Mandi Blackwelder, DVM, CCRP

Dr. Mandi is originally from Boulder, Colorado. She has a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology at Colorado State University. When she came up for air, she climbed many of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks and sang in the Rainbow Chorus.

In her senior year, she spent a semester as the only American student at L’Universite de Sherbrooke, in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Back in Colorado, she interned at the Denver Zoo and then started veterinary school. After earning her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1998, she moved to Wisconsin….to the classic nightmare first job. She still loves dairy medicine and lives vicariously through dairy-vet friends, but found her niche in small animal medicine in Grants Pass, Oregon for the next 14 years. In 2002 Dr. Mandi took the acupuncture certification course through Colorado State University. In 2013 she became certified in physical therapy and rehabilitation at the University of Tennessee and now runs the successful Healing Arts Animal Clinic in Beaverton, Oregon. A sweet elderly neighbor played match-maker and introduced her to a fellow rock climber, Don Alarie, who became her husband in 2002. They now have two sons, Porter and Jackson. Porter thrives in BMX and Jackson is a delight. Jackson has also brought out the advocate in his mom, as he has Fragile X syndrome, a genetic form of autism. Mandi can be found during much of her down-time (what little there is) researching, advocating, visiting our law makers and learning every tidbit of therapy that will help Jackson live a rich life.

Mandi’s life experiences and love for her work have given her a rich enjoyment of people and have bonded her to her clients and the veterinary community.

“The move to Portland and opening Healing Arts Animal Care has been a highlight of my life – to shape and mold a clinic that is ALL about comfort – for the pets, for the owners and for myself and my employees, fills me with total satisfaction. I joke that I get to spend my day in my p.j.’s (scrubs), barefoot (from the underwater treadmill), working with dogs and doing science. It doesn’t get much better than that!” 

Dr. Lyn Bedsaul, DVM, CCRP

Dr. Lyn is from Johnson City, TN and attended the University of Tennessee for undergrad and vet school, completing her DVM in 2000, where she was honored the Gentle Doctor Award.  During the school year, she showed her true TN spirit(GO VOLS!) by volunteering at the vet school caring for the research dogs in the kennels, and then moved up to ICU.  In the summers, she worked her “first career” as a lifeguard and water safety instructor around east TN and Jackson, WY.  In Jackson, she fell in love with mountain biking and her bike mechanic, Kris Bedsaul, whom she married after vet school.

Dr. Lyn’s first “real” job was a small animal practice in Redding, CA that included an orthopedic surgeon and an acupuncturist:  it was here that she became interested in the healing powers of acupuncture and the benefits of physical rehabilitation. She encouraged her second boss in Asheville, NC to add on a rehabilitation suite to the practice, and she went back to UT one last time to complete her certificate in physical therapy and rehabilitation in 2013 (same year as Dr. Mandi!). Shortly after finishing her CCRP, the Bedsauls moved to Portland for Kris to continue his bike industry career at Chris King Precision Components.

Lyn and Kris enjoy adventures with their daughters, Paige and Claire, such as skiing, mounting biking, camping, and paddle-boarding. Lance the cat allows the family to share his home with Star dog, Fishstick fish, and the occasional foster cat(which Lance does not approve).

Dr. Gieselle Calundre, DVM

Virtual Health Care Associate • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Customer Care Representative • Our Kindness Coordinator

Gieselle is coming through our phone to our clients all the way from the town of Don Carlos in the province of Bukidnon, on the island of Mindanao, in the Philippines.  She is the youngest of 3 children raised by a widowed but powerful mother, who is an accounting clerk for the Philippine government.   She attended veterinary school on Mindanao and then worked for 2 years at a small animal clinic before joining our team at Healing Arts.  She has 3 amazing little pugs, a Husky and a Lab in her household.  When she is not working, she spends her time baking, playing volleyball and badminton and watching medical documentaries.  

Amanda Long, Certified Veterinary Technician

Low Stress Handling Certified

Amanda hails from Michigan, and knew early that animals were “where it’s at” for her. She worked her way up the ranks from kennel assistant, to veterinary assistant while going to school. In 2006, she graduated with honors from Michigan State Eli Broad College of Business with a degree in finance and a certificate in Veterinary Technology. She worked in private practice and then at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University in their oncology department.

When the opportunity to start an oncology department in Oregon arose, she and an oncologist colleague jumped at the chance – she had HAD it with cold Michigan winters! She and her husband Jeff, made the long trip with one dog, 2 cats and a beta fish, including a 4 day stop-over in LaGrande waiting for the pass to open! As if starting and running and oncology clinic was not enough to do, she also completed her Masters in Health Care Administration from Marylhurst University.

After leaving oncology, she worked as a practice manager before returning to her first love, patient care. In 2015, Amanda became a mom to son, Asher, and discovered the REAL love of her life. Never one to be bored, Amanda also is an avid crafter, seamstress, devourer of books, pet mom to dogs Kallie and Penny, 1 cat and 2 beta fish, and despite her pixie size, is a force to be reckoned with on the softball field.

Tanya Bruno, Certified Veterinary Technician

Low Stress Handling Certified

Like Dr. Mandi, Tanya started her veterinary career with dairy cows. As a teenager, she lived and worked on farms in Tillamook, Oregon as a relief milker. After enjoying her first baby as a stay-at-home mom, she starting looking for her next adventure. She explored “hats” of different careers but no matter what direction she tried, veterinary technology kept calling her back. She graduated from Portland Community College as a Certified Veterinary technician in 2008. She spent four years as a general practice technician, but truly found her passion in surgery, anesthesia and post-op care. A surprise and joyous detour in 2018 was the birth of her son! Tanya works afternoons at Healing Arts so she can be at home during the day with her son and granddaughter who are the same age!

Tanya finds great pride and joy getting to know each of her patient’s unique personalities while forming a relationship of respect and trust to better care for each of their needs. She takes special note of what each animal likes and doesn’t like — types of touch. She has that calm collected demeanor that makes every patient swoon.

When Tanya isn’t working she revels in her time with her family and enjoys everything outdoors.

Kim Reger, Veterinary Assistant, Kim of All Trades

Low Stress Handling Certified

Kim is from Cape Cod, Massachusetts and graduated from the University of Maine with a BS in Marine Science. After graduation she moved back to the Cape working for the Marine Biological Laboratory.

After a couple of years, she decided she needed a new adventure, so she packed up her dog Nanook and what she could fit in her car and headed to Florida. While in Florida, she met her husband Rick and worked for the Florida Aquarium, Florida Fish and Wildlife and a mobile veterinary clinic. When an opportunity in Oregon arose, and she once again packed up her pets (4 this time) and headed out on a new adventure.

She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Veterinary Forensic Science and volunteers for the Oregon Humane Society Technical Animal Rescue Team. Kim and Rick share their home with 3 dogs (Duke, Maddie and Rusty). Her 3 cats (Tremor, Sydney, Wobbles and Hope) During their free time they enjoy taking their dogs hiking, camping, up to the mountains or to the beach.

Kyra Stoiantschewsky, Veterinary Assistant

Kyra was born and raised in Portland, then went off to a big adventure of college at Montana State University. True to her passion for information, she graduated with degrees in both criminology and fish and wildlife management, with a minor in Hispanic Studies.

In addition to her long time companion, Sugar, a chinchilla, her newest side kick Is Harley the Pit Bull. Harley is learning that people are not scary and most are actually really nice. The low stress handling approach at Healing Arts has been great for her!

In her free time she and Harley take Eve (her sister’s dog) for adventures at the beach and the mountains as well as volunteering at Oregon Humane Society. Shortly she will be starting her Masters on line!

Stacy Daigneault, Customer Service Representative

Stacy moved in Forest Grove from Central Oregon in 2019. She has a Bachelors of Science degree in Natural Resource Policy and Management from Oregon State University. In Central Oregon she worked with developmentally disabled adults, managed a mobile vet/vaccination clinic and volunteered with Special Olympics as coach and events coordinator for the area.

Stacy is married to her best friend and together they are building a cabin in Eastern Oregon, and raising two Black and Tan Coonhounds and two whites tree frogs. When not working they enjoy hiking, fishing, snowshoeing, gardening, and family.

About Healing Arts Animal Care

Healing Arts Animal Care in Beaverton, Oregon provides veterinary acupuncture, pet rehabilitation therapy, physical therapy and athletic conditioning and Animal Massage Therapy for the dogs and cats of the Portland, Oregon Metro Area including Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, and Tualatin. We strive to create a team among you, your pet, your veterinarian and ourselves to create a whole package of care for your pet including wheelchairs for dogs. Pets come through our door knowing that we’re going to have fun here and this isn’t “another trip to the vet.” Through manual therapies, acupuncture, laser, ultrasound, underwater treadmill and creating a tailored individual home exercises, we strive to bring your injured pet back to speed, keep your elderly pet as an active member of the family, return your obese pet back to a functional friend and keep your athletic pet at the peak of his performance.