Race Veterinarians
2010 Veterinarian team
Head Veterinarian Dr. Kathleen McGill, DVM
Dr. McGill previously served as the Yukon Quest Head Veterinarian for the 2004, 2005 and 2006 and 2009 races and has been on the Yukon Quest Veterinary Team seven times in the past eight years, taking the winter of 2007 off to see her son graduate and settle into his studies of Spanish and Business at Earlham College.
“I am excited to be coming back as Head Veterinarian and am looking forward to working with the incredible team of professionals on the Yukon Quest Vet Team. Excellence in canine care is one of the fundamental principles of the Yukon Quest and the Vet Team ensures that every sled dog is properly cared for throughout the race; leading that team is a serious responsibility and an honor and I am anticipating a great 2010 Yukon Quest,” says Dr. McGill.
Dr. McGill has a deep passion for all animals and sled dogs in particular and combines her professional veterinary expertise with actual time on the runners! When Kathleen was living in Colorado she ran a recreational team of Malamutes and competed in weight-pulling events.
Kathleen lives in Columbus, Ohio where she ran two small-animal veterinary clinics which she sold in 2004. After selling her clinics Dr. McGill taught full-time at a local Veterinary Technician school in small animal and large animal medicine as well as general veterinary techniques; and now acts as a substitute instructor whenever she is needed.
Dr. McGill currently works as a full-time relief veterinarian, filling in at various clinics throughout central Ohio to cover other veterinarians’ vacation time, maternity leave or when the clinic owner wants some well deserved time off! Kathleen’s professional experience running her own veterinary clinics and years of performing surgeries allow her to step in easily and support the veterinarians and clinics she works for.
Dr. McGill is a member of both the ISDVMA (International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association) and ISDRA (International Sled Dog Racing Association) and keeps a home full of pets including two Siamese cats, a three-legged orange tabby, and her two pure-bred huskies; Qimmiq a 7 year-old Alaskan Malamute and Vashda, a 10 year-old Siberian Husky. “All the pets get along just fine,” reports Kathleen, “although I do need to remind the husky that the house cats are their friends occasionally.”
Race Veterinarians
David Moroney
Current Residence: Victoria, Australia
Place of Birth: Melbourne Australia
Nationality: Australian
Family Members Names and Ages: Wife: Debbie, 52. Son: Stewart, 25. Daughters: Catherine, 23, Elizabeth, 19
What are your hobbies?: Skiing, camping, woodwork, guitar
Do you have any other pets?: 4 Jack Russell Terriers, 2 cats, a 16 year old Jersey Cow, 4 horses, and 8 chicks.
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Vet Assistant? Have done Iditarod and want to work “the other”1000 mile race.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of canine care year round?: Feeding, nutrition, exercise, mental stimulation and human interaction.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of canine care on the trail?
Observation and early intervention
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a veterinarian? Altitude 5000, Australia, vet for past 10 years. Iditarod 1999, 2000, 2003, 2007; Bear grease 2000
What is your favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race? The awesome dogs and wilderness
What are you most looking forward to at the 2010 Yukon Quest? Working and the dogs and mushers and seeing new places
What is the most important item you will bring with you along the trail?
Warm sleeping bag and open mind
Working background: Graduated Melbourne 1974 then practices in Alberta Canada for 4 years during which time I drove to Alaska and became interested in sled dogs. No am the co-owner of 6 vet Peninsula Animal Hospital for the past 22 years.
Lori J. Jones
Place of Birth: Conway SC
Nationality: USA
What are your hobbies?: Horses, water sports
Do you have any other pets?: Horses
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Vet Assistant?
Alaska/ Adventure/learn about the dogs
What do you believe is the most important aspect of canine care year round?:
Nutrition/exercise
What do you believe is the most important aspect of canine care on the trail?
Nutrition, monitor pets frequently
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with.
1st time with sled dog races
What are you most looking forward to at the 2010 Yukon Quest?
Alaska/Yukon/Dogs/People
What is the most important item you will bring with you along the trail?
Boots, an attitude to learn!
Please share any additional stories from the Yukon Quest or other sled dog races that you feel demonstrates excellence in canine care and/or personifies the spirit of the Yukon Quest:
1st time with sled dog races
Rhonda Aliah
Born in Detroit Michigan
I am a small animal, zoo veterinarian from Idaho Falls, ID Have owned my own practice for 29 years.
I have worked on the Iditarod 5 years 2001-2006 skipping 2004 and have been head vet for the American dog Derby held in Feb in Ashton Idaho from 2000-2008. Have also helped at the pre race vet check for the Pedigree ISSSDR in Jackson, Wyoming in January.Looking forward to working on the Yukon Quest.
Henry Alan Hallman
Current Residence: Payson, Arizona
Place of Birth: Laramie, Wyoming
Family Member Names and Ages: Wife, Holly; Son, Ran, 21; Daughter, Sage, 19; Kristin, 17
What are your hobbies? Hiking, Travel, hunting
Have you ever driven a dog team? If so, please describe your experience: Yes- short runs with trap line dogs
Do you have any other pets: If so, please describe them: 3 Dogs, Lab, Border Collie, Poodle
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian: Clint Crusberg, DVM, A vet school classmate, invited me to the 1994 quest
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round: Nutrition, training, good genetics, spending lots of time with the dogs
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? Ensuring the dogs are happy, adequately trained, blue ribbon foot care, top notch food
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a veterinarian? Trail Vet YQ, 94,95,96,97,99,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2008. Head Vet-Alaska Side-1996, 1997. Copper Basin 300 Trail vet, 2007.
What is your favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race? Northern Lights, 60 Below weather, 5 days at Stewart River Cabin in 1994 at -50.
What are you most looking forward to at the 2010 Yukon Quest? Renewing old friendships, travelling again in the North
What is the most important item you will bring with you on the trail? Good Boots, clear mind, adaptable attitude.
Please share any additional stories from the Yukon Quest or other sled dog races that you feel demonstrates excellence in canine care and/or personify the spirit of the Yukon Quest:
My first YQ in 1994, I vetted the half from Dawson to Whitehorse. I arrived in Dawson City, never having met a musher, or ever having touched a sled dog. It was 53 below F. I stood on the bank of the Yukon at the Dawson Dog yard waiting for a team. I waited for twenty minutes, when I spotted a headlamp upriver. 10 minutes later a musher came up the bank. I was nearly frozen, while in contrast the musher wore a baseball cap, no gloves, and a shirt open half way down his chest. As he went by, he pulled a drag on a smoke and said, “Damn it’s cold tonight!”. And away he went. Welcome to Joe Garne and the Yukon Quest.
Markus Barth
Current Residence: Grande Prairie, AB, Canada
Nationality: German
Place of Birth: Zwickau, Germany
Languages Spoken: German, English
Family Member Names and Ages: Wife, Heather; Son, Myles, 4; Harris, 16 months
What are your hobbies? Family, Basketball, my dogs
Have you ever driven a dog team? Yes, great, painful from falling off!
Do you have any other pets: If so, please describe them: 2 Dogs, 1 cat
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian: Been there, done that, liked it
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round: Having time for your pets!
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? They pull you….so love them!
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a veterinarian? Great people, lots of fun
What is your favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race? How compassionate the mushers are
What are you most looking forward to at the 2010 Yukon Quest? To see people I’ve missed the last couple of years
What is the most important item you will bring with you on the trail? Excitement
Gary D. Kuchinka
Current Residence: Welch, MN, USA
Nationality: American
Place of Birth: Fairbault, MN
Family Member Names and Ages: Single
What are your hobbies? Flying, Sporting Clay Shooting, drawing
Have you ever driven a dog team? If so, please describe your experience: yes, brief but fun
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian: I was an IDITAROD trail vet and heard the Yukon Quest was a good team of vets
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round: Good nutrition and exercise
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? Nutrition, rest, control of lameness issues
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a veterinarian? Trail Vet for IDITAROD 5 years, Copper Basin 3 years, Grand Portage Race in MN 1 year
What is your favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race? Meeting natives of Iditarod villages along the race
What are you most looking forward to at the 2010 Yukon Quest? Meeting the vets and seeing how the race compares to the Iditarod
What is the most important item you will bring with you on the trail? Warm clothes and a head lamp
Christina M. Hansen
Current Residence: Fairbanks, Alaska
Place of Birth: Long Island, New York
Family Member Names and Ages: My mom and dad (Sue and Rich) live near Chicago, and brother Steve. I live with my boyfriend, Jason, in Fairbanks
What are your hobbies? Camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, canoeing, skiing, knitting
Have you ever driven a dog team? If so, please describe your experience: Once, while volunteering for the Taiga 300. I drove for 10 miles, with 12 dogs, and it was GREAT.
Do you have any other pets: If so, please describe them: I have a cat, named Adak, who makes me laugh EVERY day. I also have a Jenday Conure named Pluto, and a 4 foot long iguana named Dr. Evil
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian: I love being outside. This will allow me to practice veterinary medicine, learn more about sled dogs, and enjoy some of the great outdoors.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round: Prevention. I like to work with owners to keep their dogs healthy, vaccinated, and well socialized.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? Proper nutrition and stress reduction.
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a veterinarian? I have volunteered for the copper Basin 300, I did YQ pre-race checks last year, and I was the only vet for the 2009 Taiga 300. A bit scary!
What is your favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race? I LOVED staying at the MacLaren River Lodge for the Taiga 300. It was so secluded, and It was April so the weather was fabulous.
What are you most looking forward to at the 2010 Yukon Quest? Getting out on the trail and into the bush
What is the most important item you will bring with you on the trail? Probably my long underwear
Geraldine Scgro
Current Residence: France
Nationality: French
Place of Birth: Rennes (35) France
Languages Spoken: French, English, Italian
What are your hobbies? Climbing and ski-ing
Have you ever driven a dog team? Only one time with the team of Jean Philippe Pontier, a French musher
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian: Compare my experiences on La Grande Odysee (stage race) with a long distance race, about pathology and the training method
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round: Good nutrition
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? Nutrition
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a veterinarian? La Grande Odysee 2008, the Femund Lopet 2009
What is your favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race? Every start, when dogs that the will to go and give their energy to pull
What are you most looking forward to at the 2010 Yukon Quest? Everything!
What is the most important item you will bring with you on the trail? A sweet snack for long and cold nights
Jaime Martinez Salles
Current Residence: El Masnou, Barcelona, Spain
Nationality: Spanish
Place of Birth: Barcelona, Spain
Languages Spoken: Spanish, English
Family Member Names and Ages: My wife Estela, and two teenagers Armand (17) and Edgar (15)
What are your hobbies? Read books, the history and travel
Have you ever driven a dog team? I have only driven twice a sled dog and it was intense and very fun
Do you have any other pets: If so, please describe them: I had a boxer and Persian Cat that gave me wonderful moments. Anyone who’s had a Boxer knows it.
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian: After many races and because already I have gone two consecutive years, I have decided to return to the coldest and longest race of the earth.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round: The best aspect is knowing how to train well with the dogs and treat them as if they were pets
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? To try to anticipate any problem with the dogs before they happen.
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a veterinarian? Two editions in the Quest, three editions in the Iditarod (2002, 2004, 2005) and 12 editions of the race Pirena in Spain (medium distance)
What is your favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race? In the Quest last year, my arrival to Dawson City…For an European is incredible
What are you most looking forward to at the 2010 Yukon Quest? To provide a good care to the dogs and meet good friends
What is the most important item you will bring with you on the trail? My spirit of adventure, my knowledge, and very good protection against the cold
Please share any additional stories from the Yukon Quest or other sled dog races that you feel demonstrates excellence in canine care and/or personify the spirit of the Yukon Quest:
Two editions ago I visited a special dog at different checkpoints; he was a dog eager to play and be cherished by the veterinary team. In Carmacks, I had to withdraw from the race because he hurt a finger, but he continued playing and with good humor with the team veterinarian. He was a very wonder dog.
Jacqueline W. Piepkorn
Current Residence: Mound, Minnesota, USA
Nationality: US Citizen
Place of Birth: Willmar, Minnesota, USA
Family Member Names and Ages: Husband, Craig is also a veterinarian. Son, Michael is in his 4th year of college at Winona State University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND. Daughter, Kelsey is a freshman at Winona State University in Winona, MN, and son Grant is 14 years old and he is a freshman at Mound Westonka High School in Mound, MN.
What are your hobbies? I like to go for walks, bird watch, go to sporting events for my children (Cross country running and ski ing, track and gymnastics) and watch College basketball- Go Gophers! Alos a hobbie is being a vet for sled dog races.
Have you ever driven a dog team? Yes, I have driven a team just not a very big team! I have enjoyed running with the dogs during the fall and winter.
Do you have sled dogs at home? If so, please describe them: I have one sled dog, Chocolate. He is 13 years old now. All of his brothers and sisters have been team dogs for a musher in Minnesota. I have had him and his brothers since they were 8 weeks old. His brother passed away a few years ago. Chocolate is the happiest dog you will ever meet. He still can pull and when he sees his harness, he gets all excited!
Do you have any other pets: If so, please describe them: There are two pugs, Otis and Lucy, in our household and they both think that they are sled dogs! They can run like the wind and they try very hard to keep up with Chocolate. We also have a cat, Pippin. All of our pets get along great. Pippin will sleep on the same bed as the dogs.
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian: I have been a trail vet for many mid-distance and marathon races. Now that my children are older, I am a little more mobile and can leave home for a longer period of time. I have wanted to come to the Quest for a long time and I am fortunate to have a husband and family that supports this sport.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round: Keeping your dogs happy and healthy both mentally and physically with good nutrition and training.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? The musher’s awareness and knowledge of their dogs while on the trail and at the checkpoints. Musher’s know how their dogs normally act, eat, run, etc…and when they are not doing what they usually do, their communication with the veterinary team and concerns they have allows us to assist them with their care with the goal to keep the dogs healthy and happy to finish in Whitehorse.
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a veterinarian? I have been a sled dog veterinarian for about 15 years. I started by being the race veterinarian for our local sprint race and did not want to continues. So I started working on longer mid-distance and marathon races. I attended the ISDVMA training seminar in Anchorage in 1996 and was a trail vet for the Iditarod in 1998 and 1999. I was a trail vet for the John Beargrease and Empire in 1997 and then became the Chief in 1998 and continued for the next 7 years. I have returned to the Beargrease as a trail vet. I have been a trail vet for the CAN-AM and UP-200 multiple times, the Grand Portage Race and the Great Trail Race and other mid-distance races.
What is your favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race? Sometimes you don’t know if a musher is hallucinating from being extremely tired or if they are telling you story that is true. One year at the Elim checkpoint on the Iditarod trail a young musher came in with a story to tell. He said he was traveling alone during the middle of the night when a she-wolf started running along his team. (This made a lot of sense to me because if snacks are left on the trail, it’s a lot easier for the wolves to get some food by just picking up the left-overs rather than having to work hard to find it for themselves.) He said he was really frightened. But the she-wolf was not being aggressive, just running right in front of the team. Shortly thereafter, two more wolves began to run alongside the team. Now there were 3 wolves. A little while later, 2 additional wolves joined them. At this point, he had five wolves travelling with his team. One in the front and 2 on each side. He said this continued for about 2 hours as he was afraid to stop. Then the female peeled off and the other 4 followed suit and he continued his way. It was almost as though they were escorting him through safe passage. He said it was the coolest thing in the world and the scariest! I like the story and choose to believe it!
What are you most looking forward to at the 2010 Yukon Quest?I am looking forward to working with the dogs. I like to see how different mushers work and care for their dogs.
What is the most important item you will bring with you on the trail? If it is 50 degrees below Fahrenheit, it will be my gloves!
Please share any additional stories from the Yukon Quest or other sled dog races that you feel demonstrates excellence in canine care and/or personify the spirit of the Yukon Quest:
I have seen many “Best cared for team” some that have won an award and others that have not. I believe if the mushers care for their dogs’ physical and emotional needs, feed them well, have them adequately trained and conditioned in preparation for the race, and work together with veterinary team, the will be a “best cared for team”!
Angela Parham
Dr. Angie Parham obtained her DVM from the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1997 and worked as a small animal veterinarian in private practice until joining the U.S. Army in January of 2001. The Army has given her the opportunity to provide veterinary care to military working dogs, audit food establishments in foreign countries, serve as a laboratory animal veterinarian and participate in a variety of research projects, and most importantly, live in a variety of locations around the world, including Alaska.
Upon completing a Master’s degree in Veterinary Public Health in May 2008, she moved to the Last Frontier where she currently serves as the commander of the U.S. Army’s Alaska District Veterinary Command at Fort Wainwright. It is in her current position that she was introduced to Alaska’s sled dogs and mushers. After assisting with the pre-race examinations for the 2009 Yukon Quest participants, she could not resist the opportunity to work as a trail vet in 2010.
She currently resides in North Pole, AK, with her two cats, who have graciously allowed her to share the house they firmly believe she purchased just for them.
Veterinarians Assistants
Patty Imus
Current Residence: Fairbanks, Alaska
Place of Birth: Sacramento, California
Nationality: American
Family Members Names and Ages: Husband: Glenn, 60 yrs. Daughter, Josie, 22 yrs. Son, Bryan, 38 yrs.
What are your hobbies? Biking and hiking
Have you ever driven a dog team? If so, please describe your experiences:
Ran dogs for about 20 years. I did some travelling/camping and some racing. Some mid-distance races, and the 1985 Yukon Quest. I finished 18th.
Do you have dog sleds at home? If so, please describe them:
One retires sled dog. A 12 year old leader that sprinted with a junior musher until the musher left for college.
Do you have any other pets?: Nova is 11 yrs. Husky/Heeler mix and Chile is 13 yrs Fox Terrier mix.
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Vet Assistant?:
I wanted to work with the dogs and the Vets. I’m interested in the latest innovations in dog care on the trail.
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with.
Five years as a race judge. One year as a participant in the race.
What is your favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race?:
The week at Scroggie Cr. when we had to make it the last checkpoint for lack of snow to the south. I think it was 2006.
What are you most looking forward to at the 2010 Yukon Quest?:
Being part of the dog care team.
What is the most important item you will bring with you along the trail?
A good attitude, and chemical hand warmers.
Katherine Van Duine
Current Residence: Pullman, WA
Nationality: USA
Place of Birth: Wilmington DE
Family Member Names and Ages: Husband: Jordan Van Duine (32yrs)
What are your hobbies? I am currently in veterinary school so that consumes most of my time. However, I do enjoy running my own three sled dogs. I have three Malamute I take out with a cart in the summer and either sled or skijor with in the winter. I also enjoy hiking, photography, reading, and scrapbooking.
Have you ever driven a dog team? Yes, I am an amateur dog driver; I own 3 malamutes that I have been training. I have also volunteered at several race starts where I helped the racing mushers handles their teams as needed.
Do you have sled dogs at home? If so, please describe them: I have three pure bred Alaska Malamutes: not Alaskan sled dogs! These include two males, Moose, 2, and Bear, 6, and one female, Meeka, 2.
Do you have any other pets: If so, please describe them: I also have three cats, Meru, Maple, and Miso
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian: I love the sport of dog mushing! I am fascinated by the amazing sled dog athletes and I am greatly inspired by the devotion these dogs show for their drivers, and vice versa.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round: I think excellent canine care comes down to excellent husbandry. Dogs (not just sled dogs) have a few certain basic requirements to become healthy happy dogs. These include simple things like a great diet and preventative medicine measures like vaccines, and deworming. But dogs also require leadership, structure, and physical and mental challenges. Leadership, structure, and mental challenges will help foster a healthy brain and hinder dogs from developing undesirable behaviors. Physical challenges will foster a healthy body and are important for the sled dog, it will develop endurance, resilience, and strength needed for racing.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? Though I have limited experience, I think the most important aspect of canine care on the trail is excellent observation and individual dog examination. These examines are not only the veterinarians job, but more importantly the musher’s. The musher’s know their dogs better than anyone else. If they can pick up on a slight change in one of their dogs early, we can potentially identify a problem before it completely manifests itself. Disease or illness of any type or severity in the sled dog can then be diagnosed and treated as early as possible providing the best prognosis or outcome.
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a veterinarian?
- Attended the ISDVMA Sled Dog Veterinarian Training Seminar 2008
- Volunteer for the pre-race veterinary checks Iditarod 2008
- Volunteer for the pre-race veterinary checks Yukon Quest 2004, 2006
- Volunteer for the race veterinary checks and handling Cascade Quest 2008
What is your favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race? I have two favorite memories of past sled dog races including the Yukon Quest. First, I will always remember the 2003 Iditarod re-start in Fairbanks. I was living in Fairbanks at the time attending UAF. I skipped calculus to attend the start of the race and it was the best decision ever! Watching this race was the start of my love and fascination with this sport! My second memory is from 2007 when Lance Mackey won both the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest for the first time. My husband and I were in Washington (as I had started veterinary school), but our hearts were in Alaska! We were glued to the computer screen. We checked the race websites twenty times a day! It is so exciting and inspiring that the Mackey dog’s were able to run and WIN these epic races back to back! What amazing creatures!
What are you most looking forward to at the 2010 Yukon Quest? It is hard to say what I am most looking forward to at the 2010 Quest because there are so many things! I can’t wait to be on the trail! I have volunteered at several race starts but I look forwards to experiencing the atmosphere at the checkpoints. I look forward to having the opportunity to help and be a part of this great race!
What is the most important item you will bring with you on the trail? The most important things(s) I will bring on the trail are my open ears, eyes, and mind! I hope I can help provide excellent veterinary care to the sled dogs while learning more about the athletes, sport, and culture of dog mushing! Of course I won’t forget my camera!
Bill Nanak - To come
June Ryan - To come
