Dr. Matti Kiupel, DVM
Dr. Matti Kiupel is joining the Yukon Quest from Michigan State University, where he is an associate professor of pathology. Colleagues associated with the Yukon Quest approached Dr. Kiupel as they searched for a pathologist who had worked in “adverse conditions”, and 2008 will mark Dr. Kiupel's second journey around the Yukon Quest Trail.
Originally from Stralsund, Germany, Dr. Kiupel makes his home in Lansing, Michigan, with his wife, Gerlind, their one-year-old son, several cats, and fish. His hobbies and interests include scuba diving and fishing. When asked what he believes is the most important aspect of dog care on the trail, he replied, “Making sure that the dogs are in a condition to continue the race, which requires a highly-motivated veterinarian that can work while sleep-deprived.”
Dr. Gregg D. Phillips, DVM
Dr. Gregg Phillips, PhD, DVM lives in Inver Grove Heights Minnesota with his two children (Noah 13 and Rachel 12), 3 retired sled dogs and Tuxedo, a half crazed Boston Terrier. Gregg works as a companion animal veterinarian at Shamrock Animal Hospital in Rosemount Minnesota. Gregg owned and operated a recreational sled dog team of Siberian huskies for 15 years. Prior to becoming a vet, he was a professor of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, specializing in wound healing and muscle regeneration. Time spent on the runners bonding with his own team of dogs is what led him to veterinary medicine.
This will be Gregg’s 5th consecutive Yukon Quest. He has also acted as a trail vet for the Empire 130, the Whiteoak Classic, the East Meets West Dryland Challenge and the Byllesby Dryland Classic. He is looking forward to another great Yukon Quest, working with the mushers, their phenomenal canine athletes and his veterinary colleagues from around the world.
Dr. Elizabeth “Nene” Wolf, DVM
Originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Dr. Nene Wolf joins the veterinary team from her home in Juneau, Alaska, where she has a small animal practice. She graduated from Washington State University in 1992, and has been a member of the ISDVMA ever since. Dr. Wolf has been a trail veterinarian numerous times on the Iditarod, the Yukon Quest, and the Copper Basin 300 since 1994. She has been the Chief Veterinarian on the Copper Basin the last few years, as well.
Nene has been the veterinarian for the Alaska Icefield Expedition for the past three summers, caring for sled dogs on the glaciers high above Skagway and Juneau, Alaska. Dr. Wolf''s hobbies include sea kayaking, hiking, music, and travel. When asked why she wanted to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian, she wrote that she, "...was invited in 1999—didn’t know what I was getting into...” She has a little experience with dog mushing, but concedes that, “Juneau is a lousy place for sled dogs.”
Dr. Phil Meyer, DVM
Dr. Phil Meyer graduated from Kansas State University in 1971. He spent 5 years in the Army after college and then came to Alaska. He and his partner first had a practice in Eagle River and then they expanded the practice to Wasilla, where he currently practices. In his spare time, Phil enjoys whittling, making arrowheads and fishing.
Phil first worked in the Iditarod in 1978 and has had some involvement in that race every year since that time. He has also been the Chief Vet for the Jr. Iditarod Sled Dog Race for 29 years, 16 Kobuk 440’s, 6 Copper Valley 300’s, the Tustumena 200 and the first Kuskoquim 300. Phil is looking forward to being on the trail again for the 2008 Yukon Quest.
Dr. H. Alan Hallman, DVM
Dr. Alan Hallman graduated from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1985. After graduation, he moved to Payson, a small mountain town in central Arizona, where he opened Star Valley Veterinary Clinic, a mixed practice, which after 18 years went solely small animal, exotic and wildlife. It is a state of the art practice utilizing laser, ultrasound, endoscopy, in-house lab, advanced surgical equipment, and recently the practice has expanded into alternative medicine modalities including acupuncture, soft laser therapy, chiropracty, myofascial release, and herbal and Chinese medicine. Dr. Hallman's areas of special interest include surgery, sports medicine, and wildlife medicine.
Alan has vetted the Yukon Quest since 1994, and was Head Vet for the Alaska portion of the race in 1996 and 1997. This will be his 11th trip along the Yukon Quest Trail. He also vetted the 2007 Copper Basin 300. His personal interests include hunting, travel, and spending time with his children, Rand and Sage, and his partner, Holly.
Dr. Charlie Berger, DVM
Dr. Charlie Berger was the medical director of Campus Veterinary Clinic in Berkeley, California, for 34 years. He has been a trail vet for 5 Iditarods, 2 Yukon Quests, 2 Wyoming Stage Races, 5 Beargreases, 1 Montana Race to the Sky, 2 Grand Portage Passages, 1 International and 3 Alaska Sprint Dog Races and 1 Percy De Wolfe. Dr. Berger currently lectures at Dartmouth College on the Evolution and Biology of the Dog and lives with his wife in East Thetford, Vermont.
Dr. Kim Murphy, DVM
The 2008 Yukon Quest is Dr. Kim Murphy’s first time on the Yukon Quest Trail though she has spent a good deal of time in Alaska and Yukon developing a keen interest in the canine athletes that compete in long distance mushing. She brings a great depth of experience and knowledge in emergency medicine and surgery/lameness to the 25th Running of the Yukon Quest.
Kim is also an experienced outdoorswoman who spends her spare time whitewater and wilderness canoeing, scuba diving, hiking, cycling, rock climbing, and a wide variety of other outdoor activities. She currently works as a veterinary surgeon in Ontario.
Dr. Kathleen McGill, DVM
Dr. Kathleen McGill brings a wealth of experience with sled dogs to the Yukon Quest once again. Kathleen was a Yukon Quest trail vet from 2001-2003 before serving as the Head Veterinarian from 2004-2006. After taking last year off, Kathleen is excited to get back on the trail with the dogs and to see old friends.
Kathleen has spent many years in the mushing world having owned her own recreational kennel of malamutes while living in Colorado and working as a veterinarian on many sled dog races including the Iditarod, the Grand Portage, the Beargrease, and the UP 200. We are looking forward to having her back on the Yukon Quest Trail in 2008.
Dr. John Overell, DVM
Dr. John Overell was born in Canada, attended his Pre-University at Bradfield College England and received his BA, BSc and DVM all from the University of Guelph, Ontario. Now living in Dawson City, Yukon, John runs a small veterinary clinic and does mobile clinics across the western artic.
John participated in his first Yukon Quest in 1999 and subsequently has been involved almost every year since then. He is also the Head Veterinarian for the Percy De Wolfe (200 miles from Dawson City to Eagle and back) and the Dagoo (Eagle Plains to Old Crow and back) sled dog races. “In my 'spare' time, I do art (printmaking, drawing, photography and animated films) and prepare for the next Yukon Quest.”
Dr. Jim Leach, DVM
2008 will be Dr. Jim Leach’s first time on the Yukon Quest Trail and he brings a significant amount of knowledge and experience in working with sled dogs from his work with numerous other races throughout Alaska. Though he has yet to work on the Yukon Quest Trail he has been interested in doing so for some time.
This year he looks forward to the adventure of working on an unfamiliar trail, experiencing new checkpoints and meeting many people. Jim and his wife Annie live in Big Lake, Alaska.
Dr. Jaime Martinez-Salles, DVM
Dr. Jaime Martinez-Salles has been interested in being a part of the Yukon Quest Veterinary Team for some time now and in 2008 he is looking forward to bringing his experience and perspectives as a European vet to the race trail.
Jaime has been a trail vet on numerous races over several years. He has been a part of the vet team of the Pirena since 1998, the Iditarod in ’02, ’04, and ’05, and the Race to the Sky in 2007. He is looking forward to experiencing a different part of Canada and Alaska’s wilderness environment and also participating with a team of professionals to ensure our canine athletes’ health and success.
THANK-YOU TO ALL OF OUR 2008 YUKON QUEST VETERINARIAN TEAM MEMBERS!
YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THIS GREAT RACE IS ALWAYS DEEPLY APPRECIATED
BY EVERYONE WHO LOVES THE SLED DOGS OF THE YUKON QUEST!
