist in small animal internal medicine
living in Fairbanks, Alaska. She received her veterinary degree
and specialty training at the University of Minnesota and
became interested in sled dog medicine while living in Minnesota.
Currently, she is working as the program coordinator and assistant
professor for the undergraduate veterinary science program
at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and also practices in
Fairbanks. Dr. Love has been a trail veterinarian on the Iditarod,
Yukon Quest, John Beargrease, UP 200, Can-Am Crown, and others
for the last 10 years. Outside of work, she has her own kennel
of sled dogs, trying to spend as much time as she can on the
trail with the dogs. |
Jerry
Vanek
|
The
historic 25th running of the John Beargrease brings Dr. Jerry
Vanek back for what will be his 11th journey up the North
Shore as a race trail veterinarian since 1992. Dr. Vanek has
been a chief or trail veterinarian over sixty times on races
including the Yukon Quest, Iditarod, CanAm Crown, Race to
the Sky, UP 200, Grand Portage Passage, Great Trail, Empire
130, the IFSS World and Junior World Championships, and many
others. He was a competitive musher in his youth and still
drives dogs whenever he can. In 1993, he was the veterinarian
on the Mount Vaughn Antarctic Expedition. Last winter, Dr.
Vanek traveled 768 miles from Nenana to Nome in minus 50-degree
weather as a veterinarian and handler on the Serum Run ’25—the
annual reenactment of the original 1925 relay race against
diphtheria. He is a past president and charter board member
of the International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association
and an EMT certified in advanced wilderness life support.
He resides in Bemidji, Minnesota, where his consulting practice
emphasizes infectious disease epidemiology and where he is
an adjunct professor of cell biology and parasitology at Bemidji
State University. |
| Kim
Rozinka |
This year is Dr. Kim Rozinka's 6th year as a trail vet and her 5th time working
at the Beargrease Race. She is excited to be a part of the 25th anniversary
running of the Beargrease and is looking forward to visiting with many of the
mushers and handlers she has gotten to know over the years. Kim graduated from
the University of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medicine in 1994 and is
currently a relief veterinarian in the St. Paul metro area. When not playing
with her children, her dog, or working, she enjoys skiing, yoga, camping/hiking,
Guiness, and puttering in the garden.
|
Paul
Gibbons
|
Dr.
Gibbons has been involved with sled dog medicine for the
past 5 years and is honored to participate at the John Beargrease
this year. He is board certified in avian practice and directs
the Exotic Species Specialty Service at Animal Emergency
Center in Milwaukee.
|
Bill
Marlatt
|
Bill
is a 1988 graduate of North Carolina State University College
of Veterinary Medicine. He has lived on the northern edge
of the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming since 1990.
He is a partner in a 3 man mixed animal practice. The past
several years his professional emphasis has been in companion
animal portion of the practice. Bill became interested in
sled dogs 7 years ago after a sled dog outing in Montana.
He is relatively new to the sport, working the Race to The
Sky, the Beargrease, and Race For The Gold (local Black Hills
race). Much of Bill’s free time is spent working with
his wife on their 80-acre “spread”. He also finds
time to camp, canoe, hunt birds and chase elk around the mountains.
Bill is a card carrying member of the International Sled Dog
Veterinary Medical Association and is looking forward to working
his second John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. |
| 
Nicholas
Vukich, DVM
|
Dr.
Nick Vukich is a 1995 graduate of North Carolina State College
of Veterinary Medicine (yes, he knows both doctors Topham,
however they very rarely claim to know him). Dr. Vukich
became involved with sled dog sports while growing up in
Ohio after receiving his first husky as a birthday present.
Dr. Vukich has worked many sled dog races in the lower US,
Alaska and Canada, including the John Beargrease, UP200,
Empire 130, Can Am 250, Iditarod, Percy DeWolfe, and the
2005 IFSS World Championships. Dr. Vukich is the 1996 recipient
of the Doc Lombard Student Research Award and the 2000 Iditarod
Golden Stethoscope award. Dr. Vukich co-owns Bay East Animal
Hospital in Green Bay, Wisconsin. His primary veterinary
interests include sports medicine, orthopedic surgery, wildlife
and exotic animal medicine, and emergency and critical care.
|
| 
Kendra
Carlson, DVM
|
Dr.
Kendra Carlson is a 203 graduate of the University of Wisconsin
School of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation Dr. Carlson
completed a small animal medicine, surgery, and emergency/critical
care internship at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Carlson
is an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoys kayaking, hiking,
snow shoeing, cross country skiing, and camping. When she
adopted her first husky cross it was only natural she tries
skijoring, which led to an interest in sled dog sports. She
has worked as a trail veterinarian on the UP200 and the Percy
DeWolf sled dog races for the past two years and is hooked!
Dr. Carlson is a member of the ISDVMA and has attended the
annual conference as well as the Iditarod pre-race workshop.
For the past 3 years Dr. Carlson has done full time emergency/
critical care medicine at the Fox Valley Animal Referral Center
in Appleton, Wisconsin. Her primary veterinary interests include
sports medicine, emergency/ critical care, infectious disease,
and toxicology. She shares her home with her skijoring partner,
Abby (a Husky-shepherd cross) and two cranky cats. |
| 
Kathy
Topham |
Kathy
Topham is also from Mantua, OH and is also a graduate of North
Carolina State University, a long-suffering classmate of Nick
Vukich. She is returning for her 8th Beargrease as well (what
a coincidence!). Kathy is owner of Pawsitive Results, a practice
focused on Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. On the
side she spays and neuters thousands of cats and dogs each
year to do her part in eliminating pet overpopulation. Spare
time is spent training and competing 2 of the family dogs
in agility, and occasionally harassing Dr Vukich. Did you
know he was raised by wolves? Just ask him! Kathy has also
worked on the UP200/Midnight Run, Race to the Sky and Grand
Portage Passage. |
| 
Phil
Topham
|
Phil
Topham is currently from Mantua, OH and returning to Duluth
for his 8th John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon and Mid-Distance
Races this year. A graduate from North Carolina State University,
Phil is the sole proprietor of Phillip Topham Veterinary Services,
a full service veterinary relief business (in it’s 10th
year). Although licensed to work in 11 states, lately his
work has been closer to home in Northeast Ohio. Hobbies include
running the family dogs for exercise, kayaking, and working
on taxes. Phil and Kathy have 3 dogs, 2 cats, 2 horses, a
Spur-Thighed Tortoise and a Bearded Dragon. Other races Phil
has done include the UP200/ Midnight Run, and the Race to
the Sky. |
| 
Sarah
Curry |
Sarah
Curry is a small animal and emergency veterinarian from
Kingston, NH where she lives with her husband Chris and
2 dogs. She graduated from Univ. of Melbourne Faculty of
Veterinary Science in 2004, returning to the US in 2005.
Veterinary interests include working dog medicine and ophthalmology.
She was on the vet team for the Canam 2006 and 2007 races
and is a member of the ISDVMA.
|
Dr.
Gayle Tate
|
Dr.
Gayle Tate is a 1979 graduate of the University of Tennessee
College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville. He has been an
Iditarod trail veterinarian for the past four years, and is
a member of the International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical
Association. He has participated as an Olympic veterinarian
to the equestrian events in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, and
in 2000 in Sydney, Australia.Dr. Tate has a mixed animal,
private practice located in Woodbury, Tennessee, and is an
avid UT sports fans. Go Big Orange! |
Chris
Schriever
|
Chris
Schriever is the Hospital Manager and Head CVT for two growing
emergency hospitals in the Madison WI area. One of the hospitals
is a 24 hour emergency and referral center and the newer hospital
is a nights and weekends urgent care hospital. When the clinics
are not keeping her busy she is spending time with her two
huskies. Chris graduated from Iowa State University with a
BS degree and also has an associate degree from Argosy University.
Chris has been a veterinary technician since 1998 and a member
of the Beargrease Veterinary Team for the past several years. |
| 
Beckie
Hacker,
Vet Tech |
I
have been a Certified Veterinary Technician since 1998 and
have volunteered for the Beargrease since 2005. I enjoy
camping and horse back riding in the "good months"
and scrapbooking, sledding, ice skating and dog sledding
in the "snowy months". I live in Shoreview MN
with my boyfriend Jason and his daughter Lauren, 2 cats
(JDee and Lucky), 1 dog (Bear) and 1 horse (Hank). Beargrease
is my favorite week of the winter, and I am really looking
forward to it this year!
|
| 
Heather
Mohan-Gibbons,
Vet Tech |
Heather
is an Animal Behavior Consultant. Through her own business
she lectures nationwide, is involved in animal welfare,
and offers private consultations and husbandry care for
domestic and exotic pets. She has a Master of Science degree,
is a Registered Veterinary Technician, and a Certified Pet
Dog Trainer. She has worked with a large variety of birds,
land mammals and marine mammals. She is an avid photographer,
grew up in Winona, MN and loves a variety of outdoor activities.
She has helped out with the UP200 and Midnight Run and is
looking forward to the Beargrease.
|
Jodi
& Chuck Nelson
|
We
have volunteered with Beargrease since 1999 in different area
of the race. This will be our 7th year helping the vet team.
We have a dog sled and hope to have dogs to go with it in
the future. Jodi works at the University of Minnesota in the
Food Science and Nutrition Department as a Senior Laboratory
Services Coordinator and Chuck is an owner of a Party Rental
business in St Louis Park. We are owners of a cairn terrier
named Torrie who love to nap out on the dog sled. |
Kevin
Kelly
|
Kevin
Kelly is completing the final year of vet school at Iowa State
University. He first became fascinated with sled dog sports
during the 2003 Beargrease volunteer experience. Kevin was
born and raised in St. Paul and has always enjoyed the year-round
reacreation and beauty of the North Shore. He and his wife
Sarah and their two children are preparing for their move
from Ames to another to-be-determined mid-sized community
where he will practice small animal medicine. |
| 
Ben Turman,
Assistant |
Ben
will be assisting the Vet Team this year in the race. He
is a junior at The College of St. Scholastica as a Pre-Veterinary/Biology
major and hope to apply to Vet School next fall. He ran
the Beargrease 150 in '04 and '05, and has been around the
sport most of his life. In the summers he works at an Iditarod
Tour business in Alaska as a tour guide. His hobbies include
running dogs, hunting, rock climbing, canoeing and kayaking.
|
|
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