Veterinarians

Dr. Jim Winsor opened Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital in 1987. A native of St. Paul, Dr. Winsor previously practiced veterinary medicine at Cutler Animal Hospital in 1985, Foley Blvd. Animal Hospital in 1986 and the Affiliated Veterinary Emergency Service from 1986 to 1988.

An alumnus of Colorado State University, Dr. Winsor received a Bachelor's Degree in Veterinary Medicine in 1983. He went on to attend the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and was awarded his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1985. Dr. Winsor's professional interests include reproduction medicine and surgery. In February 2010 Dr. Jim Winsor was honored with the prestigious Veterinarian of the Year Award by the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association during the annual MVMA State Convention.

Dr. Winsor is active in the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA), serving previously as president, program chairman for the MVMA State Convention and as a board member. He has served as chairman of the board of the River Heights Chamber of Commerce, the Progress Plus Board of Directors and the board of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation (MVMF). His professional interests include small animal reproduction; Dr. Winsor and his wife, fellow co-owner Dr. Ann Winsor, have special fondness for the Bulldog and French Bulldog breeds and are members of several local and national breed clubs.

Dr. Winsor and his wife have two children named Stephanie and Laurel. Their family also includes three dogs, Stewart, Richard, and Owen, and three cats, L.C., Ellie, and Russel. When he's not working at the hospital, Dr. Winsor enjoys golf, skiing, and sailing.

Dr. Ann Winsor is a co-owner of Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital. Before her arrival at Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital, Dr. Winsor practiced veterinary medicine at Pomeroy Animal Hospital, Murray Animal Hospital, and Woodbury Animal Hospital.

A native of Detroit, Dr. Winsor attended the University of Minnesota and received her Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science in 1979. She continued her education at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and was awarded her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1984. Her professional interests include veterinary reproduction, pediatrics, and nutrition.

Dr. Winsor has a fondness for Bulldogs and French Bulldogs and has written two books - Healthier Frenchies and Celebrating Frenchies - about caring for the breed. Her two Frenchies, Stewart, and Richard, can frequently be found in shows and agility competitions.

Dr. Winsor is an active member of many animal-related organizations, including the Dodge Nature Center, the Veterinary Hospital Association, the Metropolitan Animal Hospital Association and the Aliveness Project. She is also a contributing writer for two internationally distributed dog breed magazines and a member of the advisory board for the magazine Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Winsor and her husband have two children named Laurel and Stephanie. Her hobbies include riding, golfing, cooking, skiing and spending time with her family.

Dr. Heidi Mittelsteadt has been practicing medicine at Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital since June 2003. A native of Burnsville, she attended St. Olaf College and received her Bachelor's Degrees in Chemistry and German in 1997. After completing her undergraduate education, she went on to attend the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and was awarded her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2003.

Dr. Mittelsteadt's professional interests include dentistry, dermatology, and behavior. She is a member of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Middlesteadt's interest in veterinary medicine began in junior high. 'Throughout junior high and high school I spent Saturdays with Dr. Camille McArdle, who was the head veterinarian at Canterbury Downs at the time,' says Dr. Mittelsteadt. 'I helped her with horsework and caring for her own personal animals. She taught me a great deal about handling animals and let me experience such things as vaccinating her own dogs for her, driving to Chicago to pick out a new puppy with her, and watching her euthanize a horse at the track after a bad fracture. All of these experiences helped inspire my passion and drive to become a veterinarian.'

When not busy with her duties at the hospital, Dr. Mittelsteadt can be found traveling, golfing, spending time with family and friends, attending theater productions and checking out new restaurants. At home, she enjoys spending her free time with her husband, Derek, their children, Griffin, Connor and Beckett, and their Labradoodle, Banjo.

Dr. Jennifer Quast is a general veterinary practitioner at Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital. Dr. Quast grew up in Lester Prairie, MN and attended Concordia College, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Veterinary Science in 1999. She went on to attend the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and was awarded her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2001.

Dr. Quast's professional interests include internal medicine and senior pet care, and she is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association.

At home, Dr. Quast has two cats, Josh and Jill, two dogs, Eli and Patsy, a horse, Buzz, a rabbit, Snowball Alex, and a hermit crab, Bella. She volunteers regularly at the People Reaching Out To People thrift store and teaches Sunday school. She enjoys dressage, reading, and hiking in her free time.

A local native of Inver Grove Heights, Dr. Brittney Brock began her career at Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital in 2007 working as a Veterinary Assistant. She received her Bachelor's Degree in biology from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2005. Upon receiving her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010, she immediately joined our team of veterinarians. Her familiarity with the staff, clients, and patients made for a perfect fit and a seamless transition from assistant to doctor.

Dr. Brock's professional interests include reproduction management, surgery, internal medicine, and dentistry. Among her hobbies are horseback riding, knitting, running, cooking, and spending quality time with friends and family. In addition to her husband Lucas, Dr. Brock also shares a home with three dogs, four cats, and a horse.

Dr. Carmen Chavez joined the team at Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital in April 2011. Dr. Chavez grew up in Denver, Colorado and attended Colorado State University, where she obtained her Bachelor's Degree in biology with a minor in anatomy/neurobiology in 2003. Her strong interest in animal health led her to the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, where she received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. Upon receiving her degree, Dr. Chavez went on to complete a one-year rotating internship at the prestigious Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Denver.

Dr. Chavez's professional interests include general wellness care, reproduction, and internal medicine. Outside of work, she enjoys running, hiking and reading. The loves of her life include Doug, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chloe the cat, and (last but not least) her husband, Joel.

Growing up in nearby Maplewood, Dr. Gretchen Spoden graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1999. There, she was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society and earned Bachelor's Degrees in both Biology and Psychology with an emphasis on animal behavior. From there, she attended the university's College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2005. Dr. Spoden began practicing medicine at Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital in May 2013. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association. Her professional interest is in wildlife medicine. Before becoming a veterinarian, Dr. Spoden interned at the Minnesota Zoo with the dolphin trainers and was co-president of her university's Zoo Club. She also previously worked as a veterinary technician for five years. When she's not caring for the pets of Inver Grove Heights, she enjoys coaching softball and swimming, watching spots on television, and outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, canoeing, and her newfound hobby of using a bow. Dr. Spoden has a daughter, Gina, who is attending college for journalism.

A native of the city, Dr. Lukas Wallerich has been working at Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital since his senior year in high school. His first dog, Chester, initially sparked his interest in caring for animals. It was under the guidance of Dr. Jen Quast and the rest of the Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital staff that he realized his passion for the profession. Dr. Wallerich completed his undergraduate studies magna cum laude in Biology at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in 2011. He continued his education at the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine, where he graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2015. Dr. Wallerich is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association. His professional interests include dentistry, ophthalmology, nutrition, and surgery. He most enjoys the challenges and unpredictability that comes with being a general practitioner, as cases can range from ear infections to broken legs. At home, Dr. Wallerich has a Pit Bull mix named Boss. In his free time, he enjoys playing broomball and baseball, home brewing, kayaking, riding his moped, and cooking.

Dr. Jordan Butler first joined Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital as a student on a preceptorship in 2013 and came on as an associate veterinarian in July of 2014. Dr. Butler grew up in Sioux City, Iowa where she worked at a small animal practice before becoming a veterinarian. 'I had a yellow Labrador diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy at nine weeks of age,' says Dr. Butler. 'He motivated me to pursue this career.'

Dr. Butler attended the University of Oklahoma, graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Zoology. She earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Oklahoma State University. Dr. Butler is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, and her professional interests include dermatology, emergency medicine, and reproductive medicine.

'Enriching people's lives through their relationship with their pets, fostering the human/animal bond and witnessing it on a daily basis, and being able to watch a pet progress throughout their life are some of the most satisfying things about being a veterinarian,' says Dr. Butler.

At home, Dr. Butler and her spouse, Chris, have two dogs: Wyatt Earp, a yellow lab and Doc Holliday, a black lab. They also have a quarter horse named Grayson. Dr. Butler enjoys horseback riding, hiking, boating, Oklahoma University football, dance, country music and traveling in her free time.