Katie grew up in Des Moines and has always felt a strong connection with animals. From a young age, she knew she wanted to work in veterinary medicine – drawn to the way animals communicate through their eyes, she felt a calling to be their voice.
She brings over 12 years of experience to UrgentVet, having worked in general practice, emergency, rescue, and specialty settings. Katie studied at DMACC in Ankeny, Iowa, and has since built a career grounded in compassionate care and strong team leadership.
One of her favorite memories is watching her dog Mia grow old beside her — a loyal companion who helped raise her children and seemed to understand them better than most humans could.
Outside of the clinic, Katie enjoys building her homestead and gaming in her downtime. She lives with her spouse, James, their three teenagers — Kaydin, Dakota, and Lillian — as well as a lively pack of animals: four dogs (Atlas, Morty, Ren, and Churro), three cats (Valkarie, Jelico, and Fozz Monster), two ferrets (Rick and Summer), and a whole flock of chickens, ducks, and a turkey.
Fun fact: Katie collects chickens in what she proudly describes as an “unhealthy way.”
Katie leads the team at UrgentVet West Des Moines where they treat non-life-threatening emergencies in cats and dogs.
