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Doctors |
Susan Z. Barrows, DVM
Practice Owner
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In 1992, Dr. Barrows simultaneously opened AMC and founded the Bozeman
non-profit organization known today as the
Montana Raptor Conservation Center. Dr. Barrows attributes her keen
interest in veterinary medicine and exotics to her upbringing in a
household full of orphaned wild animals and stray dogs and cats in
Connecticut. Her veterinary preceptorship at the University of Minnesota Raptor Center and the New York Bronx Zoo
further fueled her passion for avian and exotic animal medicine. She
loves the teamwork fostered in a clinical setting and the challenge
of diagnosing and treating illnesses in all household pets. Dr. Barrows
graduated from Iowa State University’s
College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984 and was hired there as a Laboratory
Animal Clinician. She founded the Iowa State Wildlife Care
Clinic and taught raptor and wildlife medicine to vet students. In
1987, Dr. Barrows moved to Bozeman with her husband Rick, a fish
nutritionist, their son and German Shorthair Pointers. Today,
she has two sons, a Pug named Yogi Barrows, a Griffon named Zeke,
saltwater fish and numerous horses. Horseback riding
and packing, scuba diving, fishing, photography, and playing guitar are her favorite
pastimes.
Dr. Barrows is a member of several professional organizations
including: the American Veterinary Medical Association, the
Montana Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital
Association, the Association
of Avian Veterinarians, and the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians. |
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Eric Klaphake, DVM, DABVP, DACZM
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 | Diplomate,
American College of Zoological Medicine
Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Avian)
Dr.
Klaphake (pronounced "Claw Paw Key") moved to Bozeman
in 2006 and has been in practice for over ten
years. His previous practice experience includes
work at the Columbus Zoo, Knoxville Zoo, University of Tennessee
and all-exotic animal practices in both Columbus, Ohio, and Salt
Lake City, Utah.
Dr. Klaphake also provides veterinary care for ZooMontana
in Billings. He is involved in several local
wildlife research projects, including studies involving wolverines
of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem through the Wildlife Conservation
Society and lesser scaup (duck) migration and nesting research in
association with an MSU research project.
A 1997 Kansas State University graduate, he is
a board-certified zoo medicine (ACZM) and bird specialist (ABVP).
He is currently the president of the Association
of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians and has been an active
member of that organization for many years. Other organizations
he is a member of include: the Association of Avian Veterinarians,
the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, the Wildlife Disease
Association, and the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians.
He recently accepted a post as Associate Editor for Review Articles
in the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery.
His pastimes include spending time with his
wife Jessi and son Xavier Ursus, photography, snowboarding, hiking
and other outdoor activities. Two Indian star tortoises, a Mexican
mountain kingsnake, a maroon-bellied conure
and a budgerigar (parakeet) complete the family.
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Eric Wood - DVM back to top

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Dr. Wood, a native of Rhode Island, went to
Montana State University after working
in Yellowstone National Park and later graduated from Colorado State
University’s College of Veterinary Medicine
in 2006. After graduation, he completed a year of small animal
clinical practice in Connecticut where he
fostered special interests in orthopedic surgery, ophthalmology,
oncology and feline medicine. He
thoroughly enjoys every aspect of veterinary
medicine and is looking forward to further developing and enhancing
his medical skills with exotic and avian patients. He is a
current member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the
Montana Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital
Association and the American Association of Feline Practitioners.
While on the east coast, he missed the beautiful
country and great fishing in Montana, but
what he missed most were the people. Having joined Animal Medical
Center in August 2007, he is enjoying meeting new clients and patients
alike and is extremely excited to be back in the Bozeman area.
His pastimes include fishing, skiing, camping, racquetball
and spending time with his wife Erika, daughters
Hannah and Piper and the family pets -
Sorcha the dog and Pirate the cat. |
Management
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Diane
Grant -
Practice Manager
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Diane Grant became a member of AMC’s team
in February 2007. Prior to coming to Bozeman, she worked as a senior
buyer at SNC-Lavalin Thermal Power and as a Human Resources Manager
at Osborne Construction Company in the greater Seattle, Washington
area. She also spent over twenty years working for a public utility
as a liaison between the corporate power plants, coal mining operations
and various modes-of-transportation contractors (rail, truck, conveyor
belt, etc) at PacifiCorp (Pacific Power & Light/Utah Power & Light)
in Centralia, Washington; Portland, Oregon and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Diane’s interests include genealogy, writing, needle work,
and spending time with her husband, Alan, and their five-toed cat,
George Townsend and Milo Hathaway III.
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Martha – Hospital
Manager/Vet Assistant
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Martha
is a jack-of-all-trades. She is an Assistant
to the Doctors, performs many laboratory
and other diagnostic tests, manages schedules
and keeps the hospital running smoothly.
Prior to her employment at AMC, Martha
graduated from MSU with a degree in Animal
Science. Like many of the staff members,
she appreciates the unconditional love
animals have for people. Born and raised
on a farm in central Montana, Martha now
lives in Bozeman with her ferrets, Brett
and Shane. She also has cows, a dog, Jake,
and a cat, D-Con, at her parent’s
home. Her favorite pastimes are reading,
cross-stitching, watching TV (Duke basketball,
Packers football and the series Firefly
are her favorites) and attending NASCAR
races. A memorable event for her was attending
her first NASCAR race (which was held on
her birthday) and seeing Dale Earnhardt
win.
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Tiffany
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Front
Office Manager
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Tiffany graduated from MSU-Billings
with a degree in Psychology. After graduation,
she became involved in the veterinary field
as a kennel attendant at a clinic in Miles
City. She joined AMC in July of 2004. Tiffany
and her husband have a Corgi - Cabo, and a cat-
Emmy. Her hobbies include scrapbooking and photography. She has a photography business as well.
She is also the Secretary of the Galloping Dog Agility Club. Tiffany
enjoys AMC's clients and appreciates their willingness to do anything
for their pets.
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Technicians |
Julie - Certified Vet Technician back to top
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Julie
graduated from MSU with her Nursing degree in 1994. She practiced
as an R.N. in Seattle and on Cape Cod. Eight years later she graduated
from Bel-Rea Institute with a degree in Veterinary Technology and
began working at AMC, in November 2002. When asked what sparked her
interest in being a Vet Tech Julie kiddingly remarks that she prefers
cat litter boxes over human bed pans. She finds her nurses training
a perfect complement to her work with animal patients. She respects
and admires the dedication and unconditional love people have for
their pets. Julie shares her home with her dog, Millie. She loves spending time with her family, watching movies and
skiing.
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Laura – Vet
Technician/
Inventory
Manager
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Laura joined the Animal Medical Center in 2003
starting as an Assistant to the Doctors and
the front office staff. She is now performing
as a Technician and manages the hospital’s
inventory. She is also currently working towards
her technician certification through an accredited
distance learning program. Laura grew up
in the Midwest and earned her Bachelor of
Science degree in Psychology, with an emphasis
in Animal Behavior, at Northland College
in Ashland, Wisconsin. While in college she
was involved in wildlife rehabilitation programs
and the Wolf Research Team before starting
an internship at a small animal veterinary
clinic where she developed a passion for
animal medicine. She moved to Montana because of a love for the
region’s
natural beauty and fantastic fishing and
snowboarding. She has two adopted cats, Nermal
and Carl, and rescued an abused Siberian
husky, Madeline, along with a Shar Pei mix,
Nanook, who have become
excellent hiking companions.
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Noah – Vet Technician
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Prior
to joining AMC in May 2007, Noah worked as a Veterinary Technician
for eight years in Durango, Colorado; he was also a sled dog
guide there. In 2005, he spent several weeks capturing and
treating stranded animals in Mississippi and Louisiana in the
wake of hurricane Katrina. He is thrilled to be working here
in Bozeman with exotic animals and the occasional wildlife
client. Noah graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Graphic
Design from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. His hobbies
include biking, photography and hiking with his best friend “Ed”,
a 7-year old Border Collie.
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Vet Assistants |
Randi– Vet Assistant
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Randi began working at Animal Medical Center in April 2009. She grew up on a ranch near Deer Lodge, MT and graduated from MSU with a degree in Philosophy and History. She is currently going to college with hopes of getting into veterinary school. Most of her time is spent studying, working, interning and volunteering. In her free time she likes to garden, cook and play in the mountains around the Gallatin Valley. Randi and her husband have two cats, Fuzzybottom and Twinkletoes, and a conure named Pazoozoo.
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Michelle –Vet Assistant
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Michelle joined the team at Animal Medical Center, in mid-February, as a Veterinary Assistant. Prior to AMC she worked for several veterinary hospitals and an emergency veterinary clinic in the Chicago, Illinois area. Michelle has four cats: Stimpy, Mister, Bubba and Sassy and 2 dogs: Matilda and Natasha. She enjoys hiking with her dogs in her free time and gardening. Michelle does an excellent job of managing the care of our boarded on Sundays and is here assisting doctors during the week. |
Carmen –Vet Assistant
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Carmen joined Animal Medical Center in August of 2009. She grew up in Southern Africa where her fascination grew for animals, both wildlife and domestic, and where she hopes to return someday to work for those animals. Carmen attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point where her studies focused on Theatre Arts and Political Science. Though taking a different turn in her career towards animal care and animal behavior studies, she spends all her other moments studying and celebrating the performing and visual arts. Prior to coming to AMC she worked as a Kennel Manager at a vet hospital in Livingston. Her faithful followers at home include eight beagles (Analise, Alley McBeagle, Grey Owl, Bongo, Cherub, Griffin, Shiloh and Megaera), two cats (Jasper and Sushi Nori), four rabbits (Festus, Snoopy, Lizzie and Bocaccio), an assortment of game birds and several thousand fish".
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Lana – Front Office Assistant back to top

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Lana joined AMC’s team in August 2009, as a Front Office Assistant. She grew up on her family’s Charolais Cattle Ranch near Lindsay, in eastern Montana . She attended Dawson Community College , in Glendive, graduating with an Associates Degree in Agriculture Business. She then went on to MSU to pursue a degree in Animal Science Livestock Management. Lana has two new little kittens, Tallulah and Matilda. She spends her free time working on the family ranch, traveling, shopping and spending time with her family; especially her nieces and nephews. |
Cady – Front Office Assistant
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Cady joined AMC’s team in late May. Her previous experience included working as an Animal Caretaker at MSU Marsh Lab as well as various other customer service positions. She is currently attending MSU where she will graduate in December 2008 with a degree in Organismal Biology; her plans are to attend graduate school after that. She has always loved science and hopes to go into the medical field someday. Cady has one cat, Daisy and enjoys playing basketball in her free time. Her bright smile and love of animals makes her a great addition in our front office.
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Ronald-"Hospital Cat"
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Ronald joined the AMC staff in January
2008. He was adopted by AMC after his
family could not care for him anymore.
Ronald's duties at AMC include boosting
staff morale and looking adorable as
resident kitty. In his "free time" Ronald
enjoys: sun bathing, eating, sleeping and
indulging in catnip. Ronald has a passion
for fashion. He shows this by sporting a stylin' mohawk and a diamond studded "R"
bling necklace. He has quite the cat-titude,
especially after being published in November's Butler supply catalog. |