2015
PRACTICE OF THE YEAR
OUR TEAM
VETERINARY AGRI-HEALTH SERVICES LTD. is a dedicated team of individuals who bring a wealth of experience to beef veterinary practice and strive to deliver excellent customer service.
CRAIG DORIN, DVM received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1985. His career started with 11 years in large animal practice in Kamloops, British Columbia and two additional years as Technical Services Veterinarian with Hoechst Roussel Vet. In 1998 he joined Veterinary Agri-Health Services as managing partner. Areas of interest of Dr. Dorin include growth promotants, beef cattle welfare and development of training programs for producers and staff. He also is actively involved in the mentorship of youth in the cattle industry and veterinary students at the University of Calgary. Dr. Dorin is a past president of the Western Canadian Association of Bovine Practitioners and has served on the Cattle Industry Council for Alberta Beef Producers, Advisory Board for the Alberta Beef Chair at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and as a Director for the Canadian Association of Bovine Practitioners. Dr. Dorin was recently named 2017 Veterinarian of the Year by the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association. He is currently an Adjunct Clinical Instructor with the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and a Director for Prairie Diagnostic Services, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
ELIZABETH HOMEROSKY, DVM, MSc, DABVP was born and raised in a commercial cow-calf operation in southern Ohio. Her interest in beef production led her to Ohio State where she completed a BScAg in 2008 and a DVM in 2012. Following one year in beef cattle practice in western Iowa, she attended graduate school at the University of Calgary. During the three-year program, Dr. Elizabeth completed a MSc degree and Clinical Residency in beef production medicine and was inducted into the Canadian Cattlemen’s Young Leader program. She completed several rotations for her residency at Veterinary Agri-Health Services (VAHS) and officially joined the team in 2016. In 2019, Dr. Elizabeth was awarded Food Animal Educator of the Year by Western Veterinary Conference and became a partner at VAHS. Dr. Elizabeth is a board-certified beef cattle specialist through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners and recipient of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners 2021 James A. Jarrett Award for Young Leaders. She has a strong interest in cow-calf and feedlot production medicine and consulting, as well as, applied research and teaching. Dr. Elizabeth also ranches west of Crossfield and runs a herd of commercial Red SimAngus and purebred Red Simmental cattle.
BRIAN WARR, DVM grew up in Fayetteville, Georgia: a suburban area south of Atlanta. His interest in agriculture came from his grandparents who had a small commercial herd of beef cattle when he was very young. Brian went to Berry College in Rome, Georgia, and obtained an Animal Science degree at Berry College. Berry has a very large campus that includes Beef and Dairy production units. After Berry, Brian attended the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine where he obtained a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree with food animal concentration in 2013. Brian had visited Alberta several times as a student and accepted a job at Feedlot Health Management Services in Okotoks upon graduation. He worked at Feedlot Health Management Services for 5.5 years, focusing on feedlot production medicine. While working at Feedlot Health, Brian met his wife, Jessica, and moved to the Linden area in fall of 2017. Their daughter, Addie, was born October 1, 2019, and Miss Lola Mae arrived in February of 2022. Before coming to Veterinary Agri-Health Services in March 2020, Brian worked with Zoetis Canada as a Beef Technical Services veterinarian for one year. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on trucks and tractors and spending time outdoors with his family.
TOMMY WARE, DVM is from the small town of Pontotoc, Mississippi. He comes from a cow-calf background where he raised commercial Brangus/Hereford crossbred cattle with his mother- and father-in-law. Dr. Tommy attended Mississippi State University where he completed his undergraduate degree in Animal and Dairy Sciences in 2015 and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2019. Following graduation, he and his wife, Dr. Peyton Ware who is also a veterinarian, moved to Airdrie, AB. Since joining Veterinary Agri-Health Services, he has become an integral part of the cow-calf consulting team focusing on nutrition, reproduction, and utilizing technology in the field. In 2021, Dr. Tommy received the Emerging Leader Award from the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, and will be serving as Program Chair of the organization’s 2022 Recent Graduate Conference. In his spare time, Dr. Tommy enjoys cycling and horseback riding, including roping at clients’ brandings. He and Dr. Peyton also enjoy taking their dogs on hiking adventures.
MATT KUMLIN, DVM was raised on his family’s ranch in Jumping Pound, AB. He earned his Animal Science degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 2010 and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. Following graduation, Dr. Matt joined Bow Valley Livestock Health and Bow Valley Genetics in Brooks, AB where he provided advanced reproductive services to cow-calf clients. In 2017, he returned home to manage the family ranch and joined Veterinary Agri-Health Services as a part-time veterinarian. Since that time, Dr. Matt and his wife, Angela, have grown the operation to 300 head of Red Angus crossbred mother cows and 700 head of grass cattle by focusing on regenerative agriculture and management-intensive grazing practices. They enjoy family time and ranching with their children, Wade, Bennett, and Rachel. In his spare time, Dr. Matt also enjoys roping at brandings, hunting, and fishing.
BRITTANY SIGFUSSON, DVM grew up in Northern Alberta and then her family moved to the Strathmore area when she was in high school, as her mother’s family has deep roots in the community. Her love for beef cattle came from spending many summers on her aunt and uncle’s ranches and being a member of 4H Beef Club. She did 3 years of an Agricultural Biotechnology degree at the University of Lethbridge and then received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon in 2017. Her career started with 5 years in mixed animal practice, but her passion has always been beef cattle medicine, so she is very excited to be a part of the VAHS team. Dr. Brittany enjoys all aspects of beef cattle medicine and is looking forward to getting to know all the clients. Dr. Brittany now lives in Strathmore with her husband Kyle and son Björn. She enjoys spending time with family, camping, playing hockey and riding her horses.
CARLING MATEJKA, DVM was raised on a 100 year old red and black Angus seedstock operation just outside of Ponoka. From a young age, her work with animals started a passion that shaped her career aspirations. Driven by a desire to advocate for farmers and the cattle they cared for, she was dedicated to becoming a veterinarian. Over the past six years, Carling has dedicated herself to mixed animal practice, but her love for cattle led her to make a transition to VAHS. Here, she aims to leverage her knowledge and passion to make a meaningful impact on the health and sustainability of the Canadian beef industry. Carling is deeply committed to fostering the next generation of agricultural leaders, investing her time by volunteering with 4-H, junior livestock programs, and mentoring veterinary students. In 2020, she was chosen by the Canadian Agriculture Minister to join the inaugural Canadian Agriculture Youth Council, where she contributed insights on policies and programs impacting the agriculture and agri-food sectors. Additionally, in 2022, she was selected as a Canadian Cattle Young Leader, gaining valuable experience within the cattle industry. Outside work, Carling finds joy in an active lifestyle through powerlifting, CrossFit, golfing, and skiing. She lives with her fiancé, sharing a life on their Beef, Dairy, and Cereal crop operation near Olds, Alberta.
KARIN ORSEL, DVM, MSc, PhD, ECBHM completed her DVM at Utrecht University in 1996 and following locum work in several veterinary clinics in The Netherlands, returned to her alma mater in 1997 to work in the ambulatory clinic of the Department of Farm Animal Health. Her involvement in an epidemiologic study of the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in the U.K. in 2001 motivated her to enroll in graduate studies on this topic. She received an MSc in Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics (2004) and subsequently a PhD (2007). In 2008, she and her husband moved to Canada to join the University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, working with a focus on epidemiology of diseases of cattle. In 2009, she passed both the NAVLE and the board exam of the European College of Bovine Herd Management. Currently, Dr. Orsel leads the UCVM’s Cattle Health Research Group and is associated with Veterinary Agri-Health Services as part of the Distributed Veterinary Teaching Hospital. As a veterinary epidemiologist, her main interests are herd-level approaches to health, disease transmission and identifying risk factors for multifactorial diseases. Currently, her research includes both beef and dairy cattle, with a focus on lameness, digital dermatitis, Johne’s disease, bovine leukosis and other infectious diseases.
NATHAN ERICKSON, DVM, MVetSc., PhD cand. received his BSc from Augustana University College (2000), DVM and MVetSc from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) (2005, 2009). He is also board certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Beef Cattle) (2018). Currently Nathan is a clinical faculty member of the Large Animal Clinical Sciences department at the WCVM and member of the Ruminant Field Service section of the Veterinary Medical Centre (VMC). Nathan’s collaborative research efforts include investigation of novel vaccination methods for the control of BRD in beef calves, changes in antimicrobial effectiveness in beef calves over time, the effect of intranasal vaccination and disease challenge on the upper respiratory tract (nasal) bacterial population, and the effectiveness of ultrasound as a tool for diagnosis of viral pneumonia in beef calves.Nathan works with veterinary practices in western Canada through consultations on disease outbreaks, production deficiencies experienced by client herds, and provides updates on recent research outcomes. As part of his consultations, Nathan will be assisting VAHS through extension services for our expanding Saskatchewan clientele.
REGISTERED VETERINARY TECHNOLOGISTS
LAUREN STEFANIUK, RVT was born and raised in Calgary, AB, and has been involved in the veterinary industry since she was 15 years old. After graduating from the Olds College AHT program in 2017, Lauren obtained her RVT designation and returned to the Olds area to work in mixed practice. Motivated by her passion for bovine medicine and desire to pursue a Production Animal focused VTS (Veterinary Technician Specialty) in the near future, Lauren began seeking opportunities to work more exclusively with cattle and joined the VAHS team in March 2020. Presently, Lauren resides in Airdrie with her 2 cats. In her free time, she enjoys playing cards, camping, and crocheting, however, you can most often find her hiking in the mountains or visiting with family.
SUPPORT STAFF
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ADELE BRUNNING, ACCOUNTING / OFFICE SUPPORT joined the VAHS team in March 2020. She comes with over 10 years of office management experience which will be used in the accounting and human resource departments. Adele was born and raised in Calgary and returned to the area in 2018 after being away for 30 years. Life has taken her to many different places including Ontario, the Yukon and as far away as Accra, Ghana. She now enjoys living closer to her children, 2 granddaughters and extended family. Although Adele has various artistic interests, you will mostly find her pursuing her outdoor activities like hiking, biking, kayaking and cross country skiing in the Rockies.
TRICIA WADE, OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR joined the VAHS team in July 2020, and has over 30 years of experience in office administration. Tricia was born and raised in Saskatchewan, but has called Alberta home for 28 years, and along with her husband and son, manage the family farm NW of Irricana. She is happiest surrounded by her friends and family, both 2 legged and 4 legged, and spending time outdoors. In the summer, you will most always find her gardening or on her mower, and in the fall, running the combine. In her free time, she enjoys volunteer work, reading, writing, doing calligraphy and jigsaw puzzles, as well as attending as many live theatre performances and concerts as she can.
DAWN ARMSTRONG, FEEDLOT FIELD SERVICES ASSISTANT was born and raised on a cow calf farm west of Cremona Alberta. Dawn, husband Kent and their two daughters purchased her grandfather’s farm in 2003 making her kids the 5th generation on the family farm. Dawn took on some of her mother’s purebred Limousin that she was raised with. With some additions since made by Kent and the girls, it’s become a colourful herd. Dawn joined VAHS in August 2022, and brings with her a passion for cattle, love of science and pride in Alberta beef. She’s very excited to be a part of a group that specializes and prides themselves in herd health from cow calf operations to feedlot industries. When she’s not hard at work you will find her roaming through her cows with a comb, under a waterfall with a camera, creating something new in the kitchen or with her feet up laughing with family and friends
DAVID PEACOCK, FEEDLOT FIELD SERVICES ASSISTANT was born and raised on a cow/calf farm outside of Peace River, Alberta. David spent his time working on the family farm and for the local veterinary clinic where he grew a passion for the veterinary industry, and cattle in particular. David earned a B.Sc. in Agriculture at the University of Alberta in June 2021, and spent the following year working in veterinary clinics. In 2023, David wanted to focus on the cattle industry and began seeking opportunities in Southern Alberta. He moved to Airdrie and joined the VAHS team in August 2023. In his free time David enjoys biking, cooking and listening to his vast vinyl collection.