Featured Practice

Names: Dr. James Jessen/Dr. James W. Bollmeier (co-owners)

Years Degrees Received: 1989/2000

Years at Current Location: 13 years/9 years

Specialty/Type of Practice: Exclusively small animal; also offers boarding, grooming, and training services

What are the biggest challenges/rewards of your practice? The biggest challenge is to continue to educate our clients about diseases and treatments including the importance of detecting sub-clinical diseases.  The biggest rewards are seeing that we can increase our patients' longevity.

What are some of your favorite memories from your time as DVM students at Illinois: Being with classmates and celebrating getting through the challenges of the program.  And all the happy times we shared afterwards.

What lessons did you take away from your DVM education and how have they applied to your practice? Aside from the practical knowledge, all the lessons of life as a veterinarian, in terms of client relationships and getting your staff to be a team.

Were you involved in any students clubs or organizations? Which ones? Omega Tau Sigma (OTS), and being a class rep for Littman Stethoscopes.

Are you currently involved with the University of Illinois?  Do you have favorite funds to support?  The Companion Animal Memorial Fund and the mentor program.

Name: Stephen Juriga DVM, DAVDC

Year Degree Received: DVM/1987, Alternate Pathway Dental Resident/2002-2006

Years in Current Location: 20

Specialty/Type of Practice: AAHA-accredited, small animal practice and veterinary dental referral practice, including patients at Brookfield Zoo and Shedd Aquarium.

What are the biggest challenges and rewards of your practice?   Managing the growth of our practice. Fortunately my wife, Alexandra, received her business degree from the University of Illinois in 1991.  This has allowed me to hire great associates, focus on patient care, surgery and dentistry. Alexandra strives to ensure that our staff, the facility, and each client experience will exceed our clients’ expectations.  We both treasure the relationships we have with our clients and their pets.

What are some of your favorite memories from your time as a DVM student at Illinois?  Thinking you have arrived early (5:30-6:00 am) to perform treatments on a busy service only to have Dr. Small pass you in the hallway.The Super Bowl Shuffle skit for the talent show was also a lot of fun.

What lessons did you take away from your DVM education and how have they applied to your practice? I had great professors and clinicians throughout my fouryears of veterinary school.   Dr. Manfra was an outstanding mentor for veterinary dentistry and maxillofacial surgery.  I learned to ask open-ended questions & listen, develop relationships with my clients, and to have strong problem solving skills.

Were you involved in any student clubs or organizations? We had a great group of guys that competed in a variety of intra mural sports, ISVMA, and AAEP.  I didn’t join OTS, but attended all of their parties.

Are you currently involved with University of Illinois? Do you have a favorite fund to support?  In the past, I served on various committees, as a mentor, and CVM Alumni President. We support the Companion Animal Fund, Class of 1987 Endowment Fund and the Veterinary Dental Donation Fund.

View additional photos of Dr. Stephen Juriga in action.  1 | 2 | 3 | 4|

Name: Dr. Sally J. Foote,  Okaw Valley Vet Clinic, Tuscola, Ill.  (pictured with Ranger beside her clinic's holiday memorial tree)

Year Degree Received: 1984

Years at Current Location: 23

Specialty/Type of Practice: small animal and behavior consultation

What are the biggest challenges/rewards of your practice?
Helping pets to improve their physical and behavioral health and to strengthen the bond with their owners is the most rewarding thing about practice.

What are some of your favorite memories from your time as a DVM student at Illinois?
Studying for all those exams and making up silly rhymes to help memorize things with Beth Fox, Maria Magsino, and Vicki Bassiletti.

What lessons did you take away from your DVM education and how have they applied to your practice?
A memorable quote from internal medicine lecture – “You will miss more for not looking than not knowing” reminds me daily to be complete in all exams and work-ups for problems.

Were you involved in any student clubs or organizations?  Which ones?
Yearbook was a big one – I was editor for two years and treasurer for one. I also worked with SCAVMA.

Are you currently involved with the University of Illinois? Do you have a favorite fund to support?
I am the student advisor to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, so I have a lot of contact through presentations and events. I also donate the the wildlife ward fund