Meet Our Team

Expert Doctors. Professional Care.

Melissa Heberer

DVM Pender and Emerson Locations

I graduated from the University of Nebraska/ Iowa State University school of veterinary medicine. Since then I have always worked with both small and large patients in rural communities. I grew up in Hoskins, NE and having family nearby has been very enjoyable. Outside of work my interests are DIYing anything from home improvement to the random art project.

Josh Beutler

DVM Pender and Emerson Locations

I am a DVM and have been in practice for 3 years. I grew up outside of Bancroft, Nebraska on a farm. I realized at a young age I wanted to be a veterinarian. I have one dog, Koda who is an English Setter Mix. I have cows and calves as well. I am married to my lovely wife Alaynna and we have a beautiful 2 year old daughter Nora. When I am not working, you can find me hunting, golfing or at the basketball court. We like to travel (I have been to New Zealand) but also love Nebraska.

Joe D. Strahm

DVM Pender and Emerson Locations

Hello. I am Dr. Joe Strahm. I have practiced Veterinary Medicine in Pender, NE for over 40 years and I love what I do and the people I work with and for. I grew up on a farm in Sabetha Kansas, but now call Nebraska home. I graduated from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. My wife Susan and I have three married children and five grandchildren which we love to spend time with. When I am not at work, I love to golf, attend and support all Nebraska sports, enjoy friends and family, tackling landscape projects, traveling to Nebraska Passport stops, and fishing when I can. I have seen a lot of changes in veterinary medicine over the years and enjoy small and large animal patient care. I also enjoy mentoring new veterinarians and supporting them in their careers.

Michael Sharp

DVM Pender and Emerson Locations

Hi, I am Dr. Michael Sharp and I grew up in Grundy Center, Iowa. I went to college at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff because I thought I wanted to be a forest ranger. After a year I decided that I wanted to become a veterinarian instead of a forest ranger and enrolled at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. I graduated from ISU Vet School and practiced in northern Iowa for two and a half years. I moved to Pender, Nebraska and I have been in a mixed animal practice here for 40 years. Over the last several years I have focused on feedlot and cow/calf medicine. My wife Pat and I have three married sons and eight grandchildren. We enjoy spending time with family, following Husker sports, traveling and being involved with the Shrine.

James Albrecht

DVM Pender and Emerson Locations

Dr. James Albrecht grew up on a farm in the Emerson/Pender area in Northeast Nebraska. Following graduation from High School in Emerson in 1972 he continued his education at nearby Wayne State College graduating with a B.S. in chemistry in 1975. He graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1979. While attending the University of Minnesota he worked on a black bear research project where he met his wife Kathy. After graduation he moved back home to Nebraska and joined the Pender Veterinary Clinic where he has worked since graduation.

Dr. Albrecht and his wife Kathy have three grown children and 6 grandchildren who live in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Iowa. In his spare time he enjoys visiting his children and grandchildren, fishing, hunting and working on his farm.

Support Staff

Angela Sanderson

I am Pender Veterinary Clinic’s Vet Tech/Office manager and I have been working at Pender for 14 years. I have 17 years of experience in total.

My husband Ray and I have been married since 2001 and we have three children: Colton- 15, Nathaneal- 12 and Shaylee- 10. We also have too many pets to count!

Some of my hobbies include horseback riding, camping with friends, and whatever current sport or activity my kids are participating in. I’m also a 4-H leader for Cloverleaf Livestock.

Barb Gilster

I am a Vet Assistant at the Pender Vet Clinic Emerson office and I have been in the industry for 30 years.

My family includes my husband Alan, and my children Penny, Brent and Tiffany. I also have two pets: Chloe, a Schnauzer and Smokey, a Domestic short-haired cat.

My hobbies include fishing, boating, camping, and gardening flowers. I also enjoy tending to my grandchildren’s sports.

Lynette Sunderman

I am Pender Vet Clinic’s Veterinary Assistant. I love animals and own quite a few myself. At home, I take care of four dogs- Simon, Tucker, Candy, and Maui, eight miniature horses, 15 chickens and one guinea pig.

I am married to my husband Steve and we have two sons, Shane and Tanner. We also have three grandchildren: Jaxon, Ashlynn and Kashton and a daughter in law, Jynessa who is expecting a third baby with Tanner.

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