Meet the Team

Dr. Ole Alcumbrac is the owner and Chief of Staff here at White Mountain Animal Hospital.  He is also the Director of Wildlife Health Services, which specializes in immobilization and capture of native and exotic species. He provides clinical and consultation services for both private and public collections of wild animals and serves as a consulting veterinarian for Departments of the Arizona Game and Fish, the White Mountain Apache Game and Fish, the New Mexico Game and Fish, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.  Dr. Ole is the lead veterinarian for the Mexican Wolf Project, the Sonoran Pronghorn Project and multiple game and nongame species studies.

Since 1994, Dr. Ole has owned and operated our friendly mixed animal and exotic practice in northern Arizona, providing treatment to any animal that comes through the door. Our practice has overseen several zoological operations, including patients from the prestigious Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, the Phoenix Zoo, and Bearizona Wildlife Park. Additionally, Dr. Ole is a recipient of the Award of Excellence from the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. Dr. Ole serves as an adjunct faculty member at Texas Tech University and is a past Instructor of Veterinary Sciences at Northland Pioneer College. He also teaches formal classes and practicals internationally on wildlife capture. When not working in the southwest, he continues providing veterinary services in other regions, such as  Argentina, Peru, and Mexico to all points in the United States. A native Arizonan, he moved here to the White Mountains for one reason; to enjoy the greatest outdoors in the state and to ski.  Also a pilot and a diver, Dr. Ole is always up for traveling and various adventures.  When Dr. Ole isn’t rescuing endangered species in the deserts and mountains, he enjoys going to his house south of the Mexican border to dive, fish, or just enjoy drinking a margarita on the beach.  He is the proud father of two awesome sons as well!

Here in the White Mountains, Dr. Ole is well-known & loved. As one of the most established veterinarians in the area, most folks have heard his name here or there. He loves seeing your pets and helping you to both understand and correct any issues they may be experiencing as much as he loves his work with our local & foreign wildlife! 

Finally, he has another unusual hobby: Television. In 2017 he hosted an Outdoor Channel original series, “Wild Ops” highlighting his wildlife work. Currently, his entire encompassing career is featured on National Geographic Wild’s, “The Wildlife of Dr. Ole”. Your doc here is the star!

Dr. Robert Evans joined our team in 2017 as a relief veterinarian for when Dr. Ole is out on his wildlife adventures. He was born and raised by an agricultural family in a small town in Iowa. He later moved to Arizona where he completed his high school education. He joined the Navy in 1964 during the Vietnam era to avoid being drafted into the Army. There, he worked in an intelligence gathering position against the Russians, Chinese, and Northern Vietnamese. 

After 10 years of service, Dr. Evans decided to return to school. He attended Iowa State University, where received an Honors degree in Animal Science, and in 1981, a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. He went into college with 3 children, and had 5 by the time of graduation. Currently, he is up to 19 grandchildren! 

Dr. Evans practiced for one year here in the White Mountains before moving to Mesa to work at an emergency clinic. He then started his own mixed animal practice in Gilbert, Arizona. He owned and operated Gilbert Animal Hospital until selling in 2013 to semi-retire and begin his work as a relief veterinarian. 

He currently lives with his lovely wife in Pinedale, AZ, where they spend time gardening, traveling, and enjoying the mountains. 

Since joining the practice, Dr. Evans has performed a multitude of surgical procedures, and is usually at the hospital 1-2 times per week seeing appointments.

Dr. Merkel is a graduate of Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. He had primarily focused on large and livestock animals during his first year out of school, and is now getting the mixed animal experience! Dr. Merkel, his wife, and their 7 children recently moved to the White Mountains and are enjoying the change in scenery. We are excited that he has decided to call White Mountain Animal Hospital home.

Dr. Halstead came on board as a relief veterinarian, and we have been so ecstatic to have her as part of the team. She is a phenomenal veterinarian and surgeon, and a Colorado State University alum. She also completed studies and certifications with Chi Institute for Veterinary Acupuncture.

She has spent her career learning numerous aspects of medicine, including spending 8 years in large animal practice, and 11 years in small animal. Her special interests are soft tissue surgery, integrative practice, and shelter medicine & surgery. Most recently, she has become involved with the Humane Society of Southern Arizona from 2012-2022, serving as medical director from 2020-2022. 

Dr. Halstead currently serves on spay/neuter mission trips with Visiting Veterinarians International to various worldwide locations, providing much-needed medical services and surgeries to animals who may otherwise go without help. Her favorite part of veterinary medicine is being able to witness the human-animal bond, and seeing how pets truly become family members. 

Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Halstead spends time with her husband of 15 years, and their two fur kids, Leeroy & Burglar. She participates in activities such as skiing, hiking, scuba diving, and Jiu Jitsu. 

Fun fact, Dr. Halstead is WAY tougher than most of us! She captained the Tucson Roller Derby’s travel team, 'The Saddletramps' & has competed throughout the country in roller derby events. She is also a member of the 3-time AZ state championship team, Tucson Roller Derby’s Copper Queens!

Jill officially returned to White Mountain Animal Hospital in 2019. She first began working for Dr. Ole as a veterinary technician in 2001, became his first wildlife technician, and has continued to work with him on various projects over the years. Her diverse experience in veterinary medicine, business development, management, and marketing has truly been instrumental in cultivating the success of our practice and for creating the exceptional culture of our organization.

We are so excited to have Lacey back as part of the White Mountain Animal Hospital team; not only as one of our skilled veterinary technicians, but also as our current hospital manager! She has been working in the veterinary field for nearly 20 years now, and is currently enrolled in San Juan College's Veterinary Technician Program to obtain her CVT. Her favorite thing about veterinary medicine is the opportunity to learn something new every day, and is grateful to have witnessed the growth of our field over the past 20 years. Her least favorite part about veterinary medicine is encountering those patients who just can't be helped, and watching her favorite patients grow old and cross the rainbow bridge.

Lacey has 2 dogs and one barn kitty at home; and loves taking her pups Mali & Quila antler hunting as often as she can. 

Outside of the office, she loves to go horseback riding, travel, and attend music festivals & concerts. 

Fun fact - she can often name any country song you play for her within the first few seconds of hearing it! Feel free to challenge her at your next visit.

Chasity started as a volunteer at White Mountain Animal Hospital in her junior year of high school and has since become our rock start veterinary assistant. She aspires to further develop her clinical knowledge and technical skillset within the profession and is working towards becoming a veterinary technician. She states, 'I hope I always have the privilege of working for Dr. Ole; I learn a lot from working with him and his team. I have a passion for working here because this office and I care about the animals we see and the quality of services that they receive'.

Katie is an Arizona native, but new to the White Mountain area. She spent most of her weekends as a child visiting the White Mountains hunting, fishing, and enjoying the beauty of this wonderful part of our state. She is excited to be up here full time. Katie joined us after completing her bachelor's degree in Animal Science at Brigham Young University where she spent most of her time meandering with the large animals both in education and in the shadow of the Grand Tetons. While she was there, she worked with over 200 head of horses and mules for an outfitter. She is excited to get to know smaller companion animals and further love them the way she does our larger species and wildlife. Ever since graduating she has been looking for a practice that would grant her the opportunity to learn all species and help their owners. Her hobbies outside of work are photography, anything outdoors, and of course anything horses. She is beyond excited to further her development in animal science/education from Dr. Ole and his amazing team.

Deborah is one of our rockstar veterinary technicians. She joined us after spending years working as a technician in Wyoming, and then again at the local Humane Society. She has 2 horses, 5 cats, and 3 dogs. When not in the office, you can typically find her on the back of a horse enjoying the beautiful White Mountain landscape!

Kirsten is our resident 'crazy cat lady' with 6 feline furbabies at home. If we have a kitty come into the office, she's always the first in line to help out! Kirsten grew up here in the White Mountains before moving to Louisiana for a few years. She joined our team shortly after returning in the fall of 2021. Kirsten spends most of her time out of the office snuggling her pets, traveling, or hanging out with family and friends.

Christina joined the team in early 2022, and has been such a wonderful addition! She brought with her over 10 years of experience in veterinary medical reception, and we are grateful for her energy and expertise. Christina and her boyfriend recently bought land in the area, and are looking to build a small self-sustaining farm. Outside of the office, you may find her hiking, camping, reading, or spending time with her 2 dogs and 2 cats. 

Dawn recently joined our team and has been a wonderful asset. Dawn had been part of the NAVY Reserves in the early 2000's, and obtained her Medical Assistant certificate shortly after. Prior to that, she was a Certified Nursing Assistant for over 10 years and caregiver to a Marine combat veteran. Dawn had always loved animals and had once dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. She has now been in the veterinary field for about 2 years, and is starting her schooling to obtain her official CVT to be a certified Veterinary Technician. Dawn a single mother of 5 girls, ranging in age from 16 to 24 years old. Dawn was born in Oklahoma, raised in California, and then finally settled in the White Mountains in 2019. Outside of the hospital, Dawn enjoys spending time with her family and pets.

Amanda originally joined the White Mountain Animal Hospital team in the summer of 2015 after getting her Biology Degree from NAU. She loves to help lead the team and make sure everyone is comfortable and efficient in their positions in both patient and client care.