Meet Our Team Members
Veterinarians
Dr. Chris Duemler, Veterinarian
Education: B.S. University of Missouri – Columbia D.V.M. UM Columbia
Team member since 1977
Emphasis: Cattle, Goats, Horses, and Pigs
Notes: Owns goats, dogs, and cats
Dr. Wendy Pinnow Heise, RETIRED Veterinarian
Dr. Wendy Pinnow Heise
Education: B.S. UW Madison
D.V.M. Purdue University
Team member since: 1994
Emphasis: Small Animal Medicine
Notes: Raises dairy goats and mother of two boys.
Dr. Emily Dahlgran Weichbrod, Veterinarian & Owner
Education: B.S. University of Idaho 2001
DVM from Louisiana State University 2005
Certified Rehabilitation 2019
Team member since: 2007
Emphasis: Exotics (limited services) – Avian, Reptile, and Small Mammals
Notes: Cares for two German Shepherds, two Red Bellied parrots, and one husband. Loves to draw in her free time.
Dr. Jason Mertens, Veterinarian & Owner
Education: A.A.S Michigan Technological University
B.S. Michigan State
D.V.M. Michigan State
Team member since: 2006
Emphasis: Equine Medicine and Dentistry, as well as general food animal medicine and surgery
Notes: I have 3 boys, 2 Belgians, 3 cats, and several chickens
Dr. Shawn Melvin, Veterinarian & Owner
Education: B.A. Michigan State D.V.M. Michigan State, Certified Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy (CVSMT) from the Healing Oasis Center in Dec 2016
Team member since: 2012
Emphasis: Veterinary Spinal Manipulation, Small Animal Medicine and Surgery
Notes: Grew up in Muir, MI. Married to Carla (Evenson) Melvin. We have two daughters Madison and Cheyenne
Dr. Debbie Thayer, Veterinarian & Owner
Education: DVM – UW Madison
Team member since 2017
Dr. Rachel O'Leary, Veterinarian & Owner
Team member since: June 2019
Education: D.V.M. UW Madison
Dr. Lauren Bunting, Veterinarian
Education: D.V.M. University of Missouri
Team member since: June 2021
Mixed Animal
Dr. Jordynne Pakes, Veterinarian
Education: D.V.M. University of Missouri
Team member since: June 2021
Mixed Animal
DR. HARVEY MEDINGER, Retired Veterinarian
DR. DAVID JEANS, Veterinarian
Dr. Emily Hill, Veterinarian & Owner
Dr. Andrea McGowan-Hanson, Veterinarian & Owner
Dr. Alex Miller, Veterinarian
Dr. Beth Weber Endres, Veterinarian
Dr. Marisa Klister, Veterinarian
Veterinary Staff
Kari Grossen, Office Manager
Team member since July 2000
Kari graduated with an Associate’s Degree as an Administrative Assistant from Blackhawk Technical College in 1999. Kari is a member of the Wisconsin Veterinary Practice Manager’s Association.
Kari enjoys spending time with her husband Brad, and sons Mitchell and Bryce. In her free time, she enjoys helping her boys with raising show pigs and chickens and likes helping her parents on their dairy farm. Kari has a beagle named Schotzie, a boxer named Gabi, and two cats Tucker and Sassy. She also enjoys cheering on the Monroe Cheesemakers, Wisconsin Badgers, and the Chicago Bears.
Laurie Exum, CVT
Team member since August 1985
Laurie received her Certified Veterinary Technician degree from Madison Area Technical College.
Laurie and her husband Doug live on a small farm in Brodhead and raise beef cattle. They have two daughters, Eryka and Kelsey, a son Austin and a grandson Wade. In Laurie’s free time she likes to go up north fishing. She has a black lab, two house cats, and numerous farm cats. GO BEARS!!!
Laurie Ganshert Slusser, CVT
Team member since June 1994
Laurie received her Certified Veterinary Technician degree from Madison Area Technical College.
Chelsea Rundle, CVT
Team member since December 2014
Chelsea received her Certified Veterinary Technician Degree from Globe University.
Chelsea enjoys milking on her family’s farm, spending time with her friends and family, and spending time with her animals. She also enjoys being outdoors, fishing, and playing volleyball. Chelsea has two Black Labs named Jade and Navy.
Marie McLinn, CVT, CCRVN
Team member since January 2018
Marie has been a Certified Veterinary Technician for 19 years and Certified in Canine Rehabilitation for 7 years. She worked in practice for 15 years, the first 3 years as an assistant for Dr. Jodie Gruenstern in Wisconsin.
Six years ago, a move took her across the border to Illinois, where she began teaching veterinary technician students.
Marie’s love for animals began as a child. Her first dog came into her life at the age of seven and a horse by 18. At the young age of 7, the lifetime adventure of training and competing with dogs began. Fast forward many years later and she has competed in agility all over the country, including regional and national events, earning spots on the podium many times. She has trained her dogs through the years to earn many titles and awards, not only in agility, but herding, tracking, obedience, dock diving, and conformation. She has recently had a calling to do Search and Rescue with her Belgian Shepherd. She is a volunteer for Minnesota and Wisconsin K9 Search and Rescue Team. She enjoys time with her dogs, horses, family, and friends.
Ashley Dressler, CVT
Team member since January 2018
Ashley currently lives in Monroe with her 5 cats. She graduated from UW-Platteville in 2014 with a degree in Animal Science. She began working in shelter medicine and joined the MATC Veterinary Technician program in fall of 2016. She is set to graduate from the program in May (2018). She has always had a passion of working with animals as a young child and is excited to work in such a rewarding clinic.
Crystal Stites, CVT
Team member since July 2020
Crystal received her Certified Veterinary Technician degree from Madison Area Technical College.
Ciera Keller, CVT
Team member since July 2020
Kevin Field, CVT
Michelle Weiss, CVT
Rebeca Keckler, CVT
Kacey Drefahl, CVT
Beth Grenawalt, CVT/Client Care
Kate Grob, CVT
Melissa Svendsen, CVT
Kayla Relph, Veterinary Assistant
Morgan Heinle, Veterinary Assistant
Amanda Woodruff, Veterinary Assistant
Bryce Grossen, Veterinary Assistant
I am currently going to Purdue University to be a Registered Veterinary Nurse while working as a Veterinary Assistant. In my free time I like to play Xbox with my friends.
Angie Vanko, Client Care
Kelly Miller, Client Care (Retired)
Team member since September 1995
Katie Jansen, Client Care
Team member since September 2007
Melody Hackett, Client Care
Team member since December 2015
Bobbi Sweitzer, Client Care
Tonya Kelly, Client Care
Danielle Hummer, Client Care
Haylee Glenn, Client Care
Wanda Slack, Animal Care
Team member since April 2001
Wanda takes care of our boarding animals. She has been married for almost 39 years, raised 3 sons, and enjoys spending time with her 5 grandsons and 1 very spoiled granddaughter. She loves going to water parks and rock concerts every chance she gets. She has a mixed breed dog Selina who is diabetic and 3 shop cats.
Halie Pinnow , Animal Care
Team member since June 2018
Julian Nordeng, Environmental Care Specialist
Team member since October 2013
Lizzy Boll, Student Intern
