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. Adam Steffensmeier

DVM

Dr. Adam Steffensmeier brings over six years of experience in the veterinary field, having worked in clinics that care for everything from small pets to zoo animals. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Iowa State University in 2019. He recently graduated with his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State’s College of Veterinary Medicine in May 2025.

Adam takes pride in providing high-quality medicine paired with compassionate care for all his patients. He values building strong, lasting relationships with clients as part of his commitment to excellent veterinary service.

Outside of work, Adam enjoys camping, fishing, and cheering on both the Chicago Cubs and the Iowa State Cyclones. Fun fact: he has a twin brother who is an attorney and a younger sister who was a star gymnast at the University of Iowa!

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.

Sam

Veterinary Assistant

With six years of experience in the field, Sam embarked on her professional journey at the Dubuque Regional Humane Society. A proud graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in Animal Ecology, she is driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge as a Vet Assistant, with aspirations to apply to Vet School in the near future.

Sam possesses extensive training in animal behavior and takes great pleasure in educating clients while delivering exceptional care to pets and patients alike. She is eager to expand her expertise at Grand Avenue, all while pursuing her own research interests. In her leisure time, she delights in reading, listening to music, and enjoying films.

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.

Porsha

Customer Service Representative

Porsha is new to the veterinary field and currently attends DMACC. She takes pride in delivering compassionate, high-quality care tailored to each client’s needs. She values clear communication and stays up to date on veterinary medicine to better inform and support pet owners. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, exploring new ideas and foods, and being with her loved ones. With two Blue Heelers, five cats, and two ferrets, there’s never a dull moment in her home!

Cheyanna

Customer Service Representative

Cheyanna is embarking on her journey in the veterinary field, bringing with her an impressive background in customer service honed during her time in the real estate sector. A graduate of Indianola High School, she also pursued studies in photography at DMACC. Cheyanna takes great pride in offering a warm and inviting atmosphere for both clients and their beloved pets, ensuring they receive exceptional care and attention.

Beyond her professional life, she cherishes moments spent with her large family, which includes seven sisters and seven brothers, as well as friends. Her interests include attending concerts, shopping, baking, and singing. Cheyanna is also a proud owner of two delightful feline companions.

Brian

Lead Veterinary Technician

With over 40 years of experience in the veterinary field, Brian brings a wealth of knowledge and compassion to his role as a Veterinary Technician. A graduate of Penn Foster University, Brian takes pride in building lasting relationships with clients and their beloved pets.

Brian is especially passionate about veterinary dentistry, understanding its vital role in overall pet health. Outside of work, he enjoys watching sports, fishing, and spending quality time with his family.

A fun fact about Brian: he has participated in multiple mission trips to Haiti, reflecting his dedication to helping others both at home and abroad.

Sway

Veterinary Technician

Sway has approximately five years of experience working with large animals and two years with companion/small animals. Currently, Sway is an undergraduate student at Iowa State University, majoring in Animal Science with a pre-veterinary focus. A quick learner, Sway is dedicated to providing the highest level of care to animals.

Outside of work, Sway enjoys fishing and participating in barrel racing with horses. Originally from Minnesota, Sway’s family collectively owns 13 horses and continues to expand their herd.

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.

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.