Mission
River Basin Equine is committed to providing ethical and professional equine care for our patients, clients, and referring veterinarians. 

History
Dr. Kirk Heisterkamp and Dr. Christine Wilkin, a husband and wife veterinarian team and native Iowans, moved back to Iowa from Texas in 1997 to share their equine veterinary experience and education with the community.

Wanting to practice a higher level of equine veterinary care than what could be provided out of a truck, the team built a hospital facility in 1999.  The objective is to provide  quality veterinary service and education for horse owners and referring veterinarians in eastern Iowa.

Staff

KIRK HEISTERKAMP, D.V.M.
I have a strong interest in surgery, lameness, ophthalmology, and wounds.

I grew up in western Iowa in the heart of the Loess hills. I knew at a young age that I wanted to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. I attended Oklahoma State University, then transferred to Iowa State University were I obtained my doctorate in veterinary medicine and met my wife. I emphasized equine medicine and surgery during my veterinary education and was fortunate to receive an equine internship at Texas A&M University. After five years in an equine practice in the Houston area, we moved back to Iowa to start our own practice.

Canoeing, kayaking, upland bird hunting with our dogs Josie & Sully, archery hunting deer & turkeys, motorcycle trips, coaching Wyatt's baseball team and reading nonfiction historical books are all away from work activities I enjoy.

CHRISTINE WILKIN, D.V.M.
The favorite aspect of my veterinary career, is the variety of cases and people that I encounter. I enjoy establishing a patient/client relationship and working with the owner to help keep there horse healthy. I also have a strong interest in medicine, including neonatal care, and nutrition. Lastly, I will be the veterinarian seen performing anesthesia during surgical procedures. 

I grew up on a farm in eastern Iowa and exhibited appaloosa horses as a young girl. My passion for horses and animals in general lead me to obtaining a degree in animal science and doctorate in veterinary medicine from Iowa State University.  Currently, my horse passion lies with a young Hanoverian mare. I am challenging myself to learn the rewarding discipline of dressage.

In my spare time I enjoy cooking for my family and friends, outdoor activities, and a good movie. Kirk and I are both kept busy with our son, Wyatt.  Wyatt can occasionally be found at the hospital and gives a great hospital tour.

TERI SCHRANDT, D.V.M.
Many aspects of equine medicine interest me, but I have a special interest in equine reproduction, dentistry and emergency medicine.  In the area of reproduction, I am especially interested in advanced reproductive techniques such as cooled transported and frozen semen, as well as embryo transfer.

I grew up in a small town in SE Minnesota, not far from the Iowa border.  My love for horses started early and, at a young age, I found a dream job on a horse ranch close to home.  For twelve years, I taught horsemanship classes, guided trailrides and managed a herd of 40 horses.  The herd health became a mission of mine and deepened my desire to become a veterinarian.  I received my Bachelor of Science, majoring in Agriculture Science (with an emphasis in pre-veterinary studies), from the University of Minnesota in 1998.  I obtained my Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the same university in 2003.  While at the U of MN, I pursued an equine track and was involved in several research projects, in the field of equine reproduction.  After graduation I spent 4 years working in a busy equine practice in Washington, before moving back to the Midwest with my husband and son in 2008.

I enjoy quilting, cooking and gardening, although many of these activities have taken a back seat to spending time with my son.  We spend as much time as we can outside sledding, playing ball and going for bike rides.