Vet Team

Mike Lindeen, DVM – Chief Vet

Nicole Reynolds, DVM

Dr. Nicole Reynolds joins the Beargrease Veterinary Team for the first time this year. Dr. Reynolds is a graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and she holds a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology with a concentration in infectious diseases. Dr. Reynolds maintains a strong interest in emergency preparedness and response and critical care medicine and she volunteers her extended training through the Minnesota Veterinary Reserve Corps, the National Veterinary Response Team, and the Region 5 Veterinary Medical Assistance Team (VMAT). She is a member of the International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association (ISDVMA) and admits she’s been hooked on mushing since shortly after graduating from vet school. She now skijors competitively. When she is not running or skijoring with her one-dog team, you’ll find her in Colorado, traveling abroad, seeking backcountry snow opportunities, or finding any excuse to be active outside.

Dr. Kristina Keifer, DVM

Dr. Kristina Kiefer is a University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine graduate who will be back for her third year of the Beargrease! She occupies the remainder of her time at the University of Minnesota completing a surgical residency and a PhD in veterinary medicine. She is a member of the International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association and fell in love with being a trail vet during her first year of the Beargrease. When the occasion arises that she is not working she is happiest doing anything outside with her furry family!

 

Gayle Tate, DVM

Doctor Gayle Tate, of Woodbury, TN, graduated from University of Tennessee –  Knoxville’s, Veterinary School in 1976.  This was U.T.’s first class of graduates.  He has been in private practice in Woodbury for the past 32 years. Doctor Tate worked the Olympics in1991 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney, as an Equine emergency treating Veterinarian on the cross country course. He has spent the past eight years as an Iditarod Veterinarian and 4 years with the Beargrease.  He has a great love for UT football and bass fishing.  He has a wife and three children that share his passion of the sport.  Go big orange.

Bill Samson, DVM

Bill Sampson, DVM – Burnsville, NCBill graduated from Tuskegee University In 1973. He owned a Small Animal Hospital in Miami, Florida for 25 years and retired to Western North Carolina with his wife Charlotte. He is a member of the ISDVMA and has worked the Iditarod sled dog race for the last 6 years. As a member of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society he did advanced training with racing greyhounds with a special interest in Sports Medicine. Being retired he volunteers with his local Humane Society while enjoying many hobbies. He continues to enjoy working with these amazing sled dogs, mushers, vets and volunteers who make these events so special.

 Dr. Ladd graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University in 1987. He owns a small animal clinic in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Dr. Ladd has been involved in sled dog medicine since 1990.

Mike Hicks, DVM

Originally from Opelika, Alabama, Dr. Hicks received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University in Biomedical Science.  He attended veterinary school at Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine where he received his DVM degree in 1992.  After spending the next 6 years in private mixed animal practice in Texas he began a 3 year employment as a critical care veterinarian for the largest animal emergency hospital in Houston.  He opened his own small animal veterinary practice in 2001 in Cypress, Texas.  Dr. Hicks enjoys spending time with his three boys including fishing, hunting, and Texas A&M football games.  He also enjoys reading and spending time in the Texas Hill Country.  He has worked as a trail veterinarian in two Iditarod’s and will work the 2012 Iditarod as well.  He is thrilled for the opportunity to be involved in the Beargrease this year.

Beckie Kilvington, CVT – Chief Technician

Beckie Kilvington is our Chief Technician on the John Beargrease. She has been a certified veterinary technician since 1996, working mostly in emergency, intensive care, and small animal practice settings. She has been involved with the John Beargrease since 2003, and she just joined the Board of Directors. Beckie loves the people that the race brings together and the amazing canine athletes that are the basis for the event. In her spare time, traveling with her husband and step-daughter as well as camping, horseback endurance/trail riding, and of course, keeping the Beargrease veterinary team in organized chaos during the off season.

Chris Schriever, CVT

Ms. Chris Schriever is the hospital manager and head certified veterinary technician for two growing emergency hospitals in the Madison, Wisconsin area. One of the hospitals is a 24-hour emergency and referral center and the other hospital is a nights and weekends urgent-care facility. When the clinics are not keeping her busy, she spends her time with her two huskies. Ms. Schriever graduated from Iowa State University with a BS degree and she also holds an associate’s degree from Argosy University. She has been a veterinary technician since 1998 and an indispensible, highly-respected member of the John Beargrease Veterinary Team for the past several years.

Laurie Angell, CVT

Ms. Laurie Angell has been a certified veterinary technician for almost 30 years. She also is certified in veterinary massage and rehabilitation and has  a strong interest in complementary veterinary medicine and shelter medicine. Ms .Angell has been the Animal Care Supervisor in  the Veterinary Technician Program at Madison Area Technical College in Madison, WI since 1983! This will be her 4th year working the Beargrease and she thoroughly enjoys the many aspects of this amazing event and feels that it enriches and enhances her personal life and her career as a vet tech.

Judi Laurence

Ms. Judi Laurence has been a volunteer with the John Beargrease since 2005 in various capacities. Ms. Laurence is a Ham Radio Operator and this year she joins the veterinary team as our round-the-clock communications specialist. Judi is a Firefighter and EMT (emergency medical technician) for the city of Eden Prairie, Minnesota with experience dating back to 1982. She also is a member of the National Disaster Response Team (NDART), most recently deployed to the flood zones of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Ms. Laurence is currently involved in becoming a Code 3 member of an elite animal search and rescue team that specializes in disasters, her specialty being swift water and rope rescues. Active with animals for over 40 years, she volunteers for her local humane society, where she has fostered over 300 animals. Judi has been trained by BART (Basic Animal Rescue Training) through her local fire department and she has used BART training and equipment in actual animal rescues. She also is a Skywarn spotter and avid sea kayaker. She enjoys spending free time with her husband, three daughters, their greyhound, “Skye,” and “Rylee,” their chocolate lab, at their northern Minnesota cabin. Ms. Laurence is anxious to add her emergency communications and rescue expertise to this new dimension of the John Beargrease veterinary team.

Kris Ausland-Saari, CVT

Kris is very excited to be a member of the Veterinary Team this year! The past 3 years she has been a handler while on the Beargrease trail and will see the trail from the vet team perspective this year! Kris has her Associates degree in Veterinary Technology, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education from the University of Minnesota, Duluth.  Kris is an Iraqi Freedom veteran and has spent 21 years serving our country with the Minnesota Air National Guard and has now dedicated her life to fulfilling her passion of caring for animals.  She volunteers at her local Humane Society as well as the Duluth zoo.  She is currently a foster mom to 7 kittens and their momma, and serve on various fund-raising committee’s dedicated to animal welfare. Kris lives in Esko, MN with her husband, 2 teen-age daughters, 3 dogs, 2 cats, 2 horses and a ferret.  When she’s not chasing her kids around sporting venues (soccer and hockey), she loves horse camping, photography, and spending time with family and friends.