Allison Gedstad, DVM

Dr. Allison Gedstad began shadowing the doctors at St Francis during her junior year of high school, and she joined the team as a Veterinary Assistant shortly after that. She continued to work at Saint Francis throughout her undergraduate studies and veterinary school. During her time in undergrad, she also worked in a Genetics lab focused on cancer research and at the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS). At the end of her clinical year of veterinary school, she completed a one month long student externship at St Francis. She graduated with her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from the University of Minnesota in May of 2022 and could not be happier to be joining St Francis as an Associate Veterinarian.

Dr. Gedstad’s professional interests include preventative care, dentistry, dermatology, and nutrition. She is a member of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) and American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). She is also Fear-Free Certified, meaning she has completed training in techniques intended to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress associated with veterinary visits for her canine and feline patients. She is looking forward to joining more professional organizations as she starts her career.

Outside of work, she spends her free time biking, hiking, reading, traveling, doing crossword puzzles, hammocking, and teaching her dog Foxy new tricks.

Why do you love being a veterinarian?
I think I can speak for many veterinarians when I say I’ve always wanted to be one-it’s definitely a calling, and there are so many reasons to love it. Personally, I love being a veterinarian because it combines many things I enjoy-working with animals, science, problem solving, and client education to name a few. There’s also always something new to learn, and it’s exciting to be in a field that’s constantly evolving for the benefit of our patients. Finally, I love seeing the relationships between owners and their pets grow over the years-and that I get to help keep that relationship happy and healthy.

Why do you love working at St. Francis Animal Hospital?
After being on the St Francis team for almost 10 years now, I can confidently say that we have an exceptional clinic culture that’s hard to find elsewhere. We are a very tightly knit team of animal lovers, and I believe the exceptional care we provide our patients and clients is a direct reflection of the care we provide for one another. It’s a privilege to work with such an excellent group of doctors, technicians, and assistants.