Dr. Amy Haarstad grew up in Maple Grove, Minnesota. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. After undergrad, she attended veterinary school at North Carolina State University and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree in 2001. The following year, she completed a rotating internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at Purdue University. Dr. Haarstad then returned to the Twin Cities to work at a small animal practice.

While working as a primary care doctor, Dr. Haarstad grew more interested in allergies and dermatology. Additionally, she enjoyed the opportunity to develop relationships with pets and their owners, providing expertise and support in their ongoing care. As a result, Dr. Haarstad decided to combine these passions and become a veterinary dermatology and allergy specialist.

After nine years in general practice, Dr. Haarstad participated in a three-year veterinary dermatology residency at McKeever Dermatology Clinics. She was board certified by the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD) in 2014, and officially started Haarstad Veterinary Dermatology in the fall of 2017.

Outside of her veterinary work, Dr. Haarstad enjoys playing volleyball and spending time with her husband, Steve, and their three daughters. She also loves playing with her own pets, which include two dogs (Levi and Sakari), a cat (Luna), and four gerbils. One of Dr. Haarstad’s favorite activities is the annual trip she and her family take to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA).

Dr. Emily Claire Gale, a Duluth, MN native, earned her Bachelor of Science from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. She went on to receive her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the University of Minnesota in 2013, followed by a Small Animal rotating internship at Iowa State University.

After several years in general practice across Minnesota, including St. Paul and Duluth, Dr. Gale discovered her passion for dermatology and allergies. She valued the relationships she built with her patients and their families while improving animals’ comfort and quality of life.

In pursuit of specialization, she completed a one-year dermatology internship at the University of Georgia, then a three-year dermatology residency at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Hospital. In 2022, she achieved board certification with the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD) and joined Haarstad Veterinary Dermatology.

Outside of work, Dr. Gale enjoys spending time with family and friends and exploring the outdoors through hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. She also loves doting on her two small dogs, Diesel and Theodore.

Photo by Tammy Taylor Photography