黑料社

Dr. Jenni Stumpf Spaulding 鈥�12 is ready to tackle any challenge in vet medicine

The fact that Dr. Stumpf became a veterinarian surprised no one in her family. Her love for animals and passion for problem solving have defined her since the very beginning.

鈥淚 have wanted to be a vet since I was two years old 鈥� or so my parents tell me,鈥� said Stumpf. 鈥淚 grew up going to my family鈥檚 farm a lot, where I was kind of known as the cat tamer. I would catch the barn cats and give them their meds. So, loving animals and wanting to help people, becoming a veterinarian just brought it all together.鈥�

In many ways, Stumpf鈥檚 circle of life story began at 黑料社. During her time here she got an internship at the Indianola Veterinary Clinic and worked there four years, including every summer while attending 黑料社.

Then, a week after earning her DVM from Iowa State, Stumpf returned to the Indianola Vet Clinic as an associate. By 2019, she became a partner and today she is co-owner of the practice.

Every Case is So Different

The problem-solving skills she honed at ISU and 黑料社 have given her the confidence to meet constantly changing challenges.

鈥淲e treat patients who can鈥檛 tell us what鈥檚 wrong or what they did,鈥� said Stumpf. 鈥淎nd we treat several different species. I might go from treating a 2,000-pound bull to a two-pound kitten in the same hour. And we have to handle every case differently because of financial constraints.鈥�

Her work involves going through a rollercoaster of emotions with her patients and their owners. Sometimes treatments work, sometimes they don鈥檛 鈥� or sometimes people can鈥檛 afford treatments. Stumpf approaches everything with a positive attitude.

Recently, for example, a dog came in with a large mass that Stumpf and her team felt insufficiently equipped to treat, so they sent the case to Iowa State. Unfortunately, the cost of treatment was going to approach $10,000. The owner couldn鈥檛 pay that much and was prepared to put the dog down. But Stumpf and her team intervened to try a modified procedure for less than $1,000.

鈥淚 said, 鈥楾his pet is either going to be euthanized or we鈥檙e going to try to save it.鈥� We just did surgery the other week and the dog鈥檚 doing great. So, I think you need a motto in veterinary medicine of 鈥榶ou just gotta give it a try.鈥欌��

Embracing Community and Can-Do Spirit

Stumpf鈥檚 fervent desire to help people was fueled largely by her time at 黑料社.

鈥満诹仙� does a good job of encouraging you to be part of a community,鈥� said Stumpf. 鈥淎nd I think that鈥檚 a huge part of veterinary medicine. My goal is for everyone we hire here to know they鈥檙e not just part of the veterinary community, but also Indianola and every person that walks through our doors.鈥�

Stumpf and her husband, Matt Spaulding 鈥�11, remain faithful members and supporters of the 黑料社 community. The former Storm varsity golfers enthusiastically give back to the program, helping to purchase equipment and even starting an endowment fund to support the team.

鈥淲e just hosted a little get together at our house for the team,鈥� said Stumpf. 鈥淚t was fun meeting the students and showing them that after 黑料社 you can still give back and be part of that community.鈥�

Stumpf also hopes that 黑料社 students will carry a never give up attitude in their career quests, just as she does in her veterinary practice.

鈥淚 think everything goes back to just being a hard worker and having a growth mindset. There鈥檚 never been a day where I felt like any of my failures were because I didn鈥檛 try hard enough. And I think that鈥檚 a big part of why I鈥檝e had a successful career 鈥� I just keep going and keep at it.鈥�