Board of Directors


Board of Directors

President Dr. James Bennett
Past President - Dr. Nancy Peterson
President-Elect - Dr. Ann Brownlee
Vice President - Dr. Rob Memmen
Secretary/Treasurer - Dr. Heather Douglas
Director - Dr. Chris Anderson
Director Dr. Ned Patterson
Director - Dr. Holly Rudolf 
Director - Dr. Lukas Wallerich

Ex-officio Members

AVMA Delegate - Dr. Matthew Boyle
AVMA Alt. Delegate - Dr. Teresa Hershey
MVMA Executive Director - Kelly Andrews 
MVMA GAC Chair - Dr. Trevor Ames
MVMA GAC Vice Chair - Dr. Jessica Fox
POTL Program Liaison - Dr. Ashley Smit 

MN Board of Animal Health - Dr. Brian Hoefs  
MN Board of Veterinary Medicine
 - Dr. Julia Wilson
MN Department of Health - Dr. Joni Scheftel
U of M CVM- Dr. Laura Molgaard
MVMA/MVMF Student Representative - Julia Hartmann, Kayla Sawchak & Bri Hotzler
SAVMA President - Alyssa Gathje 

 

 President

 

James Bennett, DVM
Northern Valley Livestock Services
900 N. Wabasha
Plainview, MN 55964

Dr. Jim Bennett graduated from the U of MN College of Veterinary Medicine in 1981 after previously completing his undergraduate work at Saint John’s University. Since that time Dr. Bennett has been a practice owner of two clinics in southeastern MN, and has been actively practicing bovine medicine throughout his professional life. He recently sold his bovine practice in Plainview, although he is still practicing full time, and has retained his ownership stake in a small animal practice in Rochester. Throughout his career Dr. Bennett has continued to develop his professional acumen and, in the process with his business partner, built one of the most progressive dairy practices in the state offering a full range of clinical, consulting, and diagnostic services. The large animal clinic has hosted many, many students over the years as well. In addition to serving local livestock owners, he has been sought after for large herd consulting on a more regional basis as well as some international work. Dr. Bennett enjoys an excellent reputation not just among local colleagues, but he has also been drawn into instruction at conferences for national associations and at the U of MN CVM. He has lectured at the MVMA Convention as well. Additionally, some of his work has turned him into a published author in peer reviewed publications. Within MVMA, Dr. Bennett has been an active member of the Food Animal Issues Committee and is a regular volunteer at the Miracle of Birth Center.

 

Past President

 

Nancy Peterson, DVM
New Ulm Regional Veterinary Center
401 20th South St.
New Ulm, MN 56073

Dr. Nancy Peterson received her BA in biology in 1989 and her DVM in 1993 both from the University of Minnesota-St. Paul. Dr. Peterson started working at the New Ulm Regional Veterinary Center in April 1998. She works with cattle, horses, sheep, goats, and camelids. She is a member of AASRP, AABP, and AAEP. She served on the MVMA Executive Board (2015-2018), and is a past Bovine Annual Meeting Program Chair. She is currently chair of the MVMA Membership committee and a WeGIVE committee member and volunteers at the state fair Miracle of Birth Center. Dr. Peterson lives in rural New Ulm with a pug named Pepper and a varied assortment of cats!
   

President-Elect

 
 
Ann Brownlee, DVM 
Retired


Dr. Ann Brownlee is a 1989 graduate from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. She was committed to veterinary medicine as an owner and small animal veterinarian at Grand Avenue Veterinary Center in Saint Paul, MN. 2022 brought big changes for her: she retired, sold her practice to two long time associates, and recently, unexpectedly and happily accepted a position with the MVMA. Dr. Brownlee spent her career working in a the community she grew up in; she is a graduate of Macalester College and has deep ties to our capital city. She has lived in Stillwater Township for the past 30 years, raising a family and enjoying the hobby farm lifestyle with a multitude of animals both indoors and out. She has served on a number of boards and has been active as a volunteer, both veterinary and community-related over the past 25 years. "At this time, I am excited about this opportunity to serve a profession that I dearly love. I am looking at life with a sense of adventure and curiosity and looking forward to continuing making a difference. I would love to hear from any of you and hope that you will reach out so that I can serve you in my leadership."

 

 Vice President

 
 
Rob Memmen, DVM 
Gehrman Animal Hospital
12800 Wayzata Blvd.
Minnetonka, MN 55305

Dr. Rob Memmen graduated from the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010 and served as the vice president of SCAVMA in his third year of veterinary school. After graduation he spent 3 years in Granger, IN. working a small animal practice and volunteering his time caring for patients and serving on the board of the St. Joseph County Animal Humane Society. Dr. Memmen co-owns Gehrman Animal Hospital, a small animal general practice in Minnetonka, Mn. where he has worked since 2013. He was involved as a participant in the MVMA Power of 10 Emerging Leaders group and then chaired the group for 3 years. Dr. Memmen was a director on the MVMA board from 2018-2020. He has been on the MVMA’s MOVE Task Force for four years and served as chair of the MVMA’s finance committee for three years. Dr. Rob and his wife Sara live in Minnetonka with their two children, Elizabeth and James, and their dog Annie.

 

Secretary/Treasurer

 
Heather Douglas, DVM, MBA, CVA
Douglas Animal Hospital
116 Central Ave.
Osseo, MN 55369



Dr. Douglas knew from a very young age that she would be a veterinarian. This career choice guided her entire youth and she is thrilled to be able to live out her dream. Dr. Douglas graduated from St. George’s University in Grenada, West Indies. She has a strong interest in internal medicine. In 2011, Dr. Douglas started a non-profit veterinary service, GrenVet, which provides care to animals in Grenada. In her free time, Dr. Douglas enjoys scuba diving, traveling, and spending quality time with her adorable cats Kaya and Mr. Waffles.
 

Director

 
Chris Anderson, DVM
MVP


Dr. Anderson is a 2003 graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. He has been a member of the MVMA every year since graduation and is currently serving on the MVMA golf committee. He was the previous president of the University of Minnesota Alumni and Friends society and currently serves as tournament director on the Eagan Basketball Association Board of Directors. Dr. Anderson grew up on a hobby farm in southwest Minnesota and helped on his grandma’s dairy. After graduation, he worked as an associate doctor for 2 years prior to becoming a partner doctor for 5 years at Banfield. After that experience he took on the role of Medical Director for 7 years where he helped lead medical quality and operations of 23 hospitals and 85 doctors. He spent 2 years with Wellhaven as a VP of operations. He currently works for Mission Veterinary Partners as a Strategic Medical Director overseeing 50+ hospitals in his territory. He has also worked in integrations and business development for MVP.

 

Director

 
Ned Patterson, DVM, PhD
U of M - Veterinary Medical Center
1365 Gortner Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108

Dr. Ned Patterson is one of the world’s top three genetic researchers in canine epilepsy. Over the past 10 years, he has been the recipient of three major and two smaller research grants in genetics and canine epilepsy from the National Institutes of Health. One of his other research projects, conducted with colleague Dr. Jim Mickelson, was in exercise-induced collapse in dogs. Patterson and Mickelson identified the first naturally occurring mutation in the responsible gene (DNM1) and published the findings in the journal Nature Genetics.
 
Board-certified in small animal internal medicine, Patterson splits his time between clinics, teaching, and research.
 

Director

 
Holly Rudolf, DVM 
Halo Pet Care 

Dr. Holly Rudolf is a 2009 graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, after which she completed a small-animal rotating-medicine internship in Florida before returning to Minnesota to work as a small-animal general practitioner. Dr. Rudolf is the owner of Halo Pet Care, based out of Mankato, Mn. and is a standing member of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association’s Power of Ten program. She enjoys learning from her colleagues’ wealth of knowledge and strives to leave a mark on the industry by promoting, engaging, and advocating for early-career veterinarians and strengthening rural veterinary medicine. Outside of veterinary medicine, she enjoys spending time with her family, sewing, being outdoors, and being on the water, but not necessarily all at the same time.
 

Director

 
Lukas Wallerich, DVM
Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital
7131 Cahill Ave.
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076

A native of the city, Dr. Lukas Wallerich has been working at Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital since his senior year in high school. His first dog, Chester, initially sparked his interest in caring for animals. It was under the guidance of Dr. Jen Quast and the rest of the Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital staff that he realized his passion for the profession. Dr. Wallerich completed his undergraduate studies magna cum laude in Biology at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in 2011. He continued his education at the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where he graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2015. Dr. Wallerich is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association. He is currently the MVMF Golf Committee chair and is a past student representative for the MVMA/MVMF.  His professional interests include dentistry, ophthalmology, nutrition, and surgery. He most enjoys the challenges and unpredictability that comes with being a general practitioner, as cases can range from ear infections to broken legs. 

 

 Ex-officio Members 

  AVMA Delegate

 
Matthew Boyle, DVM
Zoetis
N2282 770th St.
Hager City, WI 54014

   

AVMA Alt. Delegate

 
Teresa Hershey, DVM, CCRT, DvMA
Westgate Pet Clinic
4345 France Ave S.
Minneapolis, MN 55410

   

MVMA Executive Director/CEO

Kelly Andrews, CAE
Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association
Executive Director
101 Bridgepoint Way
Suite 100
So. St. Paul, MN 55075
651-645-7533 (work)
   

MVMA Governmental Affairs Committee

Trevor Ames, DVM
MVMA GAC Chair
University of Minnesota, Retired 

  Jessica Koppien-Fox, DVM
MVMA GAC Vice Chair

POTL Program Liaison 

Ashley Smit, DVM
Pet Poison Helpline

   

MN Board of Animal Health 

Brian Hoefs, DVM 
Minnesota Board of Animal Health
Interim Executive Director
625 Robert St. N.
St Paul, MN 55155
651-296-2942 (work)
   

MN Board of Veterinary Medicine

Julia Wilson, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM
Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine
Executive Director
2829 University Avenue SE., Ste. 401
Minneapolis, MN 55414
651-201-2844 (work)
651-201-2842 (fax)
   

MN Department of Health

Joni Scheftel, DVM, MPH, DACVPM
Minnesota Department of Health - Zoonotic Diseases Unit
State Public Health Veterinarian
651-201-5107 (work)
   

U of M CVM Dean

Laura Molgaard, DVM (Dean)
College of Veterinary Medicine Dean's Office
455 Veterinary Medical Center
1365 Gortner Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
612-624-6244 (work)
   

MVMA/MVMF Student Representatives

  Julia Hartmann
Third-year DVM student at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. 

  Kayla Sawchak
Second-year DVM student at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. 
Bri Hotzler
Second-year DVM student taking part in the South Dakota State University 2+2 program within the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. 

SAVMA Chapter President

 

Alyssa Gathje 

 
Click Here for Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Archive (Members Only)