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Our Team

Meet Our Veterinary Team

Meet the veterinarians and team of Alpine Animal Clinic! We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets!

Get to Know Our Veterinary Team

We are solely dedicated to your pet’s care! We look forward to getting to know you and hope you’ll take the time to scroll down and get to know us.

Veterinarians

Dr. Jenny Janitell, DVM

Veterinarian

Becoming a veterinarian was an innate calling for Dr. Jenny Janitell. She has always appreciated the human-animal bond and the love that animals bring into our lives. She was raised on a farm north of Miles City, where she grew up working with her family on their wheat grain operation. Dr. Janitell attended Montana State University, where she graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science in the spring of 2006. She then attended Washington State University for veterinary school and earned her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in the spring of 2010.

After completing veterinary school, she and her husband spent time in Idaho and Oregon, where she practiced both mixed animal and small animal medicine. Although Idaho and Oregon will always have a piece of her heart, Montana has always been where she calls “home.” Dr. Janitell is beyond excited to be back in Montana and embarking on a new adventure with Alpine Animal Clinic.

Dr. Janitell’s professional interests include internal medicine, soft tissue surgery, and abdominal ultrasound. She is a member of the AVMA and accredited by the USDA. Dr. Janitell loves bonding with clients and building trusting relationships with her patients. She also values participating in the education process and mentoring future veterinarians.

Outside of work, Dr. Janitell enjoys spending time with her husband and fur-babies, doing CrossFit, traveling, and visiting family and friends. She is a lover of all creatures but may be partial to Dachshunds. Jersey, Thomas, and Rose are a few of her favorites. Mateo and Tuli, the Italian Spinones, also have her heart.

Dr. Janitell can be reached at drjanitell@alpineanimalclinic.com

Dr. Michelle Gabel, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Michelle Gabel grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah. She earned her undergraduate degree in Bio-Veterinary Science from Utah State University. In 2006, she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine. While in vet school, she completed her acupuncture training at CSU and is a Certified Veterinary Medical Acupuncturist or cVMA.

After vet school, Dr. Gabel worked at a small animal practice in Utah for two years. She and her husband then moved to Rochester, NY, for his radiology residency. For the next five years, Dr. Gabel worked for a feline specialty practice where she developed a strong interest and specific skill set for handling and treating cats.

Dr. Gabel and her family then worked and lived in Oregon for two years, but a strong desire to be closer to family brought them to Helena. Dr. Gabel joined Alpine Animal Clinic in 2017.

In her free time, she enjoys skiing, boating, and spending time with her husband, two children, one cat, and two horses. Her professional interests include feline medicine and behavior, and acupuncture.

Dr. Gabel can be reached at: drgabel@alpineanimalclinic.com

Dr. Merry Johnson, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Merry Johnson earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University and has been in small animal practice for eight years and one and a half years in regulatory medicine. Her professional interests include soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, ophthalmology, and dentistry. Dr. Johnson excels in emergencies and is good at problem-solving, even during stressful events. She takes pride in taking the time to explain options and procedures to pet parents so that they feel more at ease, especially when their furry family member needs an advanced procedure.

Outside of her veterinary work, Dr. Johnson enjoys being in the mountains, especially for backpacking, mountain biking, trail running, and snowboarding. A fun fact about Dr. Merry Johnson: she and her husband have visited over 300 different breweries together, including in several other countries. She has a beloved cat named Arbor, and she hopes to be welcoming a puppy into her family very soon.

Dr. Jen Majerus, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Jen Majerus was born and raised on her family’s farm and ranch in Eastern Montana. Her first adventures in veterinary medicine included attempting to use her mother’s nursing equipment to “doctor” their family cat, stuffed animals, and various farm animals. Her love of animals changed and grew as she developed a further understanding and love for the human-animal bond, science, and medicine.

Dr. Majerus attended Carroll College in Helena, where she received a bachelor’s degree in biology. She received her veterinary medical degree in 2014 from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Majerus went on to practice mixed animal veterinary medicine in Glendive, Montana, for eight years before moving back to the beautiful Helena area to be with her fiancé, Josh.

Dr. Majerus has a professional interest in preventative medicine, internal medicine, abdominal ultrasound, emergency medicine, and physical rehabilitation. She is excited to have the opportunity to further these skills here at Alpine Animal Clinic. Dr. Majerus also enjoys developing lasting relationships with her patients and their families.

Dr. Majerus, Josh, and their Labrador, Masseter, enjoy hiking, camping, traveling, working cows on the family ranch, and spending time with their chickens. Dr. Majerus is also an avid runner and loves fitness classes. She also loves to cuddle up with a good book and her five cats, Gouda, Nacho, Licorice, Noodles, and Chili, who are the undisputed rulers of their household.

Dr. Majerus can be reached at drmajerus@alpineanimalclinic.com

Dr. Kelsey Hogue, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Kelsey Hogue, DVM, grew up in Oregon, where her love of animals began early in life. Her childhood was spent caring for a variety of animals in shelters and at the stables. In the perusal of veterinary medicine, she chose to attend Montana State University, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science in 2013. She then went to Washington State University and received her doctorate of veterinary medicine in 2017.

Dr. Hogue has worked with a wide variety of animals, but her passion is with canine and feline patients. Her favorite part about veterinary medicine is helping to strengthen the bond between you and your pets, as well as preserving their quality of life. Her particular areas of interest are dentistry, preventative medicine, and critical care.

She and her husband, Sam, share a love for the mountains and outdoors, and this is what brought her back to Montana. As an outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys rock climbing, hiking, fishing, snowboarding, riding horses, and exploring with her many furry family members. She also enjoys teaching swing dancing and international travel.

Dr. Hogue can be reached at: drhogue@alpineanimalclinic.com

Dr. Maddie Ryan, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Maddie Ryan grew up in Helena, graduating from Carroll College in 2016 while also working at Alpine Animal Clinic as a Technical Assistant.

Alpine is where she met her future husband, Dr. Paul Ryan. Dr. Maddie (Parker) Ryan graduated from WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2020.

Dr. Laura Jo Holcombe, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Laura Jo Holcombe earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the Utah State University WIMU program associated with Washington State University. Her professional interests include surgery and oncology, and she prides herself on taking the time to build trusting relationships with her clients to provide the best care for their animals. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, and horseback riding around the state of Montana. Dr. Holcombe has a strong passion for working dogs and has trained her own dogs in narcotics detection, human trafficking, and obedience. She also has three beloved pets: a 6-year-old Labrador retriever, a 3-year-old husky cross, and a 6-month-old German shepherd. Originally from Hood River, Oregon, she completed her undergrad at Carroll College in Helena. With a degree in animal behavior and human connections, she found her calling in Montana and hopes to someday have horses of her own.

Dr. Ashlee Love, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Ashlee Love always knew she wanted to go into the medical field, but did not realize veterinary medicine was her calling until spending multiple summers with her older sister, who is also a veterinarian. She was able to get firsthand experience at a mixed animal practice andsee all aspects of the field. Dr. Love enjoyed that every day was different and that general practitioners really get to do it all – surgery, medicine, dentistry, ophthalmology, dermatology, etc. Dr. Love attended Montana State University and received her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science in 2015. She was the second class to enter the WIMU program, which allowed her to complete her first year of veterinary school at Montana State University. Dr. Love then went to Washington State University for her remaining three years ofveterinary school and graduated in 2019. She took every opportunity to return to Montana for her clinical rotations, as Montana has always had her heart. Dr. Love started her career at a small animal practice in Miles City, MT. She truly loves all aspects of veterinary medicine. Practicing in asmall rural community, where there are no close referral or emergency clinics, has afforded her unique experiences and made her a well-rounded veterinarian. Outside of work, Dr. Love enjoys spending timewith her husband, family, friends, and her two fur babies – Sebastian(dachshund) and Theodora (Golden Retriever). She also loves traveling, exploring Montana, reading, and functional fitness.

Dr. Stephanie Scoville, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Stephanie Scoville earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Washington State University. She also completed a certificate through the Veterinary Business Management Association, gaining valuable skills in business management and operations.

With experience in mixed animal general practice, Dr. Scoville has cared for a variety of species and now focuses on dogs and cats. She has completed Global FAST ultrasound training, enhancing her ability to perform focused diagnostic imaging to support patient care. Dr. Scoville is committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care and believes that early diagnostics plays an important role in maintaining a pet’s health and wellbeing.

Originally from Kailua, Hawaii, Dr. Scoville enjoys paddle boarding, gardening, and theater. She shares her home with her cat, Ruby, a playful companion who loves playing fetch.

Team Leads

Kammie Henry

Licensed Veterinary Technician, Hospital Manager

Kammie is a Licensed Veterinary Technician and ensures all patients receive the highest standard of care possible. She directs all technical staff training in our clinic and hospital areas, as well as directing our business operations. Kammie’s CVT degree is from PIMA Medical Institute in Dillon, MT, and she passed the National Licensing Exam in 2017. Kammie has years of upper-level managerial experience, bringing a detailed focus on excellent quality care.

Abrielle Kaker

Business Manager (CVT Pending)

Compassion, dedication, and drive has set Abrielle and our team up for success. Abrielle has a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from MSU and has many years experience working with a variety of species as well as a background in management. Her strong leadership skills and kind heart bring our team together. She is essential to the day to day operations of the hospital and ensures the best quality care for our patients and clients. Her goal is to become an LVT and she is currently enrolled in the Penn Foster Program, scheduled to graduate in 2025.

Amy Pellen

Office Manager & Customer Service Representative

Detail-oriented, organized, and kind heart makes Amy the perfect fit to be our office manager. Amy oversees many details of the business’ operations and helps set our team up for success. Amy has a background in human healthcare and has taken the leap into veterinary medicine. She was born and raised in Townsend, MT and enjoys all things outdoors such as hiking, hunting, and fishing. Her client service skills are impecable, and she always goes the extra mile for our clients and team.

Julia Tollakson

Lead Surgical Assistant

Details matter, perhaps the most in surgery. Working closely with our doctors, Julia’s experience and attention to detail ensure your family receives excellent, quality care during surgical procedures at Alpine Animal Clinic. Julia, a Helena native, has been at Alpine for several years and has an extensive background in client service as well as years in technical assisting.

Regan Mack

Kennel Manager

Regan plays a vital role in ensuring every pet in our care feels safe, comfortable, and loved from the moment they arrive. With a strong passion for animal welfare and a deep understanding of compassionate care, she leads our kennel team with dedication, patience, and heart.

Focused on cleanliness, safety, enrichment, and emotional well-being, Regan ensures that daily operations run smoothly while maintaining the highest standards of care. She is committed to creating a calm, supportive environment for both patients and staff, helping each team member grow in skill, confidence, and professionalism.

Regan is known for her reliability, leadership, and gentle approach with animals. Regan is an essential part of our mission to provide exceptional care to every pet and the people who love them.

Chelsea Veach

Pharmacy / Laboratory Lead

Chelsea earned her Bachelor’s degree from Carroll College, and her research work in dog behavior through the Anthrozoology Therapy Dog Program was published in 2020. Chelsea serves as our Pharmacy and Laboratory Lead, overseeing medication preparation, inventory management, and in-house diagnostic testing. With a strong attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy, she plays a vital role in supporting patient care and clinical efficiency.

Chelsea works closely with our doctors and technical team to ensure medications and lab results are handled safely, promptly, and according to best practices. Her dedication helps ensure every patient receives the right treatment at the right time.

Morgan Orrsion

Lead Customer Service Representative

Veterinary Assistant

Customer Service Representative

Bio coming soon.

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