Dr. Burke

Originating as many others from downstate in Warren, Michigan, Dr. Burke attended Brother Rice. After high school he joined ROTC and graduated from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1973 with his D.V.M. It was right after graduation and before he reported for active duty he married his best friend, Susan Munson. She had lived in Traverse City most of her life and had met David while attending Michigan State University.

After a three year commitment to the Army he practiced at West Shore Veterinary Hospital, a five man veterinary hospital in New Cumberland, PA. But the beauty of northern Michigan called to him and in 1980 he moved his family to Traverse City and began his work here at the Grand Traverse Veterinary Hospital. Never without pets, he has surprised his wife and family over the years with a number of rescued animals.

He has served as president of the Northern Michigan Veterinary Medical Association in which he remains an active member. He has also served on the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Council. His involvement with Michigan State University also includes being a member of the Practitioners’ Advisory Council for the Small Animal Clinic at the College of Veterinary Medicine. His other professional memberships include the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association. He also has served on the board of the Cherryland Humane Society and teaches a course for them now.

The father of five children, he stays active in Kiwanis where he has assisted in the Kiwanis Record Eagle Ski School for a number of years. He is also active in his local parish, Marriage Encounter, Boy Scouts, and still finds time to cross country ski, ride bicycles, and exercise. And with active children, he has witnessed many sporting events.

Dr. Erlewein

Growing up in Fennville, Dr. Erlewein started his education at the parochial school. He graduated from Fennville High School and did his undergraduate work at the University of Michigan and Western Michigan University. A strong love of animals took him to Michigan State University where in 1967 he graduated with a degree in veterinary medicine.

From 1967 to 1973 he worked in a three-doctor, two-hospital, small animal practice in Wyoming, Michigan where he met his wife, Kathy. After their marriage he moved to her hometown of Traverse City in 1973. In May of 1973 he began practicing with Richard Kratochvil at the Grand Traverse Veterinary Hospital. In 1981 he relocated to the Oakwood Veterinary Hospital on the east side of Traverse City until 2002 when he returned to Grand Traverse Veterinary Hospital.

Dr. Erlewein is a talented writer and has had many scientific papers published in Feline Practice and Modern Veterinary Practice journals as well as writing an article concerning Feline Leukemia testing for Cat Fancy magazine. He is the lead author of the veterinary text “Instructions for Veterinary Clients” which was first published in 1976 and is currently in its 3rd edition.

He is a member of the Northern Michigan Veterinary Medical Association, the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association. He also belongs to the American Animal Hospital Association as a part of a Member Hospital.

He is the proud father of two wonderful boys. His three cats and a happy, loving dog are there to greet him and Kathy at the end of the day. He is an amateur radio operator and holds the highest amateur radio license, the Amateur Extra Class, and belongs to the local emergency response team. He is a Volunteer Examiner for the amateur radio licensing program. He has enjoyed music and for some time was a member of a band which played around Traverse City.

Dr. Jossens

With a strong desire to love and care for animals, Dr. Jossens easily found herself drawn to veterinary medicine. After graduating from Michigan State University in 1981 with her veterinary license, she moved to Grand Rapids where she was employed as a veterinarian at the Grand Rapids Animal Clinic and with the John Ball Park Zoo. Here also she was able to work with another interest of hers, raptors. She worked with the Raptor Rehabilitation in Grand Rapids. She also found time to work for the Blandford Nature Center.

After working downstate for a number of years she and her family moved to the beautiful Traverse City area. She has worked for at veterinary hospitals in town until she found her home at the Grand Traverse Veterinary Hospital. A skilled surgeon she enjoys many aspects of veterinary medicine, especially the variety of patients and the wonderful people that she meets every day. Because of her work with the nature centers and the zoo, she enjoys exotics as well as cats and dogs.

Family has always been important to Dr. Jossens. She has three wonderful children, two sons and a daughter, who have shared much with her over the years. A love of sports is shared by the family and Dr. Jossens coached soccer for nine years. Dr. Jossens also loves the outdoors, currently enjoying kayaking during the entire year. Yes, even in the winter months she is out kayaking. She has done cross country skiing and snow shoeing. However, during the winter months it is also enjoyable to curl up with a good book. She also finds some time for gardening but not nearly as much as she would like.

She is excited to expand her career in veterinary medicine with both Dr. Erlewein and Dr. Burke.