Dr. Tim Millsap

Dr. Millsap was born and raised on a dairy farm in northeast Kansas. In 1970 he began attending Kansas State University where he focused on life sciences and pursued a degree in Agriculture. After receiving his BS he entered the college of Veterinary Medicine and graduated with honors in 1978.

 He joined the staff at Sterner's immediately after graduation and became a co-owner in 1980. He and his wife Sandy currently live in the country outside Ionia and have two cats, Bobo and Missy. He is an avid gardener and enjoys striving for a self-sufficient life style. His outside interest also include, walking, mushrooming, harvesting firewood and enjoying life outdoors.

Dr. Julie Estell

Dr. Estell graduated from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2001. Since then she has been practicing small animal medicine here in Ionia. She recently became a co-owner in 2009. She is married with 2 little girls and 2 loving dogs, Hope and Clyde. She enjoys spending time outdoors and both she and her husband, Anthony, are avid runners. She loves balancing her work and her home life.

Dr. Susie Montgomery

 Dr. Susie Montgomery graduated from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. She and her husband Dr. Tim Montgomery live in the country outside Ionia. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She has two sons, Jacob and Sammy. The Montgomery family just added another member, Jessie, a yellow lab mix. They also have Darby, a Golden Retriever mix, and 3 cats. 

Dr. Werner Wegener

Dr. Wegener is a 2004 graduate of Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine. He and his family just moved from Indiana where he was working in a small and large animal practice. Dr. Wegener and his wife, Colleen and daughter Melitta are currently living in Lowell and just joined the SVC family in August of 2010. They have three dogs, Blue, Stella and Haddie, and a cat named kitty. He enjoys spending time with his family, camping and gardening.

LARGE ANIMAL

Dr. Keith Sterner

Dr. Keith E. Sterner is a graduate of Michigan State University.  He completed his D.V.M. degree in 1969.  Dr. Sterner served in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps from 1970-1972, then entered private practice in Ionia, Michigan with his father, the late Dr. Edward F. Sterner. In 1982, Dr. Sterner collaborated with Dr. Grymer in developing the Grymer/Sterner® toggle suture method of LDA repair. 

Dr. Sterner has been active in organized veterinary medicine, serving as both officer and committee member in the AABP, NMC, AVMA, and FDA and MVMA.  He continues to actively practice dairy and production medicine, and is committed to strengthening organized medicine through his involvement in professional organizations.

Dr. Sterner is married to Lynn Sterner, and they have three children: Kimberly is a nurse-midwife in Woodland, Ca; Travis is a dentist in Dewitt, MI, and Kristin is a medical resident in Vancouver, WA.  Bailey, the family dog, and Lucky Eddie, the cat, round out the Sterner family.

Dr. Rick Kramer

Dr. Kramer is a 1981 graduate of Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He joined Sterner Veterinary Clinic in May of 1981. He and his wife, Mary, were married in 1988, and have 4 children, 2 cats and 8 fish. In his spare time he enjoys reading, sports, fishing, baking for everyone at the clinic and various outdoor projects (his honey-do list).

Dr. Krista Cook 

 Dr. Cook has been with the clinic since June of 2006. She is a transplant from Canada and graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph. She lives in Pewamo with her husband Ryan and Shepherd mix Keira. They welcomed their first son, Chase, in December of 2010.  Outside of work, Dr. Cook enjoys walking her dog, church, playing sports and hanging out with family and friends. She loves Michigan and hopes that soccer will soon become a more popular around Ionia.

Dr. Lisa Sanford  

Dr. Sanford grew up in central Minnesota spending time on her grandparent's 30 cow dairy farm. Her first memories of the farm were hearing the stanchion crack as she tried to pet the cow's faces. Those experiences influenced her decision to pursue a career in dairy medicine.

Both of Dr. Sanford’s degrees are from Iowa State University.  She received a B.S. in Animal Science in 1997, and her D.V.M. in 2001.  During her college career, she worked extensively at the ISU Dairy conducting research in calf physiology, health, and nutrition.  She also worked at the National Animal Disease Center assisting with food safety microbiology and research.

Sterner Veterinary Clinic was Dr. Sanford’s first professional job out of school.  While here, she met her husband, Peter, and was married in 2007.  Her professional interests include reproductive physiology (male and female), records analysis, calf health, and nutrition.

Dr. Kevin Jeffers

 Dr. Jeffers graduated from Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Shortly after, he joined Sterner Veterinary Clinic and is now a co-owner. He is married to his wife Anne and has two daughters and one cat named Pumpkin.  In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

Dr. Jesse Veenstra

(picture coming soon)

Dr. Veenstra is a 2011 graduate of Michigan State University and began working at Sterner Vet Clinic after graduation.  He and his wife, Kate, have a daughter Alyson who was born in February 2011.  Dr. Veenstra is originally from Toronto, Ontario, and he moved to the U.S. to attend undergraduate classes at Trinity Christian College in Illinois where he received his B.A. in biology.  The current family pets are two dogs and a horse.  Dr. Veenstra enjoys riding his horse and basically anything else that is outside: canoeing, walking, running, Frisbee golf and playing with Aly.  He is also an active member of his church and loves spending time with family.