STAFF
VETERINARIANS

Robert G. Stout, DVM

Clint Kesterson, DVM

David Ylander, DVM

Calvin Tolstedt, DVM

Dr. Robert Stout
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Dr. Robert Stout, a native of South Dakota, moved to Alliance in 1971 shortly after his graduation from veterinary college at Iowa State University.  He has said, “I enjoy the variety of veterinary medicine.  Whether it is the day to day variety of working with different owners and animals, or the seasonal changes on the ranches from calving, to bull testing, to fall herd work—every day is something different.”  Dr. Stout is involved with the NVMA Centennial Scholarship Foundation and its activities to provide scholarships to veterinary students.

Dr. Clint Kesterson
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Beef cattle medicine and surgery occupy most of the working hours of Dr. Clint Kesterson. After graduation from Colorado State University in 1992, Dr. Kesterson and his wife moved to Alliance for the opportunity to be a co-owner in a mixed animal practice in the middle of cattle country.  The couple discovered they liked the area very much and appreciate the opportunity to raise a family in a rural area where they can participate in 4-H and other family activities.  Dr. Kesterson likes surgery, especially the challenges and rewards of orthopedic surgery.

Dr. David Ylander estimates that more than 90% of his activities are involved with companion and exotic animals. He has spent countless hours working with involved medical cases such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, pancreatitis and Cushing’s disease.  Dr. Ylander also likes surgery, especially stifle surgery (corrective surgery for damaged anterior cruciate ligaments) and orthopedics.  Dr. Ylander has earned a certification in Veterinary Acupuncture and regularly treats a variety of patients, large and small.  His other professional interests are serving as Nebraska Delegate to the American Veterinary Medical Association and serving on the Board of Veterinary Examiners for Licensure of veterinarians. He is a 1983 graduate of Kansas State University.

The only native Nebraskan on the staff is Alliance native, Dr. Calvin Tolstedt.  A recent (2007) graduate of Kansas State University, Dr. Tolstedt received his undergraduate degree from Hastings College.  Veterinary Medicine seemed a natural career for him after growing up on the family’s Sheridan County ranch.  Dr. Tolstedt maintains an active interest in all species at this point in his career but especially enjoys ultrasound technology in both pets and livestock and looks forward to further developing his skills in beef cattle reproduction, artificial insemination, and embryo transfer.

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The Alliance Animal Clinic is a general mixed animal practice and all four veterinarians are prepared to handle emergencies and the day to day needs of nearly all species of animals.  The group nature of the practice, however, enables each of them to develop skills to specific areas of practice—be that working primarily on a single species, or a specific surgical procedure, or medical case management.  The doctors work closely together on difficult cases so that the patient has the benefit of collaboration between the doctors and the other professional staff.

We are blessed to live in an age where specialized veterinary care is available for those individuals who wish to do everything they can for their ailing pets and horses.  We utilize those specialists with advanced degrees and refer to specialty practices in Colorado when it is in the best interests of the animals and their owners.  Such procedures as colic surgeries in horses, spinal surgeries in dog, and advanced orthopedic procedures are some of the cases we refer to trusted specialists.

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Back row, left to right: Tara Herman, Robyn Nason, Amber Cottrell, and Tami McCarville.
Front row, left to right: Machelle Sterkel, Gail Kulas, and Charlene Stephenson.

SUPPORT STAFF

The owners of Alliance Animal Clinic feel fortunate to have a caring, considerate and professional staff with which to work. 

The receptionists work hard scheduling appointments, maintaining medical and business records and helping to make your visits to the clinic go as smoothly as possible.  They each own pets of their own and recognize how much your pets mean to you.  They schedule herd work for our livestock veterinarians and make every effort to get your messages to the doctors. 

AAC currently has three Licensed Veterinary Technicians employed.  Today’s LVTs are the veterinary equivalent of a Registered Nurse, and as such are licensed by the state of Nebraska. The minimum qualifications are:  1. graduate from an accredited college of veterinary technology 2. pass the state’s licensing exam 3. maintain licensure by attending continuing education courses and maintaining the status of good moral character.  Our technicians assist the doctors with treatments and surgery, deliver and maintain anesthesia and other medications, perform dental prophylaxis, draw blood, perform laboratory tests, place intra-venous catheters, bandage wounds and take radiographs.  

The owners have established an annual scholarship through the Alliance Public Schools Foundation for the purpose of assisting graduates of Alliance High School pursue a degree in veterinary technology.  Talk to one of our staff members for details.

In addition to receptionists and LVT’s we also employ Veterinary Assistants and Veterinary Apprentices.  These individuals assist doctors and technicians with day to day care of our hospitalized patients and care for and monitor our boarding animals.  These VA’s are selected to work with us because they love the day to day contact with the animals.  They do everything from the heavy lifting to the dirty laundry and everything necessary to keep things running smoothly.  Some of our assistants have been with us for more than 10 years and especially enjoy getting to know your pets.  Apprentices are our high school age employees that are using their jobs at AAC as an opportunity to explore a career in veterinary medicine.  We have been blessed with some truly great high schoolers over the years.  They’ve been hardworking and full of enthusiasm—in return they get the opportunity to earn a wage, work for a reference, and do something that they enjoy.