Dr. Christine Kunzweiler

Christine Kunzweiler, DVM

Dr. Christine Kunzweiler graduated with her DVM from the University of Missouri in 1987. She is a partner at Veterinary Associates in Tulsa. The practice has five veterinarians and 20 staff personnel. Veterinary Associates was named to Working Mother magazine's 2007 list of the "top 25 small businesses for working moms" - the first veterinary practice ever named to this elite group. She feels Veterinary Associates has found a "formula for success that enables working mothers and all veterinarians to realize their goals at home and on the job". Dr. Kunzweiler and her husband Steve live in Skiatook and have three daughters, Sandra, Jenny and Jackie. She is a member of the OVMA and AVMA and is currently the Legislative committee Chair for OVMA, she has served on the Conference committee, and the PAC committee.

She has volunteered at the Tulsa State Fair, and gives presentations to school children and Girl Scout Troops. Dr. Kunzweiler is a graduate of Leadership Tulsa, "Class 32". As a result of her membership in Leadership Tulsa, she now serves on the Tulsa Area American Diabetes Association Board. She assists each spring with the largest diabetic educational exposition in Oklahoma, coordinating the "Pet Zone" at this exposition which educates pet owners about risk factors, treatment and prevention of diabetes in their pets. Dr. Kunzweiler has been awarded the Diabetes Association Volunteer Award, nominee for the 2007 Entrepreneur Mom Award with Working Mom magazine, and been recognized for volunteer work for Washington and Nowata County Community Action Foundation and for Birthright. She devotes the majority of her free time to her children and their activities, but in her spare time she like to horseback ride and working outdoors

  Dr. Pat Edmonds

Pat Edmonds received his DVM form Oklahoma State University in 1982.  He and his wife Eva, also a veterinarian, own a mixed animal practice in Morris, OK.  In 1989, they started their practice in a garage with one employee, and have since built their practice to include a veterinary clinic complete with large animal facilities and seven employees.

    Dr. Edmonds belongs to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) and the Society for Theriogenology. He has served the OVMA as Alternate Director and Director for the Greater Tulsa District, he chaired the OVMA By-Laws committee during a major reorganization, has been a food animal section chair for continuing education session for the OVMA Convention and has volunteered each year at the Tulsa State Fair Birthing Center since it’s inception in 1998, has served on the Murray State College, Veterinary Technology Program Advisory committee and was the first in Okmulgee county to hire a registered veterinary technician. Dr. Edmonds has served on the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory Board of Advisors and has presented numerous topics at local producer meeting for many years.

    Dr. Edmonds is an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Morris. He has worked with the Okfuskee County Extension, Deep Fork Cattleman, Muskogee County Cattleman and OSU Extension to educate the community on food animal herd health, nutrition, preventative medicine, agronomics, new products, reproduction, livestock management, and many other veterinary topics.

Dr. Michael Schoonover

Michael Schoonover, DVM

Michael Schoonover received is DVM from Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Health Sciences in 2000. Following graduation, he completed a one year internship at The Ohio State University in Equine Field Services.  He then went on to complete a 3 year equine surgery residency at Oklahoma State University where he also received a Master of Sciences in Veterinary Biomedical services in 2004.  Dr. Schoonover is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in large animal surgery.  His main areas of interest include lameness diagnosis, endoscopic surgery, and urogenital surgery.

    Dr. Schoonover is an associate at Interstate Equine Services in Goldsby. He and his wive Jennifer, also a veterinarian, have a 19 month old son William Michael.

    He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Association of Equine Practitioners, American College of Veterinary Surgeons, and the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association. He has been published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research.

  Dr. Cade Coppenbarger

         Dr. Keith Flanagan

In the words of his peer:

Arriving at the 2007 OVMA Convention late in the afternoon on Thursday, I found little to do in the way of entertainment due to inclement weather and somewhat hazardous driving conditions.  Early to bed meant early to rise and I awoke with an intense hunger.  At such an early hour, my breakfast options were limited; continental in the lobby, past presidents or Christian veterinary missions.  Continental was out of the question.  A quick look at my resume showed that I was not a past anything.  I opted for the missionary group and satisfied my physical hunger with a hearty breakfast.

At this time, I was actually ready for a boring, dimly lit lecture on emesis in cats and the obligatory nodding off.  I was almost in luck due to the inclement weather.  The scheduled speaker had been cancelled.  However, a last minute substitute was available; a missionary home from Haiti for a family visit.

Shortly into the presentation by this unpretentious man of God, I realized that I had a gnawing, unsatisfied hunger that was deeply spiritual in nature.  I sat spellbound as I came to know through a power point and spoken work presentation what a genuine devotion to Jesus’ words”.....if you love , feed my sheep” really means.

What I saw in Keith Flanagan was a completely unpretentious individual with a servant attitude.  A man who, as a young veterinarian made a short-term service commitment that has lasted more than 20 years--20 years of devoted Christian service to a people of the Third World.

A single antidote concerned a beautiful, young black girl whom Keith identified as one of his and Jan’s many Godchildren.  Years earlier Keith came upon this girls’ mother as she was attempting to abandon her a the door of the mission.  Keith tried to explain that theirs was a veterinary mission, and they were unable to care for children.  Understanding, the mother said she would leave her on the street to be devoured by dogs - better she die quickly than to starve.

Keith’s life has been characterized by faith, hope, courage and more than anything else an uncompromising devotion to God.  Unmistakable, Keith heard and heeded God’s call in his life when he embarked on a remarkable journey of service to others. By god’s call and by God’s grace, Keith has brought hope to others.  He has tended to the diseased and dying animals of the people of Haiti, not so much because he enjoys being around these people, but because he knows in his heart that this is God’s plan for his life.

According to Dr. Kit Flowers, executive Director of the Christian Veterinary Mission, Keith’s work has had far reaching effects.  He and Jan have provided strategic leadership to the animal health, community development and relief programs for CVM, World Concern and Hospital Albert Schweitzer.  Keith has the respect of government officials, international NGO leadership and national community development leaders.

Dr. Flower said, “The Flanagans are remarkable people in the strong relationships they have with Haitian nationals.  So many count them as family members as they have assisted many children in their schools fees, helped so many with health needs, provided counsel and encouragement to the economic development of thousands, and provide spiritual ministry and encouragement to many thousands across the country of Haiti.  De. Flanagan has served to develop animal health worker training programs and facilitated with his teams the training of over 1,000 community based animal health workers in Haiti.”

As I write this, I have to resist the use of hyperbole in drawing the boundaries of his life. Yet, the lines are as clear as the road to the Cross.  A cardinal virtue - a measure of the magnitude of this spirit - is his ability to love, to encourage, to embowered the downtrodden and to devote his life in service to others.

Keith obviously believes in hars work, love of country, love of family and above all, love of God.  His is a veterinarian’s life and a wonderful Christian’s life worthy of emulation.

In our material world where “What’s in it for me?” often determines our actions, Keith Flannagan rises as a beacon to remind us that giving truly is better than receiving.  With the skills and education to provide very comfortably for him and his family, he has chosen to spend his earning years ministering to the needs of a hurting people reminding us of Christ’s words, “When you have done these things even unto the lease of these my children, you have done them unto me.”

As we seek to recognize the achievements of our professions, can anyone boast that he or she has done more than this man to exemplify what is good about the veterinary profession?

John N. Thomas, DVM, PhD