#GentleDoctorsEverywhere

New Job, Same Interests

David Gibbs worked as an associate veterinarian at Postville Veterinary Clinic for close to a decade, eventually become a partner at the practice. “I built up some lifelong relationships with excellent farm clients that will forever be friends of mine,” Gibbs said. But then his cousin (Dr. Justin Helgerson ’05) coaxed him into joining a new venture. While at the Postville Veterinary Clinic, Gibbs did embryo work, soon becoming proficient in embryo searching, evaluation, transferring, grading, loading, and freezing. He spent most of his time at Postville doing pregnancy ultrasounding and fetal sexing. He has transitioned those knowledge and skills into his new job with Driven Embryo Services. “The vast majority of the skills I still had and now I’m continuing to build upon them,” Gibbs said. “The work is similar to what I did in private practice, I still get to work with the best people on earth.” ’78

Keeping it in the Family

In the past four decades, Bill and Norma Headlee have provided routine and emergency veterinary care for their clients’ animals of varying shapes, sizes and weights. The Headlees have cared for multiple generations of clients’ companion animals and livestock at Headlee Enterprises in western South Dakota. Today the clinic is owned by the couple’s daughter Dr. Corale Dorn (‘01) and her husband Don.

Stressing Safety

As a veterinarian, Eric Knock has worked with his share of cattle and with various cattle chutes, but last September he got caught between two hard places. “We were ultrasounding and preg-checking heifers, and I was pouring a bull,” Knock recalled. “And I stood up right next to the chute.” Problem was, when the 6’ 8” Knock stood up, the squeeze was released to free the bull, and his head became pinched between the chute frame and the squeeze. His resulting injuries kept him in a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, hospital for two weeks. While still recovering from his injuries, Knock now encourages veterinarians to stress safety regardless of their experiences. “I had worked with a variety of chutes over the years and used this portable chute a handful of times,” Knock said. “We all need to simply slow down, don’t be in a hurry, and be aware of the risk areas.”

Fred Sick

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Perfect Fit

A trip to the national AVMA Conference came at the right time for Amanda Kress. While at the conference, Kress went to a session on career changes. “I knew if I was going to move on that private practice wasn’t for me,” Kress said, “but I had no brilliant ideas of what to do next.” The session Kress attended included careers in lab animals veterinary care. Despite no experience with lab animals, the possibility intrigued Kress. Afterwards she sought out the American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners booth in the exhibit hall. It turned out to be a perfect fit for Kress. “The work is still clinical. It’s still hands-on, plus I would be involved in research,” she said. Today she provides quality animal care to animals used in Iowa State research projects as a veterinarian in the Laboratory Animal Resources.

Honor Flight

Fred Sick’s third trip to the nation’s Capitol was different. “The thing that really surprised me when we got to D.C. was the number of military people when we got off the airplane,” Sick said. A Vietnam War veteran, Sick was part of the Midwest Honor Flight: Mission 11 in August. The tour included stops at the Vietnam War Memorial, the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, and the Korean and World War II Memorials. “The tour guides were so kind and helpful; it’s because of one I was able to find my cousin’s name,” Sick said. Sick’s cousin, Frederick Holst, was killed in Vietnam and his name is on the Vietnam Memorial.

Hall of Famer

Steve and Shelly Wickham of Henry County have been inducted into the 2022 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame. The Wickhams have been and continue to be active supporters of the Henry County 4-H Program. Shelly served as the secretary of the Henry County Extension Council for eight years. Both Shelly and Steve were 4-H Leaders, with Steve being a leader of the Wayne Soil Savers 4-H Club for 15 years and Shelly the leader of the Country Creators. Shelly assisted with the startup of the Henry County 4-H Bottle Calf program and chaired the program for many years, as well as provided expertise for the 4-H Pet Show. Steve has a passion for beef production in Henry County and as a large promoter of the production side of the 4-H Beef show emphasizes the importance of quality and the beef industry. Steve has served as the Henry County Fair Veterinarian for over 30 years, and has hosted numerous Beef Weigh-ins at his facility while providing guidance and support to beginning beef producers.

Homecoming 2022

Members of the Class of 1962 gathered for their 60th reunion during the 2022 Homecoming celebration

November 4-5. Hundreds of alumni descended upon the College of Veterinary Medicine campus during the two-day celebration.

Day To Remember

December 5, 2022, was declared “Dr. Ann Garvey Appreciation Day” in the State of Iowa by Governor Kim Reynolds.

Reynolds chose to honor Garvey who was her colleague, a bond that grew when COVID put the pair together in close quarters as the state battled the pandemic and, as it turns out, Garvey battled cancer. Garvey, the state’s Iowa Public Health Veterinarian, was 46 when she died November 1.

The proclamation reads, “Dr. Garvey was a critical member of the state’s COVID-19 emergency response team and a model of grace, fortitude, and resilience throughout the pandemic – even while battling her own personal health crisis. Her eternal optimism, courage, steadfast spirit, and faith demonstrated to all how to live fully and presently every day. (She) was a cherished wife, mother, daughter, and sister, a dearly loved friend and colleague; and a loyal public servant whose legacy lives on in the many lives she touched.”

Garvey graduated with her DVM from Iowa State in 2002. She began her career as an agriculture specialist and state exercise training officer for the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Division.

Mark Your Calendars for These Upcoming Alumni Receptions

Monday, February 20

Western Veterinary Conference

Hussong’s Cantina @ Mandalay Place

Las Vegas

7:30-9:30 pm

Friday, July 14

AVMA Convention

Henry’s Tavern

Denver, Colorado

7-9 pm

In Memoriam

Notices of recent deaths are available online at vetmed.iastate.edu/alumni-giving/alumni/memoriam. If you know of a recently deceased CVM alumnus, faculty or staff member please send the notice to dgieseke@iastate.edu.

Alumni E-Newsletter

Can’t wait until the next Gentle Doctor magazine hits your mailbox for news about the College of Veterinary Medicine? Then check out the college’s monthly alumni e-newsletter.

CVM Alumni News features news and updates from the college including alumni events, features on CVM alumni and notices of recent deaths.

If you don’t currently receive the CVM Alumni News please send your e-mail address to dgieseke@iastate.edu.