Dr Ken Ambrose

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Dr. Ambrose is a 1991 graduate of Iowa State University. After a short time in Milwaukee, he has been at MVPH since January 1992. His special interest is surgery and managing orthopedic conditions and fractures. He has five children and two dogs, Maisy (Brittany cross, stray) and LolaKato (Border Terrier).

Dr Leah Renne

Dr. Renne grew up in Southwest Missouri, but quickly fell in love with Southern Minnesota while attending Gustavus Adolphus College. She received her DVM from the University of Minnesota, and practiced in La Crosse, Wisconsin before moving back to the Mankato area. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, trail running and hiking, and singing in a local chamber choir. She lives just outside Mankato with her husband, two sons, two cats who think they are dogs, and an assortment of chickens.

Dr Sara Schwartz

Dr. Sara Schwartz grew up on a farm near Crookston, MN. She received her B.S. from South Dakota State University in Brookings and completed her DVM at the University of Minnesota. In her free time she enjoys camping, gardening and spending time with her husband and four kids. Dr. Schwartz has two dogs (Poochie and Penny), three cats (Strawberry, Titan and Buddy) and several chickens.

Dr Kalahari Kastelic

Dr. Kastelic grew up in Namibia, Africa where she found her deep love for animals while bottle feeding orphan lambs and baby rhinos. She moved to South Dakota where she completed her undergraduate studies at South Dakota State University and then went on to veterinary school at Ross University in St Kitts. Dr. Kastelic started practicing in Montana as a mixed animal veterinarian and now lives in Mankato with her husband, three wonderful children, her dog (Cassie) and two cats (Milo and Anderson). She enjoys traveling, outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, horse riding and gardening during her free time. She also enjoys attending Irish and polka festivals. Her special veterinary interests include surgery, dentistry, and preventative care.

Dr. Arnold grew up in Grand Forks, ND. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami and her DVM from Iowa State University. She is excited to be back in the Midwest with her husband, Patrick, and two dogs, Bella and Denali. In her free time, she enjoys taking long walks outside, traveling, drinking coffee, and trying new recipes. Her professional interests include dentistry and comprehensive lifelong care for pets.

Dr Julie Berndt

Unfortunately, Dr Berndt is now 95% retired.

Originally from Davenport, IA., Dr. Berndt has been at MVPH since graduating from Iowa State University in 1987. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, travelling, and relaxing at the lake. She and her husband live on a hobby farm with her two horses, a couple of cows, her German Shorthair Oakley, and two kitties, Steve and Squash.

Nicole

Nicole graduated from North Dakota State University with a bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Technology and Zoology in 2008. She started working at Minnesota Valley Pet Hospital in 2001 as a kennel cleaner and has never left! She specializes in behavior and enjoys helping humans understand their pets and strengthening the human-animal bond. She has a husband and two kiddos.  They share their home with Peaches (the anxious dog) and Kitty Wampus (the kitten that keeps her on her toes)! When she is not at work she enjoys camping, hockey, playing outside, and hanging out with friends and family.

Leslie

Leslie grew up outside of Mankato and graduated from Argosy’s technician program in 2008. She spent several years working in small and mixed animal practices in Nebraska before returning to the area to join MVPH in 2017. She and her husband have 2 children and a dog named Violet.  She enjoys reading, baking and planning adventures for her family.

Donna

Donna started work at the MVPH in 1986, first as an attendant and then as a Certified Veterinary Technician after graduating from the University of Minnesota. Donna and her husband Jerry have 2 children Lorna and Nathan. Donna enjoys many outdoor activities including camping, horseback riding, ice fishing, bird watching, and spending time with family and friends. Donna would do anything for her German Wire Haired Pointer, Amos. Her hobby farm would also not be complete without horses Tuff, Ginger, and Jepp, and her chickens and barn cats.

Kaylee

Kaylee graduated with an associate’s degree in the Veterinary Technology program at Minnesota School of Business in Shakopee, MN in 2010. She has a dog named Lexi. She enjoys spending time outdoors with family and friends and traveling to new places and experiencing new adventures.

Rebecca is a Certified Veterinary Technician, graduating from Argosy University in 2013. Rebecca has worked at MVPH intermittently since her internship with them in 2013, taking breaks occasionally to work in specialty areas of animal poison control, animal bodywork and massage, and end of life care. Outside of MVPH, Rebecca loves spending time with her husband, children and little dog Paploo, exploring, doing projects, and being outdoors. She also enjoys sewing and crafting for friends and family.

Alexis grew up in Mountain Lake, MN. She received her Veterinary technician degree from Ridgewater College in 2018. She started at MVPH after her internship. Alexis and her fiance share their home with a sweet spoiled pitbull named Reina. In her free time she enjoys training her dog and being outside.

Sam

Samantha was born and raised in Benson, MN.  She graduated from NDSU with a degree in Veterinary Technology.  She shares her home with three ferrets; Dobby, Niffler, and Eevee, her cat Post Malone, and dog Kaia. She enjoys reading and the extreme opposites of playing video games and being in the outdoors.

Ana grew up in Arizona / California and moved to Minnesota in 2015. She attended Penn Foster College and graduated with a Veterinary Technology degree in October 2022. She and her fiance lived in Rochester from 2017 to 2022 and during her time there she worked in small animal general practice as a receptionist / vet assistant. She loved working with small animals and wanted to continue to pursue her career, and started going into school to become a veterinary technician. She then moved to the Mankato area where she started at MVPH in 2023. In her free time she likes to either cuddle with her small lap dogs Bimmer and Chewi with a book in hand, or spend time outside with her Labrador playing fetch and learning new tricks.

Born and raised in Illinois, Enrique graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and an emphasis in companion animal care.  He also completed his veterinary technician degree attending the AAHA online program.  He started his technician career working in general practice, having the opportunity to see exotic and companion animals.  He then worked at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center in Primary Care and Emergency Medicine, before joining MVPH in 2023.  Outside of work, Enrique enjoys spending time with his husband and new puppy Rhea, as well as hanging out with family and playing volleyball.

Ally graduated with an associate’s degree in the Veterinary Technician Program at Iowa Lakes Community College. She has a cat named Sprout and a rabbit named Penelope. Activities she enjoys include hunting, fishing and going skiing. Spending time with family and friends is always a go-to for Ally.

Christine graduated from the University of Minnesota – Crookston in 2017 with a Bachelor Degree in Animal Science.  Her passion is dog training, and in 2025 she started her own dog training business.  In her free time, you can find her hiking with her dogs or competing in agility with them.

Eric grew up in Minneapolis, and graduated with a BS from St. Cloud State University in 2000.  He is currently in school at Penn Foster College to become a vet tech.  He lives in Mankato with his wife Heather, two dogs (Cupcake and Ruby), cats, and usually some foster animals. In his free time he enjoys artwork, cooking, and Twins baseball.

Amy Z.

Amy has lived in the Mankato area most of her life. She graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Urban Studies and Bachelor of Science Degree in Geography. Spending time with her pets and family are very important to her. Amy truly has a love for all animals and is involved with several rescue organizations. Amy is always advocating for animal rights and for their humane treatment.

Holly

Holly came to MVPH on an internship from Minnesota School of Business in Richfield and has been with us since graduation in 1996. Originally from St. Peter, MN, she and her husband Chris have one son, Zach, one cat named Memphis, and three dogs named Wesley, Bella, and Jack.  She enjoys motorcycling with friends, relaxing at the lake with family, and walking her dogs.

Rachel

Rachel is a Certified Veterinary Technician and has been at MVPH since 2008. Outside of work she is an avid bird & odonata watcher, rock hound and goes on many outdoor adventures with her partner. She also enjoys astronomy, reading, natural history, the holidays, spending time with her sisters, hanging out with her adorable kitties, and being besties with Dr. Ambrose.

Grace

Grace graduated from the Minnesota School of Business in Lakeville.  She enjoys both the interactions with the pets AND their people who come into the hospital.  In her free time, she and Mason enjoy spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, and relaxing with her two cats, Shadow and Mini P.

Shalane

Shalane has worked for MVPH since 2017. She has one son (Keeyan), one dog (Zola), and two cats (Dream and Haley). Shalane loves to spend her free time with family and friends, travel, and spend time outdoors. She loves all animals but has a special place in her heart for turtles, monkeys, and flamingos.

Kylie is one of our receptionists here and she loves every crazy minute of it! At a young age she knew she wanted to incorporate animals in whatever she decided to do as an adult. She grew up in Chaska MN and moved to Mankato in 2016 to be with her now husband Joshua. Currently she has 3 cats; Gotham: the ‘old man’ or King Kitty of the house, Vanellope: who has CH aka wobbly cat syndrome, and Hiccup: (pictured) the baby she rescued from the vet after being abandoned. In her free time, she likes to craft, be outdoors, read, play board games and spend time with her family and pets.

Jocelyn

My name is Jocelyn, and I graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Biology focused on animal science in December 2024.  I love animals and anything/everything related to them!  I have 3 cats: Luna and Rue, who are the sweetest sisters, and Bambi who was a rescued stray.  My all time goal in life is to have my own animal rescue in the future.  I love spending my time with others and their pets, and coming home to cuddle my little fluffs.  Roll ‘Clones!