2008 Veterinary Team
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Dr Jeanie Wilcox is a '94 graduate of Michigan State University. She has a practice in Gwinn, MI. Dr Wilcox has volunteered at the race in one way or another since it started, has participated as a vet since 1995. She serves as the race's head veterinarian and has earned the respect of every musher and volunteer. Dr Wilcox spends much of her off time canoeing, hiking, following her dogs (not on a sled though :( ) and camping. Her horses go on some of the camping trips, but she hasn't found a canoe they like yet.
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As a native San Franciscan enjoying Wisconsin, I
have been honored to care for the dogs that compete in the
UP200/Midnight event since 2004. My expertise as a
CVT since 1987 has helped the veterinary team with the treatment of our 4 legged athletes. The passion from the dogs will keep me coming back in years to come. When the weather is not freezing you can find me on the trails with my Icelandic horse Stingur and faithful friend Wishbone enjoying the great outdoors. |
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Dr. Karen Baker graduated from the University of Florida, College of Veterinary
Medicine, in 1997.
Dr. Baker has been a Veterinarian for 5 previous UP200 / Midnight Run races.
She, and her husband, John, reside in Jupiter, FL. Besides sled dog medicine,
Dr. Baker’s interests include kayaking, surfing, and Gator football. Her
children, John and Kristen, also attend the University of Florida. Go Gators! |
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Dr. Nick Vukich is a 1995 graduate of North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine (yes, he know both doctors Topham, however they very rarely claim to know him). Dr. Vukich became involved with sled dog sports while growing up in Ohio after receiving his first husky as a birthday present. Dr. Vukich has worked many sled dog races in the lower US, Alaska and Canada , including the John Beargrease, UP200, Empire 130, Can Am 250, Iditarod, Percy DeWolfe, and the 2005 IFSS World Championships. Dr. Vukich is the 1996 recipient of the Doc Lombard Student Research Award and the 2000 Iditarod Golden Stethoscope award. Dr. Vukich co-owns Bay East Animal Hospital in Green Bay , Wisconsin . His primary veterinary interests include sports medicine, orthopedic surgery, wildlife and exotic animal medicine, and emergency and critical care. |
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Dr. Kendra Carlson is a 203 graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation Dr. Carlson completed a small animal medicine, surgery, and emergency/critical care internship at the University of Minnesota . Dr. Carlson is an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoys kayaking, hiking, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, and camping. When she adopted her first husky cross it was only natural she tries skijoring, which led to an interest in sled dog sports. She has worked as a trail veterinarian on the UP200 and the Percy DeWolf sled dog races for the past two years and is hooked! Dr. Carlson is a member of the ISDVMA and has attended the annual conference as well as the Iditarod pre-race workshop. For the past 3 years Dr. Carlson has done full time emergency/ critical care medicine at the Fox Valley Animal Referral Center in Appleton , Wisconsin . Her primary veterinary interests include sports medicine, emergency/ critical care, infectious disease, and toxicology. She shares her home with her skijoring partner, Abby (a Husky-shepherd cross) and two cranky cats. |
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Phil Topham is currently from Mantua, OH where it snows a foot at a time but then it melts, so why shovel?!. Also a graduate from North Carolina State University, he would recognize Dr. Vukich from a distance. Go Wolfpack. Phil is the sole proprietor of Phillip Topham Veterinary Services, a full service veterinary relief business (in its 11 th year). Although licensed to work in 11 states, lately his work has been closer to home in Northeast Ohio. Hobbies include running the family dogs for exercise (well, they actually take HIM for a drag), traveling, kayaking, annual taxes and waiting for the snow to melt. Phil and Kathy have 3 dogs, 2 cats, 2 horses, a Spur-Thighed Tortoise and a Bearded Dragon. Other races Phil has done include the John Beargrease, and the Race to the Sky. |
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Kathy Topham is also from Mantua, OH (coincidence?) and is also a graduate of North Carolina State University. She is a long-suffering classmate of Nick Vukich. Kathy is owner/practitioner of Pawsitive Results, a veterinary practice focused on Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. On the side she works at a Spay Neuter Clinic, and in 2007 performed over 4700 surgeries- just trying to do her part in eliminating pet overpopulation. Spare time is spent training and competing with her dogs in agility, and occasionally harassing Dr Vukich. Did you know he was raised by wolves? Just ask him! Kathy has also worked on the UP200/Midnight Run, Race to the Sky and Grand Portage Passage. |
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Paul Gibbons, DVM graduated from University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994 and has worked with an array of different livestock, companion, and wildlife species over the course of his carrer. He currently limits his practice to birds, reptiles, and small exotic companion mammals at Animal Emergency Center and Specialty Services in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He enjoys wintertime wilderness travel and has been involved with sled dogs since 2003. He is happy to serve again this year on the UP200/Midnight Run veterinary team. |
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