The Integrative Veterinarian

Dr. Janet Roark was raised in Central Michigan. She knew from an early age that she wanted to be a Veterinarian, and started working in a Veterinary Clinic as a teenager. She also was introduced to wildlife rehabilitation when she was young, through her father's job as a Biologist with the Department of Natural Resources.She did her undergraduate work at the University of Findlay and earned her DVM from Michigan State University in 2005. After graduation, she worked for the United States Department of Agriculture and started her own mixed animal mobile practice in Michigan.In 2009, she moved to Austin, Texas and started a mobile mixed animal practice there. She had been exposed to equine acupuncture and chiropractic during her undergraduate years, and was certified by IVAS in acupuncture after moving to Texas.A personal health challenge led her to using essential oils for herself and then extending their use for her animal patients. In 2019, she started her own essential oil business, educating owners and veterinary professionals about the use of essential oils. As part of this effort, she has written a guidebook, presented lectures both online and in-person, and authored numerous publications both online and in print.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Janet Roark as we discuss her introduction to veterinary medicine, her early work history, her interest in acupuncture and essential oils, and her recent animal chiropractic certification.

Dr. Kristol Stenstrom was raised in Central Kansas. She did her undergraduate and veterinary studies at Kansas State University, graduating with her DVM in 1994.After graduation, she moved to Kansas City and did relief work before working as a Research Scientist in companion animal clinical trials.Looking to make a change, she earned her certification in Veterinary Medical Acupuncture in 2003 and started a house call acupuncture practice. She also became a teaching assistant in the Veterinary Medical Acupuncture program.She currently has both a mobile and in clinic acupuncture practice and is a teacher in a different veterinary acupuncture program. She and her veterinarian husband also own a four doctor small animal allopathic practice.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Kristol Stenstrom as we discuss her education, research career, pivot into veterinary acupuncture, and her current practice.

Dr. Lisa Chase was raised in Boco Raton, Florida. She did her undergraduate studies at the University of Florida and Florida Atlantic University. She earned her DVM from Tuskegee University in 2008.After graduation, she did a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at a large specialty practice. Afterwards, she worked in small animal general practice and shelter medicine in Florida before she moved to Colorado. There she worked in general practice before starting her career in integrative medicine.Looking to add to her skill set, she earned her certificate in Veterinary Medical Acupuncture from CuraCore in 2017. She then took a position in a Rehabilitation practice and competed a certificate program in Canine Rehabilitation from the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in 2021.After completing her CRI program, she joined a Speciality Practice, where she does both Rehabilitation and Acupuncture.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Lisa Chase as we discuss her education, practice and teaching experience, and what she likes to do away from the clinic.

Dr. Quinley Koch was raised in South Central Kansas. She had a number of varied animals growing up, and had an intense interest in rodeo. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Fort Hays State University in 2002, her Master's Degree in Agriculture from Texas A&M in 2005, and her DVM from Oklahoma State University in 2010.After graduation, she completed an Internship at Interstate Equine Services and then joined a mixed animal practice for a year. In 2012, she started her own practice, Elite Equine Veterinary Services. Two years later, she added chiropractic, becoming IVCA certified after taking the course offered by Options for Animals. In 2016, she was certified by IVAS in acupuncture.In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Koch has taught extensively, most recently at Oklahoma State University and in the IVAS Acupuncture course.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Quinley Koch, as we discuss her education, practice experience, and her use of integrative therapies in an equine performance horse practice.

Dr. Wanda Vockeroth was raised on a farm in southern Saskatchewan around dogs, cats, chickens, cattle, and horses. She knew from age 8 that she wanted to be a veterinarian.She earned her veterinary degree from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon in 1992, and went into mixed animal practice afterwards. After changing positions a few times, she and her veterinarian husband purchased a mixed animal practice in Manitoba, then moved to Calgary about 7 years later.Her initial exposure to acupuncture was in veterinary school, but she took the IVAS course while in Manitoba. The Basic and Advanced Pitcairn Homeopathy courses followed, and then Chinese Herbal Medicine and Osteopathy.She worked in a few positions before starting her own Integrative clinic in Calgary, Healing Traditions Holistic Veterinary Clinic, five years ago. The practice now employs seven veterinarians and offers a full range of traditional and holistic care.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Wanda Vockeroth as we discuss her childhood on the farm, her education, practice experience, and her thoughts on building an Integrative veterinary practice.

Dr. Rachel Ramesar was raised in Central Illinois. While in High School, she got a position in a mixed animal veterinary practice and decided that she would make veterinary medicine her career.She earned her DVM from the University of Illinois in 2000. She had been on a US Army scholarship during veterinary school, so she entered the Army as a Captain in the Veterinary Corps after graduation. She served for 3 years, then left the service and entered private small animal practice.She held positions doing relief work and working part time at a few clinics before settling at her current clinic in Harker Heights, Texas. She started her holistic journey by taking the Animal Chiropractic course at Parker University, and has since been certified in acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Food Therapy.In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Ramesar is now teaching in the Animal Chiropractic program at Parker and is the Integrative Track Coordinator for the Southwest Veterinary Symposium.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Rachel Ramesar as we discuss her education, time in the military, holistic journey, and her professional activities outside of clinical practice.

Dr. Kimberly Schmidt was raised in the Chicago, Illinois area. She is the daughter of two veterinarians, and grew up in their Feline Only Practice.She did her undergraduate and veterinary studies at the University of Illinois, earning her DVM in 2008. Afterwards, she did a small animal internship in private practice.Following the internship, she moved to California and worked in general small animal practice for 7 years. It was during this time that she started her holistic education, looking for additional ways to help her patients.She earned her acupuncture certification from IVAS, Chinese Herbal and Food Therapy certifications from Chi University, and a Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine from CIVT.She started her own mobile holistic practice in Napa Valley California in 2016. Since then she has added two additional veterinarians to the staff. Dr. Schmidt is the President Elect of the VBMA and her practice also offers a Pet Loss Support Group (https://www.napaholisticvet.com/services#/pet-loss-support-group).Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Kimberly Schmidt as we discuss growing up in the family veterinary practice, her training, holistic interests, and her small family farm.