ABOUT: Meet Our Team: Veterinarians
Dr. Steve Radostits, DVM
Dr. Steve Radostits graduated from WCVM in 1988 and started working at Leduc Veterinary Hospital that same year. Initially he did mixed animal practice working on companion animals and farm animals. As the practice grew he focused more on farm animals….working on cows, goats, sheep, pigs and chickens. He has a special interest in dairy cattle production medicine and surgery but enjoys the challenge of individual animal medicine and surgery on any farm animal. As a practice owner and manager he is interested in providing the best possible patient care and customer service. In his time away from work he enjoys renovations of every kind, water skiing, spending time at the cabin, playing hockey, and spending time with his four boys, wife, and family dog Daisy.
Dr. Dana Somers, DVM
Dr. Dana Somers grew up on a farm east of Stettler where he enjoyed all aspects of rural life but especially the days spent processing the beef herd. He graduated from WCVM in 2000 and has been serving the Leduc area since 2001. His expertise is bovine medicine and surgery but enjoys working with all critters found on the farm. Away from work, he enjoys golfing and fishing with his son, water sports, hockey, snowboarding, and will often be found riding his Harley or attending horse shows around the province with his wife and daughter.
Dr. Graeme Boender, DVM
Dr. Boender was born in Edmonton, Alberta and raised on a dairy farm just outside Beaumont. He graduated from the University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 2015 and joined the Leduc Farm Animal team shortly after. Although he enjoys working with all species his main interest revolves around bovine medicine and surgery. He loves the challenge of each individual case and trying out the latest diagnostic techniques. As a practice owner, he seeks to provide the highest level of care with optimal customer satisfaction. If he is not busy with cattle you might run into him working on anything from horses and goats to pot bellied pigs.
Away from the clinic he enjoys playing hockey, skiing, riding his horses, traveling with his wife and boys and working on his family's farm. The same farm where he loves to try out the newest product or medical technique. Make sure to ask him about the latest veterinary app when you see him next.
Dr. Rita Baumann, DVM
Dr. Baumann grew up near Pigeon Lake on a small cow-calf operation, and worked at Leduc Farm Animal Hospital as a summer student before graduating from WCVM in 2019. She enjoys working with a variety of species including small ruminants, llamas, and alpacas, although her main interest is bovine medicine and surgery. In her spare time, she enjoys skiing, camping, racing dirt bikes, and working on her family’s farm.
Dr. Melissa Westling, DVM
Dr. Melissa Westling grew up on a small mixed farm with mainly beef cattle and cereal grains north of Clive, Alberta. Most of Melissa's childhood was spent on a horse or outside working on the farm. This is where her love of animals originated. As Melissa’s interest in agriculture grew, she began working in all parts. She has helped preserve her parent’s beef herd, has milked cows, worked as a swine meat inspector, assisted with poultry farm disease outbreaks and cereal crop research. Melissa graduated from the University of Calgary with her doctorate of veterinary medicine in 2015. During her first year of practice, she worked at co-owned veterinary practices in Peace River and Valleyview Alberta as a mixed animal practitioner. She then went on to work for Gull Lake Veterinary Services near Crestomere Alberta for 5 years, which mainly practice in dairy cow, beef cow, horse and small ruminant medicine. After this, another year was spent in mixed animal practice working out of Ponoka and Bashaw Alberta. In her free time, Melissa enjoys biking, hiking, canoeing, cross-country skiing, curling, hunting/fishing and camping. Anything outdoors that gets you moving with family and friends is definitely worth the adventure!”
Dr. Mattie Smith, DVM
Dr. Mattie Smith graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2021. Prior to joining The Farm Animal Hospital, Mattie worked in mixed animal practice and has practiced in a variety of different clinics through locum work. Mattie has enjoyed working with many cow-calf producers to develop herd health protocols and enjoys individual cases. Mattie grew up in the mountains of Jasper National Park where she fostered her love for horses working as a wrangler in the backcountry starting when she was 12 years old. She has since spent some time working with race horses and has a keen interest in equine medicine. Growing up in the mountains of Jasper, Mattie has a passion for the outdoors and loves to explore the trails with her dog Juniper and her horse Chinook. Staying true to her mixed animal roots, Mattie can also be found at The Pet Hospital where she enjoys providing good quality care to our furry companions.
Dr. Marcos G. Colazo, DVM
Dr. Marcos G. Colazo received his DVM degree from the University of La Pampa, Argentina. After 8 years in private practice and teaching at the University of La Pampa, he moved to Canada where he received a MSc (in 2001) and a PhD (in 2005) in Large Animal Reproduction from the WCVM (University of Saskatchewan). Dr. Colazo worked as a Research Scientist for Alberta Agriculture and the University of Alberta for several years before becoming an LFAH member. He is author or co-author of more than 125 peer-reviewed articles and more than 300 scientific reports. He enjoys working with cattle and in his time away from work he enjoys playing sports, spending time with family including his two grandkids, and travelling.