SVM ALUMNI
CLASS NOTES
Updates from DVM & Graduate Program Alumni 1981-2016
SAVING LIVES & SERVING WISCONSIN The UW School of Veterinary Medicine helps make both animal and human lives better. Our discoveries have advanced cancer treatments, we’ve created new ways to fight the flu, and we’re a world leader when it comes to figuring out what keeps cows healthy and happy.
MORE THAN
We have trained over half of the veterinarians in the state and serve as a resource and referral clinic for all.
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Our teaching hospital provides exceptional care for animals throughout the state. Of our 27,000 patient visits last year, 80% were from Wisconsin.
SVM ALUMNI CLASS NOTES | 2019
Our scientists conduct 75% of the infectious disease research at UW-Madison, including work to prevent pandemic influenza.
AnimalsNeedHeroesToo.com
Our livestock experts launched The Dairyland Initiative, a program that works directly with farms to optimize cow comfort, health, and production.
A Message from the Office for Advancement
In This Issue
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I am excited to be sending you the sixth edition of SVM Alumni Class Notes. So many of you have shared how much you enjoy hearing about your classmates. Thank you to all who took the time to send in your news!
1987-1991
Rodney Kuenzi John Been Gayle Leith Kristine Hoyt Connie Cannady Jennifer Doll Manette Kohler
1991-1994
Jocelyn Penner Natalie Antinoff Carol McLaughlin Emily Leuthner
1994-2007 Eric Jensen Laura McLain Colleen Jensen Becky Krull Maria Krenz Jen Nemec Megan Kramer
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2008-2011
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2013-2016
Erica Barkei Jennifer Bennett Will Sander Jennifer Dreyfus Rich Sim Ailena Baum Michael Hanhart
It was nice to visit with several alumni at the recent Western Veterinary Conference (WVC), and I hope to see many of you at our remaining alumni events throughout the year. We’ll again be at the annual conventions for the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), and North American Veterinary Community (NAVC). Again, thank you for staying in touch! I also look forward to having many of you back in Madison in June for the Alumni Reunion celebrating graduates from the classes of 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014. Sincerely,
Kristi V. Thorson Associate Dean for Advancement and Administration kristi.thorson@wisc.edu P.S. Mark your calendars for the UW School of Veterinary Medicine and UW Veterinary Care Open House on Sunday April 7, 2019. Join us for a walking tour of our hospital, live animals, presentations, interactive booths, and activities for kids. Learn more: vetmed.wisc.edu/open-house.
Kendra Bauer Jessica Head Ann Heffernan Mary Thurber Naomi (Keiper) Rich Dolly Jackson Loren Heusel Nathan Maier
GRADUATE PROGRAM
1981
William Lopez
On the cover Top Row (left to right): Jessica Head DVM’13 and family; Becky Krull DVM ’05; and Nathan Maier DVM’16 and family. Far Left: Naomi Rich DVM’15 and Michael Rich. Middle Right: Gayle Leith DVM’88 at Beijing Veterinary School. Lower Right: Maria Krenz DVM’06 with collegues at Zimm Vet clinic.
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[1987]
[1990] Everyone in the Class of 1987 already knows who the “better half” of this picture is.
Kristine Hoyt
My paper, “Evidence for Clinical Anaplasmosis and Borreliosis in Cats in Maine,” was published in the Journal of Infectious Disease this past summer. This is a first step in bringing awareness to the presence of Lyme disease in cats. I’m looking forward to relaxing on a yoga and hiking trip in Nepal later this year. I invite any classmates who wish to visit Maine to contact me. I’d welcome your company.
Rodney Kuenzi
I’m still trying to figure out when I can retire and become Lana’s full-time trophy husband.
[1988]
Connie Cannady
John Been
Ranjana and I continue to do well and always try to appreciate the many blessings in our lives. I am still doing some relief dairy veterinary work and Ranjana officially retired from work as a medical technologist at UW Hospital this January, after 35 years in that capacity. We are up to three grandchildren now and about 15 hobbies, so we stay well occupied. I am still a member of the Board of Visitors at the School of Veterinary Medicine and that keeps me in touch with all the exciting activities going on there. There are big plans pending for our veterinary school with a major expansion of the clinical and research facilities. I invite you all to stay abreast of the progress of this effort and to get involved by advocating for its financial and legislative support. This past summer was our 30th anniversary of graduation from the UWSVM. Our group had a nice get together at the school event and then later that night as well. Great memories with great friends!
Gayle Leith
I moved from Hendersonville, North Carolina to Boise, Idaho in June to work at The Cat Doctor, Idaho’s oldest feline-only practice.
Jennifer Doll
I recently published “Raccoons Stole My Baby Jesus,” a book about my life after saying goodbye to traditional small animal practice. Descriptions of my taking in animals from our local shelters and rescues that were not able to led to many interesting situations and stories, especially since some of those animals were black bears, American alligators, giant pythons, and more.
(Photo 1, Page 7)
I recently traveled to China to present at the Beijing Veterinary School a talk about equine reproductive ultrasonography, tour their veterinary hospital, and visit a horse farm as part of the China Animal Husbandry Group. The SVM’s Dr. Oliver Ginther kindly donated items including two sets of his ultrasound series, a reproductive biology in the mare textbook, and about eight of his equine reproductive poster series! My luggage really lightened up after Beijing! 4
[1991]
SVM ALUMNI CLASS NOTES | 2019
Manette Kohler
I am excited to share that my first children’s book, “Bella’s First Checkup,” was published in August 2018. It is a chapter book for young readers, ages 8 to 11. In the book the main character, Maddie, is a daydreaming fourth-grader with a fear of doctors’ offices that dates back to before she can even remember. Her vivid imagination, combined with her worrisome nature,
has nurtured this fear. When Maddie’s family gets a Golden Retriever puppy named Bella, Maddie’s happiness is replaced by panic when she discovers that a trip to the vet is in order. Through Bella’s many fun and educational puppy visits to the vet clinic, Maddie and her family learn how to raise a healthy and happy puppy, and Maddie begins to view doctors’ offices in a whole new light. However, will this carry over to her doctor’s office? Check out Amazon or helpinghanddvm.com for more info. The book promotes the importance of socialization and fear-free handling. Also, watch for “Manifesting Your Dreams” in 2019.
Jocelyn Penner
Gee whiz, where to start? It has been a busy, stressful, yet interesting year. For starters, I was fired from my small animal vet job (first time I have been fired since I was 16!). It was not fair or deserved, but I was actively searching for other jobs at that time, so I was not particularly upset. We also lost two of our fur babies this year. One was expected (he was 18 1/2 and in renal failure), but the other was a shock. She was just 8 years old but had a severe arthritic change, resulting in sudden hindlimb paresis. It absolutely broke our hearts, but we felt it was not fair to try and treat her when she was in so much pain.
Additionally, I accepted a job with the USDA. I am now a federal public health veterinarian working for the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Physically, it’s the toughest job I have ever had, and exhausting too, but it is interesting and feels like I’m doing something important. It’s hell getting old though. I had a shoulder replacement a year ago and am most likely looking at a hip replacement next year. I hope everyone is doing well and that 2019 is a good year.
[1992] Natalie Antinoff
After 22 years at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston, Texas, I am making a big move to the Salt Lake City area. I will be joining a smaller practice, Parrish Creek Veterinary Clinic, in Centerville, Utah, where I will be the medical director. And, as a bonus, I will also be doing some aviary, reptile, and aquarium work while there!
Carol McLaughlin
Hello! There is really not much to report. I am still in Southern California and still working at Nationwide Pet Insurance as my main job. I am in the underwriting department and do post-underwriting reviews, dispute, and fraud cases. I work from home and am enjoying it. I have been with Nationwide (formerly VPI) for about 14 years. I also continue to do some relief work and vaccination clinics to earn some extra dog show money. Yes, I’m still competing with the Aussies in herding, agility, obedience, and rally when I can. My knees have limited me some, but I’m getting those replaced this spring! (Keep me in your thoughts!) I also started fostering a rescue, a pregnant mom who had one pup already. And now I have a mama with four 3-week-old pups! Foster homes are always needed, so if you are at all interested...do it! It was SO MUCH FUN hanging out with John Mesh, Doug/Val, Allyson and Jen at the Wild West Vet Conference. I hope we can meet up again some year! I hope you are all happy and well. Let’s all meet up at the 30-year reunion in 2022!
[1994] Emily Leuthner
Earlier last year, Country View Veterinary Service in Oregon, Wisconsin became a small animal-exclusive practice. I have enjoyed becoming its sole owner and watching the practice grow and expand. We converted what was our old large animal wing into daycare and boarding. At the end of last year, we added Country View Veterinary Service of New Glarus to the family, and it is becoming well established in the community. My husband Mike’s practice, Petcare Animal Hospital in Madison is doing well and we are gradually adjusting to juggling the multiple facilities. With two high schoolaged sons and a household of pets, we are never bored! vetmed.wisc.edu/svm-alumni-class-notes
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Eric Jensen
I work as a laboratory animal veterinarian at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) in Milwaukee. In July 2018, I was promoted to associate professor. My faculty appointment in the Department of Pediatrics is largely due to the research of congenital bleeding disorders that I’ve been involved with at MCW since I joined the faculty in 2002. After several years in companion animal practice in Ohio after graduation, I made the transition to lab animal medicine and it has now been 20 years in this field, and I find that very rewarding. My wife and I recently celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary (we were married during spring break of our first year at the SVM). We have two children in college and so are almost empty nesters! We also have a Rat Terrier (appropriate for a lab animal vet, right?) named Piper.
(Photo 3, Page 7)
This year, I launched a mentoring, consulting, and motivational speaking business, sharing my passion for mental health in the veterinary field and my personal story of facing burnout and compassion fatigue, as well as the ways I found to move through it, so veterinarians can once again love practicing medicine. I also launched an in-home euthanasia service and am now teaching a course so that other veterinarians can incorporate it into their current practice or create a stand-alone business. Connect with me at drbeckykrull.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/Dr.BeckyKrullUnleashed.
Maria Krenz (Photo 6, Page 7)
Laura McLain
My update has very little to do with veterinary medicine. I have been volunteering at the Natural History Museum of Utah in the Paleontology Lab as a fossil preparator. I get to play with dinosaurs! Earlier in the year, I helped prep a skull of Teratophoneus, a tyrannosaur relative, and currently I am working on part of the ilium of Dystrophaeus, a sauropod (long-neck herbivore). Prepping involves using a mini jackhammer to remove the rock matrix from around the fossil bone and consolidating and stabilizing the bones. It is interesting work, and it is a nice change to work on a patient who has been dead for 154 million years, so there are no life and death decisions!
We expanded our clinic, ZimmVet (zimmvet.com) to become a four-veterinarian clinic, including the addition of Abby Soderberg DVM’18, a graduate of UW-Madison. We are still focused on canine and feline care, and recently completed an expansion of our pet hotel and daycare from 12 dog hotel suites to more than 40 suites. In addition, we expanded our dog daycare to seven days a week. Our staff also includes a dog trainer, pet groomer, nine certified veterinary technicians, and over a dozen other support positions. I live in Princeton, Minnesota with my husband, Josh, and our two children, Hadley (3) and Brixton (1).
Jen Nemec
[1998] (Photo 2, Page 7)
Some members of the graduating class of 1998 gathered this June in San Diego for their biennial reunion weekend. This is the sixth time we have done this trip in various locations, and it has become a great tradition. Many laughs were shared over memories of 4th year rotations and studying for endless exams. We also went whale watching and surfing. Our next trip is planned for Door County, Wisconsin in 2020.
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Becky Krull
[2006]
[1997]
Colleen Jensen
[2005]
SVM ALUMNI CLASS NOTES | 2019
(Photo 4, Page 7)
I have been very busy the last two years. In 2017, I purchased the small animal half of Grassland Veterinary Service, which is now called Badger Animal Clinic. In 2018, I married Eric Ledvina, an accountant from Stevens Point, and Bucky showed up to celebrate with us!
[2007] Megan Kramer (Photo 5, Page 7)
Life got busier for my husband, Justin, and me this year. We welcomed our daughter, Abigail, in January. Our son, John, is an energetic 3-year-old who keeps us on our toes. I continue to work at an exclusive small animal hospital in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
2 1 ANGELA AUSTIN PHOTOGRAPHY
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1) Gayle Leith (middle row, fifth from left) pictured with students of the Beijing Veterinary School. 2) Colleen Jensen with fellow Class of 1988 alumni in San Diego. (left to right) Jacob Odders, Michelle (Murry) Scibelli, Colleen (Weinfurt) Jensen, Colleen Willms, Martha Gunlock and Mike Feldt. 3) Becky Krull. 4) Jen Nemec and husband Eric Ledvina with Bucky! 5) Megan Kramer’s children, John and Abigail Kramer. 6) Maria Krenz (back row center) with staff at ZimmVet.
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[2008] Erica Barkei
Jennifer Dreyfus (Photo 4, Page 9)
I finished my anatomic pathology residency at the Joint Pathology Center and was recognized with the Charles Louis Davis DVM Foundation Student Scholarship Award. In August, I passed my boards to become a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. I currently work supporting military medical research at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Jennifer Bennett
(Photo 1, Page 9)
I relocated to the Seattle area in 2015 and worked for multiple private and municipal non-profits and shelters in the area as a relief veterinarian, focusing on high quality high volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) and shelter medicine program development. In 2017, I became the Medical Director for the City of Seattle at the Seattle Animal Shelter, overseeing a merger of the existing public spay/neuter clinic and the newer shelter medicine program into one veterinary services team. We have two DVMs, three LVTs, and a host of support staff including 13 animal control officers. Every day is something new and challenging, and I love the community work. My family has expanded with the birth of my second child, Lorelei, now age 2, and my son, Liam, just turned 7. My husband, Leo, and I are coming up on our 10th anniversary, and we now reside in Woodinville, Washington. It was so good to attend my 10-year class reunion this past June in Madison and catch up with everyone.
[2009] Will Sander (Photo 2, Page 9)
My wife, Sam, and I took positions at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine after six years in Washington D.C. I am an assistant professor for preventive medicine and public health and the director of the DVM/MPH joint degree program. We welcomed our daughter, Delaney, on November 2, 2018 and are working hard to indoctrinate her early as a Packer fan.
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SVM ALUMNI CLASS NOTES | 2019
Demonstrating the power of persistence and resilience, I passed the board exam and am now a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. I am still at the SVM (at least until summer, hopefully longer); stop and see me if you come visit.
Rich Sim
After getting American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM) boarded last year, my family and I have made a big move from Birmingham, Alabama to Portland, Oregon! I am happy to be one of three veterinarians at the Oregon Zoo, closer to extended family members, and exploring the forests of the Pacific Northwest.
[2011] Ailena Baum (Photo 3, Page 9)
I’m going into my second year of juggling kids and practice ownership. We launched into a practice building expansion this summer and the project is almost completed as I write this. For those of you who remember my locker with all the sled dog photos, yes, we are still racing with our beloved Huskies. It is a family sport with my kids, my husband, and I spending time training and caring for the dogs, and we often meet my parents with their dogs at the races. However, the dogs are getting old; our original 11 littermates have dwindled to nine 13-yearold Huskies. Therefore, this summer we plan to get a sled dog puppy, which my kids think is the biggest news of the year!
Michael Hanhart
(Photo 5, Page 9)
I married my partner, Benjamin Leever, on June 17, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. There were several other members of the Class of 2011 in attendance including Rachel Kesting, Sarah Ellenberger, Erin Schmitz, and Jenny Pfendner. This last year contained an abundance of travel including our honeymoon in Greece and trips to San Francisco, Portland, and Texas. Next year, we are planning travel to Japan, Alaska, and New York, and we will be sure to share pictures in next year’s Class Notes!
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2 1) Jennifer Bennett holds one her of smaller patients in her spay/neuter clinic. 2) Will Sander’s daughter, Delaney, was born a Packer fan on November 2, 2018. 3) “Starting these mushers young!” Ailena Baum’s boys helping bring the sled dogs to the start at the Dirty Dog Dryland Derby.
3 DR. BRUCE WILLIAMS
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4) Major Erica Barkei receives the CL Davis Foundation award at the ACVP meeting in Washington, DC., pictured with Colonel Derron Alves, Joint Pathology Center Vet Path Director (left) and Dr. Francisco Uzal, CL Davis Foundation President (right). 5) Michael Hanhart with fellow Class of 2011 grads (left to right): Sarah Ellenerger, Erin Schmitz, Jenny Pfendner, and Rachel Kesting. vetmed.wisc.edu/svm-alumni-class-notes
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[2013]
Dolly Jackson
Kendra Bauer
After completing my residency this past summer at the National Zoo, my family (including my husband, Jace, and our dog, Elwood) and I moved to Houston, Texas, for my new position as a staff veterinarian at the Houston Zoo. We are excited to finally put down roots and buy a house with a backyard.
Jessica Head
(Photo 1, Page 11)
My husband and I welcomed our second child, Samuel, to our family. Our daughter, Brynn, is very excited to be a big sister.
I became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal) in 2018!
[2014]
Loren Heusel
(Photo 3, Page 11)
I married Kaitlin Hartkopf on May 19, 2018 outside of Stevens Point, Wisconsin. We now live together outside of Dorchester, Wisconsin.
Nathan Maier (Photo 6, Page 11)
We welcomed our second son in November 2018! My wife, Maija, son, Ethan (2), and I are excited to have Noah Benjamin as a new member of our family. We live in Dane, Wisconsin, and I work as a small animal veterinarian at Lodi Veterinary Care.
(Photo 2, Page 11)
I married Kasen Riemersma DVM’14 this summer just north of Madison, Wisconsin! We were so happy to have so many of our classmates join our celebration. I finished my residency through UC Davis and San Diego Zoo Global this summer and am now a Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine and a staff veterinarian at the Oakland Zoo! Kasen is finishing his PhD through UC Davis, studying mosquito-borne viruses.
[2015] Naomi (Keiper) Rich
(Photo 5, Page 11)
My longtime partner, Michael Rich, and I were married on August 4, 2018 in front of friends and family on Lummi Island in Washington state. I am also very excited to announce that I started a threeyear dermatology residency in July 2018 with Dr. David Duclos at the Animal Skin and Allergy Clinic in Seattle, Washington. I am very happy to be specializing in something that I love!
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Since graduation, my husband and I have been living in Australia, where I work in a small animal general practice. This last year we had our biggest adventure yet when we welcomed our son, Theodore James Jackson, into the world on April 15, 2018. He has the most beautiful smile.
[2016]
Ann Heffernan
Mary Thurber
(Photo 4, Page 11)
SVM ALUMNI CLASS NOTES | 2019
[Graduate Program] William Lopez MS’81
In 2014, I started practicing Veterinary Neural Therapy in Argentina and recently became a Diplomat in Veterinary Ozone Therapy in Medellin, Columbia. I also practice biological medicine for pets in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
BRITTANY TODD
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SWEET LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY
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1) Benjamin and Jessica Head with daughter Brynn and son Samuel. 2) Mary Thurber with members of the Class of 2014 at her wedding. 3) Newlyweds Loren Heusel and Kaitlin Hartkopf. 4) Dolly Jackson and her husband with their newborn son Theodore James Jackson. 5) Naomi (Keiper) Rich with husband, Michael. 6) Nathan Maier with wife Maija, and sons Ethan and Noah Benjamin.
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SVM Alumni Class Notes is published by the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. We welcome your suggestions and contributions, though we reserve the right to edit submissions. The printing and distribution of this magazine were funded by donations to the school. To make a gift, contact Pat Bowdish at pat.bowdish@supportuw.org or 608-294-7661 or Heidi Kramer at heidi.kramer@supportuw.org or 608-327-9136.
Mark D. Markel, Dean
Please address correspondence to:
Kristi V. Thorson, Associate Dean, Advancement and Administration
Kristi V. Thorson kristi.thorson@wisc.edu 2015 Linden Drive Madison, WI 53706-1102 Phone: 608-263-9692
Pat Bowdish, Managing Senior Director of Development Medical Advancement, UW Foundation Heidi Kramer, Director of Development, UW Foundation Design & Editing: Denise Garlow and Ashley Voss
2015 Linden Drive Madison, WI 53706-1102
Non-profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID MADISON, WI PERMIT NO. 658
SVM ALUMNI
CLASS NOTES UW School of Veterinary Medicine
Alumni Reunion Saturday, June 22, 2019 All alumni and families are welcome as we celebrate graduates from the Classes of 1989 • 1994 • 1999 • 2004 • 2009 • 2014
vetmed.wisc.edu/alumni-reunion