Ingrid M. Straeter-Knowlen, Dr. med. vet
Dr. Straeter was born and raised in Germany where she attended the Tieraerztliche Hochschule (Veterinary School) in Hannover, Germany. She went on to an internship program in small animal medicine and surgery at Washington State University and then to a fellowship and a faculty position in cardiology at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. At the same time, Dr. Straeter started a non-traditional residency in veterinary cardiology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, completing it in 1999 (“residency trained in cardiology”). In 1997, Dr. Straeter founded Cardiac Evaluations, Inc. which now constitutes her sole work after stepping down from her position at UAB. (read Dr. Straeter’s full bio here)
Lauren Crews
Lauren Crews is the welcoming voice you’ll hear most often when you give us a call. Lauren joined our team in March of 2019. She came to us with 10 years of prior veterinary reception experience, but she also loves getting hands on with the patients! Lauren has a red Doberman named Jim. He is quite a character! Lauren and Jim enjoy competing in a few different dog sports and canine/handler obstacle courses.
Dana Freeman
We were lucky to be able to add Dana Freeman to our team in 2015. Dana has been working as a veterinary technician since 1997, and in specialty animal clinics since 2007. It is safe to say that Dana has a special gift to deal with cats to let them entirely trust her. Dana is also a graduate of applied science for sonography (vascular, abdominal, and OB). At home, Dana spends her time with her 2 children, as well as her many dogs and cats which she calls her four-legged children.
LeAnne Richardson, LVT
LeAnne is a licensed veterinary technician (LVT) since 1984. LeAnne has started to work for our animal rehabilitation and fitness veterinarian, Dr. Cindy Grant, in June 2011, and loves the difference that the therapy makes in so many pet’s lives. Therefore, LeAnne has learned more about this field and is getting her certification as a physical therapy assistant for veterinary medicine in June 2014. She feels passionately about abandoned, older, handicapped dogs and owns five herself, while also taking care of many cats and her horses. She lives on a little farm in Vincent, AL, with her husband Ron and their numerous pets. In her free time, LeAnne enjoys cooking and quilting.