RACHEL STARR, DVM
Elk Rapids Animal Hospital
1650 N. West Bayshore Drive
Suttons Bay, MI 49682
PH: (231) 264-6700
Website: www.elkrapidsanimalhospital.com
Rachel Starr, DVM graduated from Michigan State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, in 2000. She began her work as a veterinarian as a mixed animal practitioner in rural Ohio and then as a shelter veterinarian in Columbus, OH. She moved back to Michigan in 2005 and become a small animal veterinarian in the Traverse City area. After an initial interest in surgery, she began to explore alternative therapies, learning Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation in 2010, and adding frequency specific laser therapy in 2011. She also took an introductory course in Nutrition Response Testing in 2011. After starting to incorporate it into veterinary practice, she decided to pursue Advanced Clinic Training and graduated from that program in 2018. She is currently practicing in two small animal clinics in Northern Michigan where she specializes in non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical holistic therapies.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
I believe that health is not just the absence of disease but optimal physical, mental, and social well-being. I would like to be a part of changing the way that we look at health care in our country. I believe in promoting preventative care through nutrition and healthy lifestyle. When disease does occur, I would like to mentor others in the use of non-pharmaceutical and non-invasive therapies
EXPERIENCE
ASSOCIATE VETERINARIAN, MAPLE RUN VETERINARY CLINIC, MT. GILEAD, OH — 2000-2002
I practiced as a mixed animal practitioner in a three veterinarian hospital, taking call for large and small animal emergencies. I provided herd health for several beef and dairy cattle herds, provided reproductive services for a Standardbred horse farm, worked with small ruminants in an Amish community, and practiced small animal general medicine and surgery.
STAFF VETERINARIAN, CAPITAL AREA HUMANE SOCIETY, HILLIARD, OH - 2003-2005
I practiced shelter medicine, focusing on prevention of contagious disease within the shelter and spay/neuter surgery (cat/dog/rabbit), as well as any other surgeries needed by the shelter animals. I taught cat spays and neuters to veterinary students from The Ohio State University - College of Veterinary Medicine, which I truly enjoyed.
ASSOCIATE VETERINARIAN, SUTTONS BAY ANIMAL HOSPITAL, SUTTONS BAY,MI - 2005-PRESENT
I practiced general medicine and surgery, but was able to pursue my own interests which evolved over time. From 2005-2010, I was primarily a surgeon. In 2010, I became interested in alternative therapies and trained in Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation. In 2011, I added Cold Laser Therapy and started to integrate nutrition. By 2015, I was fully a holistic veterinarian, seeing mostly nutrition appointments and adding in non- invasive, non-pharmaceutical therapies as needed.
ASSOCIATE VETERINARIAN, ELK RAPIDS ANIMAL HOSPITAL, ELK RAPIDS, MI - 2010- PRESENT
In 2010, the owner of Suttons Bay Animal Hospital opened a satellite clinic in Elk Rapids and asked me if I would work there one day a week to offer a holistic approach in that clinic, too.
5555 MARQUETTE DR, TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49685 (231) 499-7610 RACHELSTARR@CHARTER.NET
EDUCATION
Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI - BS - Biology, 1996
Michigan State University - College of Veterinary Medicine, East Lansing, MI - DVM, 2000
SKILLS
- Great Communication Skills/Training in Communication
- Enjoy Teaching/Mentoring
- Specialized in Frequency Specific Laser Therapy
- Specialized in Veterinary Nutrition
- Nutrition Response Testing Advanced Clinical Training Graduate (2018)
- Applied Kinesiology/“Muscle Testing”
- Extensive Surgical Experience
- Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation
- Passionate about Non-invasive/Non-pharmaceutical Therapies
PERSONAL
I enjoy hiking, traveling, gardening, and horse-back riding. I share my house with a husband ( Jay), three sons, (Abe, Jonah, and Ari), two dogs (Esca, Puck), and a ferret (Stix). I own a 23 year old Morgan horse (Mickey), who lives on my sister’s USDA certified hobby farm, where I help at times. I maintain a colony of meat rabbits.
