Meet Our Team!

Dr. Emily Gearig

Managing DVM

Dr. Emily Gearig, DVM, CVMST, joined Grand Avenue Veterinary Hospital in July 2023, and took over as managing DVM recently. Raised on a family farm in Truro, Iowa, Dr. Emily Gearig developed a passion for animal care early on. She pursued her undergraduate studies at Northwest Missouri State University before earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011.

Following graduation, Dr. Emily embarked on her veterinary career, starting with a mixed animal practice in Topeka, Indiana, before spending the last 11 years at a small animal clinic in Archbold, Ohio. Certified in veterinary spinal manipulative therapy since 2018, she specializes in small animal internal medicine and chiropractic care.

Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Emily Gearig enjoys upland bird hunting with her two German Shorthaired Pointers and exploring nature with her family. She is thrilled to be part of the Grand Avenue Veterinary Hospital team and looks forward to building lasting relationships with clients and their beloved pets.

Dr. Christy Wauhob

DVM

Dr. Christine Wauhob has been a Veterinarian at Grand Avenue Veterinary Hospital since 2006. She grew up in Sioux City, Iowa and completed her undergraduate studies at Morningside University and University of Central Oklahoma. She graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1998. Her professional interests include oncology and internal medicine.

Dr. Wauhob wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as she can remember. She enjoys building relationships with clients, and she loves following a patient through their life story. Dr, Wauhob provides quality and compassionate healthcare that is tailored to each individual patient and client. By staying actively involved in a patient’s well-being, she is able to strengthen the bond between our clients and their furry family members. She is very grateful to have followed her childhood dream into a fulfilling career.

Dr. Wauhob and her husband, Larry, enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren. She frequently travels to Sioux City to visit extended family and friends. In her free time, she likes to go shopping and enjoys nature walks. She has two granddogs – Lucy, a rescue Shih Tzu, and Benelli, a Labrador Retriever.

Madison

Veterinary Assistant

Madison is a total superstar – she attended Iowa State University and is now pursuing her dream of becoming a veterinarian! Currently, she’s one of our incredible Veterinary Assistants at Grand Avenue Veterinary Hospital. As a Vet Assistant, she’s involved in some of the most important work in our clinic, helping to provide top-notch care for our furry patients. Madison prides herself on her hard work and dedication, and it really shows in the way she interacts with our clients and their pets. She’s always going the extra mile to make sure our patients feel comfortable and get the attention they deserve. We’re so lucky to have Madison on our team. Her enthusiasm and passion for animal welfare are truly inspiring.

Abi

Veterinary Assistant

This is Abi’s first job in the veterinary field, but she’s always had a deep passion for animals. Abi grew up dreaming of becoming a veterinarian, and that dream has only grown stronger over the years. After attending Valley High School, she went on to study at Iowa State University, where she continued to nurture her love for all things furry and four-legged.

Abi has a wonderfully infectious laugh that immediately brightens any room she enters. Her cheerful, upbeat demeanor is a constant source of positivity, as she greets everyone she meets with a wide, genuine smile. Her infectious enthusiasm and sunny disposition never fail to lift the spirits of those around her, making Abi a true beacon of joy in the lives of her friends and loved ones. When Abi’s not busy caring for our furry patients, you can find her at home with her adorable Cavachon pup. Those two are the cutest dynamic duo!

Kathy

Veterinary Assistant

Kathy, our Veterinary Assistant at Grand Avenue Veterinary Hospital, joined our team in the fall of 2009, bringing a wealth of experience covering reception, kennels, and assisting roles. Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Kathy’s love for animals traces back to her earliest memories—her first word was even ‘dog’.

After graduating in 1990 with a BS in Child, Parent, and Community Youth Services from Iowa State University, Kathy spent 8 years counseling chemically dependent adolescents and another 10 years in corporate America. However, her passion for animals led her to Grand Avenue Veterinary Hospital, where she’s dedicated to helping our clients and their pets live fulfilling lives.

Kathy’s own furry family includes two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Gilly, and Rowen, along with three rescued cats: Puck, Tazer, and Smash, a black and white kitten from our clinic. In her free time, Kathy enjoys hockey, football, and Indy car racing.

Darian

RVT

Darian, RVT joined Grand Avenue Veterinary Hospital in November 2023 as our Lead Technician. She graduated from DMACC and has been working as a registered veterinary technician for the last 7.5 years. Darian prides herself on the high attention to detail she has to provide gold-standard care. In her free time, she likes camping, kayaking, cooking, and lifting weights. She has 2 cats named Galadriel and Earendil who are named after Lord of the Rings characters.

Julie

Client Service Representative

Julie works up front as a Customer Service Representative, as well as assisting in other areas of the clinic. She is a life-long animal lover having had pets since she was a young girl. She discovered that this was her ‘retirement’ career with how much she enjoys meeting our clients, hearing their stories about their lives with their fur babies, and helping to provide the care they need.

She has spent most of her adult life in West Des Moines after roaming around the country with her family as a child. She shares her life with her granddaughter, Olivia, and four rescue dogs; Aaly, Fiona Cooper, and Onyx. She retired after 33 years with the State of Iowa and has worked at GAVH since February 2022 as a Customer Service Specialist.

She has served on the Board of Hope Animal Rescue since 2021 and enjoys fostering senior dogs for Hope along with other board responsibilities.

Lynn

Client Service Representative

Joining our team in May 2020, Lynn brings a wealth of experience in customer service and organizational communication to her role of Customer Service Representative. Graduating from UNI with a BA in Organizational Communication, she previously worked in nonprofit development fundraising and event planning in Cedar Falls and Des Moines. She enjoys forming relationships with clients and patients.

After relocating to Iowa City, Lynn spent a decade at the University of Iowa, writing biomedical research proposals and managing graduate student research programs. At home, Lynn and her husband are devoted pet parents to cats and two gentle giants: a black Great Dane named Midas and a Great Pyrenees mix named Mason.

In her free time, Lynn enjoys playing guitar, gardening, decorating, and baking. She also has had cats and dogs of all sizes through all life stages.