Dr. Jerry Vanek

 

Dr. Jerry Vanek

Dr. Jerry Vanek has served as a sled dog veterinarian on over 80 races in North America and Europe since 1992, including the Iditarod, Yukon Quest, John Beargrease, White Oak Classic, Amundsen, CanAm Crown, Race to the Sky, UP 200, Empire, Apostle Islands, Eagle Cap, Grand Portage Passage, Great Trail, Red River, IFSS World and Junior World Championships, and numerous Midwestern sprint snow and dryland races.  In 1993, Dr. Vanek was the veterinarian on the Mount Vaughan Antarctic Expedition and, in ‘07 and ‘09, a veterinarian on the 1925 Diphtheria Serum Run reenactment from Nenana to Nome.  A musher since his teens, he still drives dogs whenever he can.  In 2011, he returns to Norway for the World Championships and to Alaska for the Serum Run and Iditarod.  

He is an honorary life member of the North Star Sled Dog Club; a recipient of the Maeb Bayers’ Lifetime Achievement in Mushing award; and past president, life member, and charter board member of the International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association.  Dr. Vanek is a certified canine rehabilitation therapist (CCRT) and his veterinary practice is focused on sled dogs and canine sports medicine, a subject on which he speaks and writes regularly.  He also is a wilderness EMT trained in advanced wilderness life support for humans and he trains firefighters and EMTs to rescue animals in