Our Staff

   
Dr. Darlene Donszelmann – Owner/Veterinarian   Dr. Donszelmann began her academic training in Alberta at Augustana University College and continued on to the University of Alberta to complete her Bachelor of Science general degree in 1988. In 1992, she received her DVM degree from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She has practiced in four private mixed animal practices across Alberta and British Columbia, along with contract work and locums for a number of other small and mixed animal practices, the B.C. Ministry of Forestry and Olds College. In 2001, she became a private practice owner in Olds, Alberta. In the past few years her practice focus has changed from mixed animal to companion animal as her practice continues to serve the community. She began a teaching career in 2004 for the Animal Health Technology program at Olds College. In 2006, she completed a Management Certificate from the University of Calgary and a Veterinary Hospital Practice Managers Certificate from the St. Lawrence College. She currently splits her time between her position as Clinic Skills Instructor at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Chinook Country Veterinary Clinic. When she is not at either of those places she spends time on her farm with her husband raising and training horses, as well they raise few cattle. 

Dr. Mandi Maclean – Veterinarian     

Dr. Mandi Maclean graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, SK after completing her B.Sc. in biochemistry from the University of Lethbridge.  Born and raised in small town rural Alberta, Dr. Maclean enjoys the outdoors and the country lifestyle and engages in riding horses and hiking with her two dogs, a Labrador Retriever and an Australian Shepherd.  She has a practical approach to diagnosing and treating patients of all kinds, with an interest in dentistry, dermatology and allergies, and general surgery.  She is currently pursuing certification in Veterinary Acupuncture (CVA).

  
Dr. Theresa Knox -Veterinarian Dr. Theresa grew up on a small dairy farm in Huron County, Ontario. Growing up she took care of cows, calves, cats and dogs. She attended the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. After graduating in 1997 she pulled up stakes and moved out west. Dr. Theresa’s interests in veterinary medicine are diverse. Initially practicing traditional mixed animal practice, she now focuses mainly on small animal. Interests include cardiology, soft tissue surgery and complicated medical cases. When not working at the clinic, she loves riding, caring for the cows, growing trees and playing with the dogs. Her menagerie of animals include two horses, a small herd of cows both purebred Red Angus and crossbreds, a cat, a cattle herding miniature dachshund and a border collie. Adrienne Lyall, AHT

  

 Adrienne graduated from AHT program at Olds College and started her career at the U of C in the animal sciences dept.   Adrienne has been working with Chinook Country Vet Clinic since 2006 and when not busy taking care of our 4 legged clients she likes to scrapbook, paint and read. Pets have always been a big part of the family, and they can’t imagine living without them.  She has always had a soft spot for animals and their welfare and couldn’t picture herself at any other job. Adrienne’s main interests are in small animal medicine but she has been seen on the occasional farm.  

Lynn Fleury, Tech Assistant

Lynn has been with the clinic since July 2011.  She is currently taking the on-line AHT program through Olds College.  When she is not at work, Lynn is out riding and training horses or studying for her next exam.  She has 2 horses and cat named Ginger, who she adopted from the clinic when it was brought in as a scared stray.

Diana Lyster, Clinic Coordinator 

Diana took her Medical Office Assistant with Veterinary Specialist training in Red Deer at the Academy of Learning.  She completed training in August 2004 and began working at Chinook Country Veterinary Clinic in September.  She started out mainly in the receptionist role and has since expanded to include some office management duties.  Diana enjoys working with the clients and patients in the clinic and look forward to meeting new ones daily.

Melissa Dreger,  Client Services 

Melissa Dreger is the newest addition to our team here at Chinook Country Veterinary Clinic.  A long- time resident of the Olds area, she grew up on a farm west of Bowden, where her family raised a small beef herd, as well as chickens, pigs and the usual assortment of cats and dogs.  She married her high school sweetheart, Jason, and they bought a house and settled in Olds.  They have 2 biological children- Hayley (12) and Ethan (9), and they adopted her niece, Kerstyn  (20) when she was 13. They have an assortment of pets including 3 dogs (Blue, Pita and Moses), 2 cats (Dex and Twitch) and a budgie named Beau.  In their spare time, the Dreger family enjoys camping out west, playing softball and spending time with friends and family.

Melissa has always known that she wanted to be a part of the Medical field.  She graduated from the Olds College Veterinary Medical Reception Program in June 2011 and started here at Chinook Country Veterinary Clinic in December.  She is very excited to be a part of our team and looks forward to meeting you and your pets!!

Kym Van Rooyen, Client Services 

 

Kym and her husband John and daughter Breanna moved to the Olds area in 2009 with their 13 Japanese Chins, Kelpie cross, 2 cats and 2 American Saddlebreds.  Prior to moving to Olds, Kym was a dog groomer for 18 years and also worked as a Kennel Assistant for 3 years at the Calgary Humane society and 1 year at a Calgary vet clinic. 

Wendy Hankel, Client Services

Wendys has worked at veterinary clinics for the last 22 years. Family is 1st in Wendy’slife. Married to husband Ron with 2 grown boys: Jeremy is married to Crystal and they have 2 wonderful, sweet boys, Brodie and Nate. Joshua graduated last year and is still at home.  She enjoys going for long walks with my dogs, camping, quadding, crafts gardening, and have the best time with her grandchildren.

Emily Lyster, Animal Caregiver (Jr.Staff)

 

Emily started coming to the clinic after school when her family moved to Innisfail and she needed to finish her school year in Olds.  So we put her to work and she has been helping us out on her days off from school and during the summer, ever since.  She enjoys working with the dogs and cats that come through our doors and even participated in the 4-H Feline Project.  She is planning to become an Animal Health Technologist when she is finished high school. 

    

          
 

 
   

Comments are closed.