Veterinarians
Dr. Jeff Dand
Jeff graduated from the Atlantic Veterinary College in 1997 and then continued on to Florida to complete his Veterinary internship. While in Florida Jeff focused on canine behavior and dermatology. Since then Jeff has operated several clinics in Calgary and Airdrie always with a priority of great client service and patient care. He now spends his time between his Calgary clinics as well as his clinics in Victoria. His three rescue pets at home are Cola (Pitbull/Lab Cross), Dexter (Brussels Griffon) & Sheriff (Domestic Longhair Cat).
Dr. Kathy Kimmel - BSc DVM CCRT cVMA cVSMT
Kathy graduated from WCVM in 2000 and then completed a one year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery in West Hartford, CT. Kathy then spent four years in a private practice in Penticton BC. Deciding she wanted to try something a little different, she switched to full time emergency medicine for eight years in Edmonton. As an active competitor in dog sports, particularly agility, obedience and herding, Kathy developed an interest in sports medicine and rehabilitation, completing her certification in rehab through the Canine Rehabilitation Institute. She spent the last 16 months doing full time canine rehabilitation at WCVM as well as learning animal Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy through the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre and acupuncture through the Medical Acupuncture for Veterinarians program.
Dr. Lauren Hammond
Lauren grew up on a small hobby farm outside of Kingston, Ontario. She had the good fortune of being immersed in veterinary medicine from a young age because her father is a mixed animal practitioner who always took her into the clinic, or out to farm calls growing up. Her love for working with animals was further enhanced by an introduction to horseback riding, an athletic pursuit that led her to compete at the A circuit level on the hunter/jumper circuit for more than a decade. This passion even took her to Europe for 6 months to train and compete prior to attending university.
Lauren earned a degree in Biology at Queen’s University before attending the Ontario Veterinary College. Throughout her undergraduate and veterinary degrees, she developed a deep love for the mountain lifestyle which led her to pursue summer employment in British Columbia and helped to solidify her decision to move out west upon graduating.
Over her lifetime, Lauren has also developed a very real, and very serious golden retriever obsession. She is now the proud owner of her own beloved three - year old golden retriever Halle who is always by her side. Since graduating she has been working as a mixed animal practitioner in Ontario, but she is so excited to be returning to the west this fall. When she is not in the clinic, she can be found hiking, running, playing guitar, or horseback riding. She is so thrilled to be joining the Dand Veterinary family and cannot wait to meet your beloved four - legged family members!!
Lauren earned a degree in Biology at Queen’s University before attending the Ontario Veterinary College. Throughout her undergraduate and veterinary degrees, she developed a deep love for the mountain lifestyle which led her to pursue summer employment in British Columbia and helped to solidify her decision to move out west upon graduating.
Over her lifetime, Lauren has also developed a very real, and very serious golden retriever obsession. She is now the proud owner of her own beloved three - year old golden retriever Halle who is always by her side. Since graduating she has been working as a mixed animal practitioner in Ontario, but she is so excited to be returning to the west this fall. When she is not in the clinic, she can be found hiking, running, playing guitar, or horseback riding. She is so thrilled to be joining the Dand Veterinary family and cannot wait to meet your beloved four - legged family members!!
Management
Nicole Gigian, RVT
Originally from Manitoba, Nicole moved to Alberta several years ago. She grew up loving all animals but had a special passion for horses. Following her passion, she received her diploma in the Animal Health Technology program in 2008. As a new RVT, she worked in a variety of different areas in the veterinary world including small animal, equine, emergency care, and bovine embryo transfer. Working in these different areas allowed her to gain vast knowledge and experience. After moving to Alberta, she was hired on with Dand Veterinary Clinics as an RVT and helped Dr. Dand to bring Springbank Pet Hospital from the ground up. Over the years she has helped with the opening of several clinics including a few on Vancouver Island and soon realized her passion for management as well as the business side of veterinary clinics. She now manages and operates the four Dand clinics in Calgary and is enjoying every moment of it. She currently has two pets, Nim, a little black cat and Phoebe, a rescue white shepherd mix.
Registered Veterinary Technologists
Shaina
Shaina grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan where caring for animals was part of her daily life. As an adult, she had a successful 10-year career working in the oil and gas industry. It was a personal experience with her dog Roxy, that set in motion the path to a career as a Registered Veterinary Technologist. The experience prompted her to investigate careers in veterinary medicine where she came upon the Olds College AHT program. She enrolled soon after and graduated from the program in 2016. We met Shaina when she came to us to complete her practicum for the program and well, we wouldn’t let her leave.
You will find Shaina in most rehabilitation appointments working with Dr. Kathy Kimmel closely. She is qualified in Class IV Laser and trained to operate the water treadmill for both dogs and cats. She loves her work and is excited about utilizing new treatments we have to offer like PRP Therapy and Therapeutic Ultrasound. Shaina has two tabbies of her own, Rosie and Bella and a rescue pup named Chester. These inseparable short haired sisters came to Shaina while at school after they were found abandoned. |
Rehabilitation Assistants
Natalie
Natalie was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario and she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Zoology with a nutrition minor at the University of Guelph (Ontario). She moved to Calgary 2 years ago and recently completed a Master’s degree in Muscle Physiology where she looked at how vitamin D from the sun and diet affected muscles in mammals. She is now looking to apply for Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary or Guelph for the coming year! Her family has always owned German Shepherds and all have had hind limb problems which motivated her to pursue a career in becoming a vet. Currently, she owns a German Shepherd named Stella and she has a small hamster companion at her home in Calgary named Sooty. Through her passion in caring for animals and interests in muscle physiology, she has joined our hospitals team as a rehabilitation assistant and is qualified in class IV laser and trained in water treadmill therapy as well as rehabilitation exercises.
Jennifer
Jennifer graduated from the University of Alberta in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy. She moved to Calgary in 1998 where she worked at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. After raising three children over the last 23 years (ages 23, 20 and 12), She is excited to begin putting her Rehabilitation Medicine experience towards working with her favourite patients: pets! Jennifer has always loved animals and has grown up with dogs and cats her entire life. She currently has 4 pets, Ruby, a 13-year old Labradoodle; Aspen, a 2- year old Teacup Yorkie, Cedar, a 5-year old rescue Teacup Yorkie and Stormi, a 1- year old Chocolate Minx Ragdoll cat.
Jennifer is very active with Running, Trail running, Biking, Hiking, and X-country skiing. She regularly competes in Marathons and 50km runs. She has competed in Ironman Canada and recently completed Boston, NYC and Chicago marathons. It’s her love of Fitness and the enjoyment she gets sharing it with her canine friends that motivates her to want to help all Dogs live their best, healthy and active lives!
Jennifer is very active with Running, Trail running, Biking, Hiking, and X-country skiing. She regularly competes in Marathons and 50km runs. She has competed in Ironman Canada and recently completed Boston, NYC and Chicago marathons. It’s her love of Fitness and the enjoyment she gets sharing it with her canine friends that motivates her to want to help all Dogs live their best, healthy and active lives!
Technician Assistants and Client Care Specialists
Alex
Alex was born in the Netherlands and moved to Calgary when she was 4 years old. She discovered a passion for animals quite young. As a child, her twin sister and her were always catching critters to take care of and gushing over the animals in their lives. After completing high school, she enrolled in the Veterinary Reception/Assistant course at Olds college and loved every minute of it. It was there that she realized her true passion for rescue and special needs animals. Growing up, her pets were always rescue animals and this continues to be something important to her. She has 2 dogs of my her. Pippin, a rescue golden retriever mix from rural Alberta, and Moby, a blind border collie mix with a degenerative brain disorder. These two light up her world and she couldn’t imagine working in any other field.
Client Care Specialists
Alysha
Alysha is a born and raised Calgarian with a passion for the mountains where she and her boyfriend enjoy taking their collie x pup Minnie for hikes and camping adventures! Her family also includes her pets, a colony of hand raised sugar gliders, a kitty named Mickey and her beloved dog Minnie. Her love for animals is what drove Alysha to enroll in the Veterinary Technician Assistant program at Olds College where she successfully graduated from in 2019 with a 3.9 GPA. Alysha's dream as a child was to pet dogs for a living, and now she gets to do that and so much more!
Kat
Kat was born in Calgary, Alberta and alongside my family I have always loved hiking, photography and gardening. Throughout my whole childhood I have always grown up around animals and animal justice has always been something I try to incorporate into all aspects of my life. I am lucky enough to care for two Siamese cats named Hurley and Oakley at home! I am currently in my last year at the University of Victoria and will graduate with a dual major in Psychology and Environmental Sciences with a minor in Social and Animal Justice Studies in April. I hope to eventually work in a veterinary assistant position full time or in environmental conservation.