When your predecessors serve their community long enough, they leave behind some pretty big shoes to fill when they retire. Drs. Marie Buschschulte-Schreier and Kristin Cuperus are committed to carrying that torch and are striving to continuing to serve Tracy and surrounding communities after taking over at the Tracy veterinarian clinic for Drs. Bill and Kathy Brockway, who retired earlier this year.
Buschschulte-Schreier, who went to St. George’s University in Grenada, West Indies, for three years before one year (2010-11) at the University of Missouri, has been working at the clinic — now known as Prairie Skies Veterinary Services — for eight years and has already become a staple of Tracy. She “held down the fort” after Kathy suffered serious heath issues which forced her into retirement.
Long before they said good-bye after 48 years of dedicated service to people and their animals, the Brockways were considered pillars of the community. They also closed their Lamberton satellite clinic in January.
“It was a lot harder when Kathy got sick,” Buschschulte-Schreier said. “There were a lot of clients that still preferred Kathy because they were used to it. It was very hard for people to not have her around to call.”
A 2017 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Cuperus, who grew up in Fulda, is a seasoned mixed-animal practitioner. She said owning a successful family business that thrived is a bit intimidating.
“You want to make sure you’re doing a good job all the time,” she said.
The pair doesn’t plan any big changes to the business, other than a new computer system. Having two owners, they said, allows them to be more available to clients, much like the Brockways were. That team aspect is not lost on the two doctors.
“We are more available because there are two of us doing large and small animals,” Buschschulte-Schreier. “Bill was kind of part-time when I was hired — Kathy did small-animal and Bill did large-animal, and I did both. I took on all of the smallanimal work when Kathy got sick. We’re trying to learn how to schedule with two full-time doctors.”
“And doing all the business and managing stuff on top of it,” Cuperus said.
Beyond the business aspect, both doctors appreciate the importance of doing a good job because of its nature — taking care of what many consider members of the family.
“To some, their pets are just as important as children,” Cuperus said.
“It’s harder (with animals) because they can’t tell you what hurts,” Buschschulte-Schreier added.
Both added that veterinary care involves a learning process that seemingly never ends.
“You constantly are learning,” Cuperus said. “A lot of times, you reach out to vet school classmates to talk over things.”
A come-and-go open house is slated for 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on May 30.
