AAHA

6110 Creston Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50321
Phone(515) 280-3100

ISU Student Experience

Veterinarians

Iowa Veterinary Specialties employs only the finest Emergency and Specialty veterinarians. Come see how our doctors can exceed your expectations.

 

Dr. April Blong

Dr. April Blong, DVM, DACVECC, Medical Director

Dr. April Blong actually worked at IVS as a veterinary assistant for 9 years until she graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. After that, she completed a rotating internship at North Carolina State University, and emergency and critical care internship at the University of Georgia, and finally an Emergency & Critical Care Residency at Cornell University. Since 2014 she has been a Diplomate (specialist) of the American College of Emergency and Critical Care. Dr. Blong founded the Emergency & Critical Care Service at ISU and has worked with IVS as a relief emergency veterinarian for a few years. She is now moving into a part-time role as the Medical Director at IVS in addition to her duties at ISU. When not working she enjoys time with her husband and children, reading, and spending time with her own pets.

Dr. Abbey Rupiper, DVM

Dr. Abbey Rupiper, DVM, Emergency Veterinarian

Dr. Abbey Rupiper is originally from St. Louis Park, MN but moved to Iowa in 2009 to attend Drake University in Des Moines where she graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. Dr. Rupiper then went on to attend Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2019. Dr. Rupiper founded the exotics department at Iowa Veterinary Specialties and has a special interest in small mammals and reptiles. When not at work Dr. Rupiper enjoys spending time outside with her husband, three kids, and her two dogs (Wicket the Newfoundland and Sally the mixed breed, ) and 2 cats.

Dr. Kevin Pottorff, DVM

Dr. Kevin Pottorff, DVM, Emergency Veterinarian

Dr. Pottorff graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1982. He joined Iowa Veterinary Specialties as a staff veterinarian in April 2011. He practiced in Oelwein, Iowa, for four years before moving to Corning, Iowa, where he was a founding partner of Southern Hills Veterinary Services. Dr. Pottorff is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Shelby Mangus, DVM

Dr. Shelby Mangus, DVM, Emergency Veterinarian

Dr. Mangus graduated from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2016. After working in general practice, Dr. Mangus discovered a strong passion for emergency medicine. She has a special interest in internal medicine, feline medicine, and soft tissue surgery. During her free time she enjoys gardening, canoeing, and spending time with her husband, Devin, as well as their two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Ava and Meadow, and two cats Pharaoh and Iris. Dr. Mangus is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Iowa Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Association of Feline Practitioners.

Dr. Courtney Blake, DVM

Dr. Courtney Blake, DVM, Emergency Veterinarian

Dr. Courtney Blake is a 2012 graduate of Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Before joining IVS in 2020, she practiced large and small animal medicine at a mixed animal practice in Western Iowa for 7 years. Dr. Blake enjoys the variety of cases associated with emergency medicine.

Dr. Shannon McMurray, DVM

Dr. Shannon McMurray, DVM, Emergency Veterinarian

Dr. Shannon McMurray graduated from the University of Illinois in 2019. After earning her degree, Dr. McMurray began her career in mixed general practice treating a variety of species. She joined the IVS team in 2021. Dr. McMurray has a special interest in emergency medicine, particularly in cases involving toxins and trauma, which she finds both challenging and rewarding. Dr. McMurray enjoys spending time with her husband, two young children, and two Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers. When she's not at work, you'll find her outdoors gardening, caring for her chickens, or playing with her kids. She enjoys fostering a positive, welcoming environment for both pets and their families.

Dr. Heather Quinn, DVM

Dr. Heather Quinn, DVM, Emergency Veterinarian

Dr. Heather Quinn is originally from Green Bay, WI area and graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2018. She has a strong interest in abdominal ultrasound, internal medicine and wound management. When not working, she enjoys time with her two Labradors (Wally and Leidner) and anything outdoors especially traveling, hiking and water sports.

Dr. Lena Ribbey

Dr. Lena Ribbey, DVM, Emergency Veterinarian

Dr. Lena Ribbey graduated from Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in the Class of 2019. She started in general practice in the Greater Des Moines area before transitioning to Iowa Veterinary Specialties full time in July 2021. She has had an interest in exotic pets since first starting in veterinary medicine in 2012. When not working, Dr. Ribbey can be found reading, swimming, and spending relaxing moments with her dogs and cats.

Dr. Matt Lundquist

Dr. Matt Lundquist, DVM, Emergency Veterinarian

Dr. Matt Lundquist is from central Iowa. He grew up an ISU fan and attended school there graduating in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. Dr. Lundquist then went on to attend Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2018. When not at work Dr. Lundquist enjoys spending time outside with his wife Katie, who is also a veterinarian, and two kids. His hobbies include as much golf as possible and taking his dogs pheasant hunting.  Dr. Lundquist has two dogs (Kaia the chocolate lab and Rip the golden retriever) and a cat (Nala).

Dr. Kacey Korver

Dr. Kacey Korver, DVM, Emergency Veterinarian

Dr. Kacey Korver graduated from Iowa State University in 2020. She worked in general practice for four years, where she found a special passion for the challenging cases involving emergency and critical care. In 2024, she joined our team to live out this passion with each case that walks through the door. She specifically enjoys emergency surgery, but also loves the variety of cases seen in emergency medicine. She lives with her husband and two kids in Saint Charles, where they enjoy spending time on their acreage- gardening, landscaping, fishing, and caring for their animals.

Dr. Elizabeth Bartlett, DVM

Dr. Elizabeth Bartlett, DVM, Emergency Veterinarian

Dr. Jack Murray

Dr. Jack Murray, DVM, Emergency Veterinarian

Dr. Andy Law

Dr. Andy Law, BVetMed, DACVS-SA

Dr. Law received his veterinary degree from National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan. He then completed a clinical year at Colorado State University, an internship in orthopedics and neurosurgery with Dr. Noel Fitzpatrick (from television shows Bionic Vet and Supervet), and both a rotating internship and small animal surgical residency at Mississippi State University. Dr. Law became board certified in February 2017 while teaching orthopedics as faculty at Purdue University. He then spent four years in specialty private practice in Ohio before joining the Iowa State University and IVS teams. Dr. Law has an interest in all things surgical, with an emphasis on advanced orthopedic procedures and minimally-invasive procedures. When not working, he spends time with his wife, fellow ISU/IVS surgeon Dr. Allison Kenzig, and their pets Peanut, Rosie, Rajah, and Lolita.

Dr. Allison Kenzig

Dr. Allison Kenzig, DVM, DACVS-SA

Dr. Kenzig attended The Ohio State University for both her undergraduate education and veterinary school and received her DVM in 2013. She then completed a rotating internship at University of Missouri in 2014 and a small animal surgical residency at Mississippi State University in 2017. After residency, she spent four years as a private practice surgeon in Ohio. She is board-certified in small animal surgery as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Dr. Kenzig is well-versed in soft tissue, orthopedic, and neurosurgical procedures. She is particularly interested in minimally invasive procedures (laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, and arthroscopy) and is experienced in performing TPLOs for treatment of cranial cruciate ligament disease in all sizes of dogs. In her spare time, Dr. Kenzig spends time with her husband, fellow ISU/IVS surgeon Dr. Andy Law, their two dogs, cat, and chinchilla.

"All the Vet techs and receptionists were nothing but phenomenal and soooo understanding!"

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