Meet Your Dedicated Ham Lake Veterinary Team

Dr. Paul Gauer grew up by the Mississippi River in Ramsey, Minnesota, and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the University of Minnesota in 1993. He founded the Ham Lake Veterinary Hospital in 2005, and in 2014 his wife Dr. Amy Green Gauer started the Isanti Pet Clinic. When away from the office Dr. Gauer enjoys spending time with Amy, whether it’s golfing, canoeing the BWCAW, or spending time with Amy’s grown triplet sons. He also likes getting out in the woods with Rei, a Brittney Spaniel, who also comes to the office with him daily.

After over two decades of practicing veterinary medicine in South Carolina, Dr. Gerbec has returned to her roots in Minnesota. Her diverse background includes competing in the jumper divisions of horse shows, adding a unique dimension to her professional expertise.

Beyond her veterinary pursuits, Dr. Gerbec is an avid reader with a particular fondness for 19th-century novels and contemporary Young Adult fiction. Her rich blend of professional focus and personal interests makes her a compassionate and knowledgeable advocate for animal health.

In the winter, Dr. Sandel is often found cheering on her two oldest children as they play hockey, with their youngest joining in the fun. Her family includes two dogs: Charlie, a lovable bloodhound known for his charming wrinkles, and Semi, a Labrador mix who survived being hit by a semi-truck as a stray. The family also has two cats, Meeko and Sitka, and a flock of chickens.

Outside of work, Dr. Sandel enjoys crocheting, reading, fishing, and exploring the countryside. She and her husband, Brian, are currently working on building a fence for a future horse, which they hope will be a cherished addition for their family.

My name is Amber. I have been a Veterinary Technician for eight years at Ham Lake Vet; I got hired while in college and have been here since. I attended Argosy University; I graduated in 2016. Now I’m the Hospital Manager here. I have two young kids, two dogs (Butters, Gator) and a cat (Wicket), and I can’t forget my betta fish (goldy). During my free time, which with two kids a year apart, it’s hard to have, I enjoy yoga, reading, traveling, and knitting.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my husband (Zach), our two daughters (Aurora and Luna) as well as Voltron (our three legged dog), Zara (cat) and The Count aka Drac (Cat). As a family we enjoy camping, agate picking and fishing just to name a few.

Hi! I’m Kayla; I’ve been a tech since 2010. I started my career as an emergency tech and still have a passion for helping with complicated cases. I spend most of my time with my “kids” at home when not working. I have a small herd of horses, a pack of dogs, a few cats, a flock of chickens & ducks, a handful of pocket pets, and a trio of peafowl. I enjoy showing my horses when not cleaning the barn or fixing the fence.

Hello, my name is Mel. I was at Ham Lake Veterinary Hospital as a veterinary assistant. I have worked in the small animal field for the last couple years and I love it! In my free time, I like spending time with my Husband, two boys, and all of our animals. We have 2 horses, 2 goats, 6 dogs, 1 cat, and way too many chickens.

Hi there! My name is Olivia, and I work as a kennel assistant at Ham Lake Veterinary Hospital. I have always loved animals and I have two dogs, Kodiak and Nani. In my free time, I enjoy reading, playing video games and spending time with my friends and family!

Meet Alyssa, One of our receptionists! She has been with Ham Lake Veterinary Hospital since 2022 and has always had a deep passion for helping animals. Alyssa looks forward to starting Pennfoster to get her degree in veterinary technology, and is hoping to be a veterinary technician very soon! In her free time Alyssa loves spending time with her fiancé, listening to music, and spending time outside.