Dr. MacDonald was born and raised in ‘the great white north’ (Canada). He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Guelph and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Ontario Veterinary College University of Guelph. Following a one-year internship at Okotooks Animal Clinic in Alberta, he completed a residency in Large Animal Surgery and Masters of Veterinary Science at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He became a diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1997 and has been a staff surgeon at Pioneer Equine Hospital since December 2000. Dave’s focus at Pioneer is surgery and lameness. Dave and his wife, Erica, have two sons, Jacob and Mitchell, and enjoy spending time together outside.

Dr. Hallstrom grew up in her father’s small animal veterinary clinic in the East Bay Area, but she never outgrew the “horse bug”. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from UCLA in 1995, and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from UC Davis in 2000. She worked in general equine practice in the Central Valley for 12 years before joining the Pioneer team in 2012. Her professional interests include dentistry, mare and foal care, preventive and internal medicine, and endocrinology. In her spare time she can be found attempting dressage on one of her three horses, hiking, and bird-watching.

Dr. Vickerman was born and raised in Minnesota where she grew up with a variety of horses and animals on her family’s small hobby farm. She received her Bachelor of Science degree and Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree at the University of Minnesota. Ready to leave the cold snow of Minnesota, she completed her internship at Pioneer Equine Hospital in 2014 and then stayed on as an associate. She received her acupuncture certification from the Chi Institute (now Chi University) in 2017 and her AVCA chiropractic certification in 2019. Her professional interests include acupuncture, chiropractic & myofascial work, ophthalmology, dentistry, and internal medicine, though she truly enjoys all aspects of being a general practitioner. Outside of work, Dr. Vickerman enjoys gardening, hiking, backpacking, and spending time with family and friends.

Becky grew up on her family horse farm in a small town in upstate New York. She attended Mount Holyoke College for undergraduate education during which she majored in neuroscience, competed at the upper levels of dressage, and captained the hunt seat equestrian team. She took a year off after college to reach her goal of competing at Grand Prix while working as an equine veterinary technician. She continued on to vet school at Cornell University where she developed a passion for equine surgery working as an overnight surgery technician and in an equine orthopedic research lab. She then completed a rotating equine internship at Equine Medical Center of Ocala in Florida in 2018. Subsequently, she was fortunate to be selected for a surgical residency in equine surgery at Texas A&M University. Following the completion of her residency in 2021, she was lucky enough to join the surgical team at Pioneer equine where she’s excited to continue to pursue her passion for orthopedic, soft tissue, and emergency surgery, as well as lameness. In her spare time, she looks forward to exploring the outdoors of CA with her dogs, Rowan and Kayenta, settling into Oakdale with cat, Carl, and riding her young Dutch Warmblood Stallion, Nth Degree (aka Digit).

Dr. Brenner graduated from UC Davis in 1994 with a B.S. in Animal Science with an equine emphasis and earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. Upon graduation, she entered general equine practice for three years and then returned to UC Davis for a Large Animal Ultrasound Internship from 2006-2007. Her internship was followed by employment as a staff veterinarian in the Equine Ultrasound Department at Davis. In late 2007, Dr. Brenner established an equine ultrasound consultation practice offering services to Pioneer Equine Hospital. Additionally, Dr. Brenner is currently the veterinary anatomy and physiology instructor at the Modesto Junior College within the veterinary technician program. Her professional interests lie in diagnostic imaging for musculoskeletal injuries and internal medicine. Similarly, her non-professional interests lie in all things horse related, including a weak attempt at returning to 3-day eventing on any one of her rescued horses.

Dr. Brad Jackman graduated from Kansas State University in 1987 with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, he completed a one year internship and three year equine surgical residency at the University of Georgia. After his residency, he served as an instructor of surgery at both the University of Saskatchewan and Washington State University and became board certified in surgery during that time. He joined Pioneer in 1995 and became a partner in the practice in 1996. In 2007, Dr. Jackman became the sole owner and CEO of Pioneer Equine Hospital. He continues to be an active committee member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners as well as the recruitment and development of equine veterinary students.

Dr. Mielnicki moved around a lot early in life, but ultimately claims southwest Ohio as “home”. She graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology (and minors in Chemistry and Spanish). She also rode with the university’s hunt seat equestrian team. She graduated with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from The Ohio State University in 2016. In addition to accruing a few years of experience in private practice, Dr. Mielnicki completed a large animal internal medicine internship and residency at the University of Minnesota prior to arriving at Pioneer in summer of 2023. While passionate about all facets of internal medicine, she finds particular enjoyment in treating gastrointestinal and neurologic diseases, neonates (foals!) and critical cases requiring intensive care. She is also passionate about client and team member education. Outside of the hospital, Dr. Mielnicki enjoys travelling, reading and watching Buckeye football! (O-H!)

Dr. Kris grew up on Long Island, riding her horse Blue on trail and in the jumpers. She attended the University of Vermont, and graduated with a bachelor’s in Biological Sciences. Kris moved out west to work on a dude ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and then to Colorado to work as a small animal veterinary technician (and to ski). After living out west, Kris moved back east to attend Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island, Canada. She completed a one year rotating equine internship at Piedmont Equine Practice in the Plains, Virginia.  Kris has been working in the Bay Area for the past two years and is excited to join the team at Pioneer Equine Hospital! In her free time, Kris enjoys skiing, starting her young horse Cher, the ocean, and spending time with her animals.

Dr. McClure was born and raised in the Central Valley of California. She spent her childhood surrounded by agriculture and loved horses from a young age. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and where she also competed on the college’s rodeo team. After completing her undergraduate degree, she continued to pursue her dream of becoming an equine veterinarian by attending Kansas State University – School of Veterinary Medicine. She then furthered her education in equine medicine by completing an internship at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Santa Ynez, CA. Ready to move back to the Central Valley, she joined the wonderful team at Pioneer Equine Hospital as an associate veterinarian. Her professional interests include lameness, sports medicine and rehabilitation, along with holistic modalities such as acupuncture. In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, and hitting the rodeo trail with her husband, Colton.