Meet the Staff of the
Grand Rapids Veterinary Clinic

Dr. William Marshall
William Marshall, DVM, is a native of Grand Rapids. He graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1979 and has been at Grand Rapids Veterinary Clinic since that time. He and his wife Peggy have raised three children, Katie, Billy and Christy who are now out of the home. They have a miniature schnauzer, a German shorthaired pointer and two longhaired calico cats. Dr. Marshall enjoys extended family and friends, church activities, gardening, fishing, maple syruping and wood cutting at home. Adventures away include waterfowl and upland game hunting as well as big game hunting and the occasional trip to the mountains or ocean beaches.

Dr. Therese Schneider
Therese Schneider, DVM, joined the Grand Rapids Veterinary Clinic in 1993. She was happy to return to her hometown after living in the Twin Cities area for 10 years. Her father, Jack Bonner, is a retired local opthalmologist who inspired her interest in medicine and animals. Dr. Schneider graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1987. She worked at the Delano Veterinary Clinic for three years; then worked for three years with Dr. Sam Allen, a veterinary dermatology specialist, at Northwest Animal Hospital in Plymouth, MN, before moving back to Grand Rapids. Therese and her husband, Bud, have three children: Becky, Chuck and Jessica. The family pets include three dogs, a rabbit and a cockatiel. Therese spends her free time enjoying many outdoor activities with family and friends, and attending her children's various sporting events.

Dr. Hans Kaldahl
Hans Kaldahl, DVM, was born and raised in Bismarck, North Dakota. He graduated from Iowa State University - College of Veterinary Medicine in 1998 and worked in a small animal practice in Brewer, Maine for one year before joining the Grand Rapids Veterinary Clinic in 1999. Hans and his wife Kristin have two children, Anika and Jens. The family's pets include a "retired" English Pointer, a yellow lab and a cat. In his free time he enjoys playing with his children, spending time outdoors and most sporting events including shooting sports and upland bird hunting. Dr. Kaldahl currently serves on the board of directors of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Heather Krueger
Heather Krueger, DVM, was raised in Deer River, Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Krueger originally planned on a career in equine referral surgery or racetrack medicine and worked at several high-intensity equine surgical referral clinics around the country before eventually deciding to specialize in companion animal work. Dr. Krueger handled relief services for several small animal clinics in the Rochester, Minnesota area before moving back to Grand Rapids in 2002. Heather and her husband enjoy living in the northwoods and are happy that their two young children have the opportunity to grow up in the bounty of “God's Country”. When she has time, Heather enjoys several hobbies, including woodcarving, fishing, golfing, triathlons (sprint distance, not hardcore ironman), reading, quilting, skiing, and traveling.

Dr. Leah Gustafson
Leah Gustafson, DVM, came on-board the Grand Rapids Veterinary Clinic in May 2007. Dr. Gustafson enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine, especially the area of nutrition. Her "furry" family continues to expand every year and currently includes four cats, one German shorthair, "Simon," her horse, "Kody," and his pets, "Olive" and "Lucy" (two adorable miniature donkeys)! Originally from Coon Rapids, MN, Leah graduated from the College of Saint Benedict and met her husband Joel Towers at nearby Saint John's University. Now settled into their northern Minnesota home, Leah and her husband enjoy horseback riding, 4-wheeling, and fishing off the dock at the family cabin.

Veterinary Technicians:

• Beth Harrison, CVT, Client Communications Marketing Manager
• Julie Brown, CVT
• Pam Ketola, CVT
• Becky Stangler, CVT

A vet tech is to the veterinarian what the nurse is to the doctor -- indispensable. They are responsible for the care of in-hospital patients. They are client educators, surgical nurses, phlebotomists, X-ray and dental technicians. They maintain the surgery and treatment rooms, the laboratory and pharmacy, and supervise veterinary assistants and kennel staff. A certified veterinary technician (CVT) has completed a two-year program from an accredited college and has successfully passed a state and national exam.

Veterinary Assistants:

• Brenda Luoma, VA, Office Manager
• Josh Martin
• Stephanie Roberts
• Rachel Wedig

The clinic assistants are typically non-licensed technicians who assist both the doctor and the technicians. She/he may monitor hospitalized patients and track inventory. Clinic assistants are client educators and phlebotomists. They assist in X-ray, dental, laboratory and pharmacy duties.

Receptionists:

• Dee Lovdahl, Human Resources Manager
• Julie Miller
• Maggie Motyl
• Kelli Weimer, VT

Veterinary receptionists, also known as the gatekeepers, are the windows to the world of veterinary practice. They are the warm and caring voice on the phone and the smile that greets in-coming clients. This position requires multi-tasking, salesmanship, problem-solving, fielding technical calls, performing simple bookkeeping, clerical functions, and of course love for animals AND people.

Kennel Assistants:

• Karen Breker
• Melody Daley
• Kalee Klennert
• Lauren Yell
• Rene Randall

The kennel staff is responsible for the physical appearance of the clinic, making sure that the place looks, smells, and feels clean and comfortable. Their duties include housekeeping, laundry, caring for in-hospital patients and boarders. Kennel assistants also run errands, assist the doctors, techs and assistants. Although their work is mostly “behind the scenes”, they are the key to your pet's comfort and our peace of mind.