Medical Advisory Board
What is the Lakefield Medical Advisory Board?
The Lakefield Medical Advisory Board is a dedicated group of experienced veterinarians and certified veterinary technicians from across the Lakefield network. Formed with the goal of strengthening collaboration and communication among our clinics, this board serves as a vital resource to ensure the highest standards of veterinary care throughout our organization. Together, we are committed to building a stronger, more connected medical community—one that reflects our shared passion for excellence in veterinary medicine.
Who serves on the board?
Rhonda Lane, DVM
Dr. Rhonda Lane joined Babcock Hills Veterinary Hospital in 2009. She was born in San Antonio and grew up in Floresville, TX where she was around a menagerie of animals including dogs, cats, horses, goats, chickens, and a few cows. Her father was a canine police officer for SAPD. This background fostered a love of animals and desire to help them live their best lives. She was a member of the Mighty Tiger band and graduated with honors. She then went to Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State) and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. is Biology and minor in Biochemistry.
She worked through college as a telephone operator/supervisor and veterinary assistant. She went to Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2002. She worked as a Veterinarian in Houston until 2009 when she had her second child and her husband and her decided to move closer to family here in San Antonio. She has worked at Babcock Hills Veterinary Hospital ever since. She became the Medical Director in 2021. She has enjoyed watching the clinic grow and expand to become the premier hospital it is now. When not at work she enjoys spending time with her family including her husband, her daughter Teagan, son Colin and all their many pets including dogs, cats, backyard chickens, and a few reptiles.
Tom Zelenski, DVM
Dr. Tom Zelenski is the Medical Director at Deer Grove Veterinary Clinic in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. He has been serving on the Medical Advisory Board since 2021, mainly in the areas of Controlled Substances and Pharmaceutical Regulation compliance and more recently on the Equipment Recommendations Committee. In practice, he has interests in integrative pain management including veterinary medical acupuncture and laser therapy.
Megan Steele, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)
Dr. Steele is a board-certified veterinary neurologist practicing at Bridgetown Veterinary Emergency & Referral in Portland, OR. She wanted to be on the board to help her stay current with new advances in general practice and to help figure out ways to improve our clinical practice. She enjoys learning and trying new ways to do things.
Rebecca Talbott, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia)
Rebecca Talbott has been working in the veterinary field for 25 years and as a VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia) for 12 years. She joined the LMAB in 2021 and has served on multiple committees since. Currently, she chairs the Webinar Creation Committee and serves on the Fear Free Committee. She has a passion for teaching and training in a fun way that benefits both team members and patients. Her favorite part of participating in the LMAB is how it fosters collaboration between hospitals and regions to share the wealth of knowledge that exists in our community.
Mariah Kimball, DVM
Dr Kimball Graduated from the University of MN in 2006, and has been practicing at Mt Scott Animal Clinic, in Portland Oregon, for the past 6 years of her career. Mt Scott is working toward whole clinic Fear Free Certification, which they hope to achieve in 2026. In the last 1.5 years she has had the pleasure of also being the interim Medical Director at Town and Country Animal Hospital. She is the mother to 2 very funny little boys and loves to share all that Portland has to offer with them. She is also the lead Veterinarian for the first Street Dog Coalition team in Portland – which she helped to start, and continues to provide free wellness and preventative care, spay and neuter services to pets of those in her community that are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Dr. Kimball loves Dentistry and Surgery, as well as celebrating team members and positive team culture. Currently she is serving on the Lakefield Care Beyond Limits charitable giving fund committee and is proud to be a new member of the Lakefield Medical advisory board.
Isabella Grosso, LVT
Isabella Grosso has worked in the veterinary field for eight years, with a primary focus in emergency and specialty medicine. She joined Lakefield in the spring of 2023 and brings a strong passion for advanced technical skills, critical care anesthesia, and the management of complex ICU patients. Isabella joined the LMAB to collaborate with colleagues and help advance patient care and clinical standards across the organization.
Angela Jugan, DVM
Dr. Jugan graduated from LSU School of Veterinary Medicine in 2017. Upon graduation, Dr. Jugan worked at a mixed animal practice until she found her way to small animals only. Her professional interests include surgery, diagnostic imaging, and a Fear Free approach to patients. Her favorite things to do at work are meeting new patients/clients, emergency cases, and ultrasonography. In her spare time, she enjoys fitness, spending time with her family, and watching sports (Saints and Mississippi State!). Dr. Jugan and her husband have two dogs (Willow and Asher), two cats (Sadler and Don), and two human children. Dr. Jugan joined the Loving Care Pet Hospital family in 2020.
Sarah Peyton, LVT
Sarah has been working in the veterinary field for 20 years and as a LVT for 12 years. She has a strong clinical background and passion for anesthesia and surgical care. She believes the highest standards of veterinary medicine are achieved through collaboration, shared expertise, and open communication among clinicians and their veterinary teams. Sarah is committed to contributing thoughtfully alongside her fellow advisory board members to support quality care across the Lakefield community. Outside of veterinary medicine, she enjoys mixed media art, baking bread, caring for plants, and is rarely far from a guinea pig.His professional interests include emergency and critical care, emergency surgery, exotic animal medicine, and the mentorship of early-career veterinarians. He is passionate about fostering clinical confidence and professional development in the next generation of doctors.
Kendra Madison, LVT
Kendra is an LVT and the Med-Ops Team Lead at Emerald City Emergency Clinic in Seattle, WA. She has been with Lakefield since the summer of 2020 and in the veterinary industry for over 15 years. While she’s worked in a variety of clinical settings, her heart lies in community medicine, emergency/critical care, and evidence-based inventory management. As a lifelong learner and problem-solver, she’s thrilled to be a part of the Lakefield Medical Advisory Board. While she has proudly never foster failed, many of Kendra’s friends and colleagues have an animal that once lived in her bathroom. In her spare time, Kendra can be found adventuring with her toddler, learning to love her Bible, hiking, laughing, and writing lists.
Jaime Shriver, DVM, DABT
Dr. Jaime Shriver joins the Medical Advisory Board with 20 years of experience in the veterinary field, including 15 years practicing as a DVM. She attended the University of Minnesota for both her undergraduate and veterinary education, graduating in 2010. After graduation, she spent five years in private practice, followed by seven years with the Pet Poison Helpline, where she became board-certified in general toxicology. In 2022, she returned to full-time private practice as an associate DVM at Excelsior Animal Hospital. She is passionate about professional development and mentorship. She is excited to bring her knowledge and expertise to the medical advisory board, with the goal of helping every doctor at Lakefield practice the highest possible quality of medicine.
Josh Vigdal, CVT
Josh Vigdal is a Veterinary Technician with nearly 20 years of hands-on experience in the field. He is passionate about clinical education, training, and hospital development, and currently serves as a Regional Trainer and Chairperson of the Lakefield Medical Advisory Board’s Safety Committee. Joshua’s background includes extensive work in anesthesia, surgery, emergency preparedness, and nursing care. He has also spent time in zoo medicine, adding a unique perspective to his clinical approach. His commitment to safety, mentorship, and high-quality patient care makes him a trusted resource across the organization.
Alycen Lundberg, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)
Dr. Alycen Lundberg has been with Lakefield Veterinary Group since 2023 as a medical oncologist practicing at North Shore Veterinary Hospital in Duluth, MN. She graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012 and then completed a small animal rotating internship at Iowa State University in 2013. Her medical oncology residency was at the University of Illinois from 2013-2016. She then stayed on as faculty at the University of Illinois until returning to her hometown in 2023 where she started the Oncology Specialty Service at North Shore Veterinary Hospital.
David Lindquist, DVM
Dr. Lindquist grew up on a small beef farm in western Wisconsin. He attended the University of Chicago, graduating in 1991 with a Bachelor in Biology. Veterinary school followed immediately, graduating in 1995 from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. His first year of practice was at a mixed small and farm animal clinic. Since then, he has worked in several small animal clinics and worked for a time as a relief veterinarian in Wisconsin and Minnesota. In 2004 he completed an emergency and critical care internship at the Animal Emergency Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dr. Lindquist joined the South Metro Animal Emergency Care team in 2008 as a part-time emergency doctor. When SMAEC transitioned to 24/7 in 2022, he became a full-time emergency doctor. In April 2024, he became Medical Director at SMAEC. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, gardening, working as a volunteer driver for the VA, and being active in his local Lions Club. Dr. Lindquist joined the Medical Advisory Board in 2026.
Crystal Warming, DVM
Dr. Warming is the Medical Director at Rockford Road Animal Hospital in Plymouth, MN and Plymouth Heights Pet Hospital in New Hope, MN. Dr. Warming has served as a Medical Director for LVG since 2021 and became the Chair for the LMAB in 2024. She is passionate about cultivating a culture of open communication and collaboration and strives to make it easier for clinicians to share resources, learn from one another, and deliver exceptional care—while also finding pride, purpose, and genuine joy in being a member of this challenging, but uniquely amazing profession!
Tao Lu, DVM
Dr. Lu graduated from Peking University in Beijing, China, with a Bachelor of Science degree in animal physiology and biophysics in 1991. He then earned a Ph.D. degree in neurophysiology at the Shanghai Institute of Physiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Subsequently, he studied neuroscience in NIH-funded research labs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Oregon Health & Science University for over a decade, publishing multiple high-impact original research articles on glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses in central auditory circuits. After the birth of his second child, Dr. Lu finally made the long-contemplated career transition and started working as a veterinary assistant and applied for veterinary schools. In 2018, Dr. Lu graduated from the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University and has been practicing companion animal medicine in Portland area ever since.
Dr. Lu has a particularly strong interest in preventive medicine (including dentistry), internal medicine and soft tissue surgery. Dr. Lu also takes pride in providing attentive care to patients with chronic diseases. Dr. Lu firmly believes that partnership with pet owners is key to the success of any care plan and always tries to be a good listener and clear communicator in the exam rooms.
Dr. Lu benefited tremendously from working with wonderful mentors in his career and has been enthusiastic about mentoring veterinary students and early-career veterinarians as well. With his background in neurophysiology and neuropharmacology, Dr. Lu is also very interested in veterinary anesthesia and pain management.
When he is not working on the hospital floor, Dr. Lu enjoys learning about new therapies and diagnostics through continued education seminars and workshops. In his free time, Dr. Lu enjoys spending time with his family and their 7-year-old Pitty mix “Princess Leia†at the beach, on the trails or hanging out in the yard. His other, nerdier interests include reading anything to do with history and geography, watching classic movies, and listening to old songs.
Julia Mulvaney, DVM
Dr. Julia Mulvaney joined Kenmore Veterinary Hospital in September 2022 as Medical Director. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Portland and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Oregon State University in 2012. Since graduating, she has been practicing in the Seattle area, providing dedicated and compassionate care to her patients.
Dr. Mulvaney’s professional interests include internal medicine, senior pet care, behavior, dentistry, and pain management. She is passionate about building lasting relationships with pets and their families, helping them maintain happy, healthy lives together.
She has also completed advanced training in veterinary acupuncture through Colorado State University and incorporates this drug-free modality into her treatment plans for conditions such as cranial cruciate ligament injuries, hip dysplasia, and intervertebral disc disease.
A strong advocate for Fear Free handling techniques, Dr. Mulvaney is committed to minimizing fear, anxiety, and stress for her patients and creating a positive veterinary experience.
Outside of work, Dr. Mulvaney enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, running with her terrier mix, Boomer, and relaxing at home with her two cats, Willow and Zander. She also loves baking and experimenting in the kitchen.
Alongside our many dedicated committee chairs and members, the following individuals serve as executive liaisons, providing oversight and strategic guidance to help steer our committee initiatives.
- Mark McConnell BVMS, MRCV – Chief Medical Officer
- Darren Taul, DVM, MBA – Chief of General Practice
- Carly Lubeck, DVM – Vice President of Medicine, Western Region
- Heidi Mittelsteadt, DVM – Regional Director of Medicine, Midwest Region
- Heather Remark, DVM – Regional Director of Medicine, South Region
- Aaron Franko, DVM, MBA – Regional Director of Medicine – Arizona
- Tracie Romsland, DVM, MS, DAVCP, MS-TCVM – Medical Director Bellevue Veterinary Emergency & Specialty