The Range Animal Hospital
of
Ironwood, MI
The roots of the Range Animal Hospital go back to the summer of 1955. Dr. Gerald Reed had just graduated from veterinary school at Michigan State College and moved to Ironwood to set up a practice. In 1967 he accepted a position with the Michigan Department of Agriculture, State Veterinarian's Office as its representative in the Upper Peninsula. Dr. Dale Penegor purchased the practice and moved it to a new location at his home. Eventually, in 1969 he constructed a new clinic at his home and continued to practice there until 1983. Dr. Donald Martinson, a 1979 graduate of Michigan State University, and a native of Bessemer, purchased the practice. He has owned it since.
As the practice grew, Dr. Martinson realized the facility he had purchased was not going to remain adequate. Plans were begun for a larger hospital, one that would fulfill the needs of the practice for many years to come. A parcel of land, located between Ironwood and Bessemer, became available and was purchased. Plans continued to develop for this new facility.
In 1990 construction began on The Range Animal Hospital. It was completed in November of that year. It was a state-of-the-art facility with fully equipped Out Patient Exam Rooms, a Lab and Pharmacy, Treatment Area, Surgery Suite, Wards, Radiology, and the Upper Peninsula's first and only Large Animal Hospital including an Inpatient Stall, Treatment Area, and a Large Animal Operating Theater. Since that time much was been added to the hospital including equipment for Endoscopy, Advanced Dental Procedures, Orthopedic problems, Neurosurgery, Oxygen Therapy, and much more.
While the facility was expanding and being up graded, so were Dr. Martinson's knowledge and skills. He has spent countless hours developing his, his staff's and the hospitals ability to take on more and more advanced cases.
By 1992 the case load out grew Dr. Martinson's schedule, and Dr. Alex Janisz was added to the staff. He stayed until the following July when his heart called him back to Canada and an Agricultural Practice.
Dr. Lisa VandeBerg joined the practice in July of 1993. She came here with a desire to practice Equine Medicine and Small Animal Medicine. and was the natural addition to Dr. Martinson's interest in Surgery. Unfortunately, in July of 2000, Dr. Vandeberg could not resist the offer to return to her home town.
Dr Todd Grebner joined the practice that fall. Dr. Grebner will most often be found seeing out patient appointments and working up medical cases. He is equally confortable seeing large and small animals.
Dr. Martinson also looks forward to adding a third veterinarian. "While I love Emergency Medicine, it's taking it toll on my personal life. It also takes a lot of time from my growth as a veterinarian." A third veterinarian will also require an addition to the Hospital. Dr. Martinson also wonders, "When will it stop?"
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Revised 5-2-02