Kelly Schmidtbauer, shown here is a new veterinarian at the Alpine Veterinarian Clinic in Omak and has been since mid-April. Photo by Charlene Helm

OMAK – Kelly Schmidtbauer is the new veterinarian at the Alpine Veterinarian Clinic.

“I graduated from Western University of Health Services in May 2009 and moved up here from Whittier, Cali.,” Schmidtbauer said. “I wanted to work at a mixed animal practice in a rural setting, so I took the job here. I love the area. It’s a great town with great people. The job is great with a great staff. So far, so good.”

She said her special interest is equine, or horses, but that she sees all animals at the clinic.

“My special interest is horses because I’ve been riding horses since I was six-years-old and I’ve always wanted to get one,” Schmidtbauer said. “I don’t own a horse yet, but I will soon.”

Schmidtbauer, although she moved here from California, is not entirely unfamiliar with the area.

“I grew up in the northwest area and I did my undergraduate education at Willamette University in Salem, Ore.,” she said. “I became interested in veterinarian work in junior high. I worked in many clinics throughout undergraduate and graduate schools. I wanted to work as a zoo veterinarian, but I found that wasn’t my calling.”