Meet the Veterinarians & Staff of Camrose Veterinary Hospital

Dr. Jamie Whiting, DVM

Dr. Whiting graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1998. After graduation, he worked in Viking, Alberta, for four years before purchasing Camrose Veterinary Hospital in 2003. He loves the variety and challenge of mixed animal practice and enjoys educating clients.

Dr. Whiting is a proud father of two boys and loving husband to his wife Julie. He enjoys the great outdoors and is a sports fanatic (Go Oilers!).

Dr. Tawnya Copland, DVM

Dr. Copland was raised on a mixed farm north of Alix, Alberta, where she was actively involved in sports, 4H, and the family Simmental herd. She graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004 and practiced in the Westaskiwin area prior to coming to the Camrose Veterinary Hospital in 2007. She enjoys the variety mixed animal practice offers and has special interest in small animal dentistry, cow/calf medicine, and basic equine work. She enjoys driving to the countryside on farm calls and conversing with producers.

Dr. Copland and her son, Chase, live in Camrose and love to spend time helping out at the family farm. Away from the clinic when she isn't busy studying she enjoys reading, relaxing, camping, curling, and occasional golfing.

Dr. Copland has taken a real interest in small animal behaviour medicine the last few years. She has attended two intensive five-day clinical behaviour medicine courses (2011 and 2012) through the North American Veterinary Conference Institute, taught by Dr. Karen Overall, Dr. Kersti Seksel, and Dr. Martin Godbout. She is currently finishing up a very intensive 10-month distant education course through the University of Sydney, Australia - Center for Veterinary Education. This course will be taught by Dr. Kersti Seksel and will cover behaviour medicine of all species, small and large.

Once the course is completed Dr. Copland will be starting to study for her exams in June & July for membership to the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Surgeons. This is a step below being a Fellowship (Australia) or Board Certified (American College of Veterinary Specialists: Canada/USA). Unfortunately at this time, this lower specialty level is not available through the American College, so she is taking the ANZVCS instead.

Dr. Eddie Rasmussen, DVM

Dr. Rasmussen was raised on a cattle farm near Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. During his upbringing, he was active in sports such as basketball, volleyball, baseball, track and field, and football. He also enjoyed spending time working on his parents’ Angus herd, to which he credits his humble and hardworking nature.

A graduate from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon in the spring of 2013, Dr. Rasmussen enjoys the variety associated with a mixed animal setting and looks forward to interacting with producers and pet owners in the Camrose area. He has particular interests in herd health management, small animal medicine, and theriogenology (reproduction).

His hobbies include camping, hunting, fishing, and cheering for his favourite teams: the Edmonton Oilers and Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Patty Hanson, AHT

Patty grew up on acreage near Airdrie, Alberta. She attended Lakeland College and received diplomas in Animal Health Technology and Herd Health Technology. She has been with Camrose Veterinary Hospital since the summer of 2000 and enjoys all aspects of her job, especially grooming cats and dogs.

Patty has two cats, Chopper and Mokey, who keep her very entertained. She enjoys camping, fishing, reading, and cross-stitch.

Carrie Ukrainetz, AHT

Carrie was born in Birtle, Manitoba, but came to Vermilion to attend the Animal Health Technology program where she graduated in 2005. Carrie did her practicum with Camrose Veterinary Hospital and stayed on with us upon the program’s completion.

She enjoys the diversity and challenges that being an AHT brings. Her favourite aspects are large and small animal surgeries since they are always interesting.

Away from the clinic, Carrie is very active and enjoys activities such as golf, hockey, baseball, and camping.

Lindsay Kucharchuk, AHT

Lindsay grew up on a beef farm in the Cherhill area and graduated from the Animal Health Technology program in Olds in 2010. She joined the Camrose Veterinary Hospital in the fall of 2012. Lindsay enjoys volunteering with World Vets, a program that provides veterinary care in developing countries. She has been to Nicaragua twice, Statia, and the Dominican Republic and has an upcoming trip to Tanzania. When she is not traveling, Lindsay enjoys spending time with her dog, Vinchenzo, and going back home to help with the family farm.

Jessica Roth, AHT

Jessica grew up on a farm by Daysland, Alberta, and graduated from Lakeland College in 2012 with an Animal Health Technology diploma. She has always had a love for animals, big and small, and knew from an early age that she would work with them. Her animals at home on the farm consist of her dogs, Lucky and Bella, Mojo the cat, and many cows. Some of her favourite pastimes include playing sports, reading, and camping.

Brenda DeWolfe, Receptionist

Brenda has been with the Camrose Veterinary Hospital since 1998 and has witnessed many changes over the years. She loves her job as receptionist and has come to think of many of the patients as part of her family.

Brenda and her husband, Rob, enjoy golfing, camping, and arguing over which is the better football team: the Eskimos or the Riders (go Esks!).

Carolyn Krause, Receptionist

Carolyn has been a receptionist at Camrose Veterinary Hospital since 1992, making her the longest standing employee. She likes the fast pace and the variety of work. She loves interacting with the clients and their animals, which make every day interesting.

When not at work, Carolyn enjoys spending time with her husband, Carl, and their very busy little boy. Their four-legged family includes a horse (Sabre), a mule (Jenny), a dog (Winge), and the cat (Icky). Of course, the cat rules the house!

Hemi, Feline Ambassador

Hemi came to the Camrose Veterinary Hospital in 2009 after a local feline rescue group rescued him. After a clean bill of health, he took the clinic over for his own. After much discussion, he was named after Ales Hemsky (go Oilers!).

He is known for getting into bags of food (cat and dog), Dr. Whiting’s lunch bag, and for being very friendly with all animals that come into the clinic. Hemi loves to play and will often hang out on the counter and chase the ends of pens as clients sign cheques.

Hemi loves to go outside (on a tether) to catch mice and present them to the horrified receptionist or technician that goes to bring him inside.

Willy, Feline Ambassador

Willy came to live with us in the summer of 2012 after his original owners were not able to manage his injuries after being caught in a running motor. We nursed his elbow injury back to almost 100%, and he has lived with us since. He tends to be a nervous guy and stays back in the treatment area unless it is very quiet up front.

Willy has learned a lot of bad habits from Hemi and often can be found stealing all types of food or trying to tip over the food container.