Elkader clinic adds new veterinarian
By Pam Reinig
Register Editor
Sarah Balik had her sights set on medical school when it occurred to her that working with four-legged patients was really what she wanted to do.
The Iowa native, who grew up on a dairy farm near Cresco, was accustomed to seeing a vet come and go. Their work in keeping the family’s dairy herds healthy intrigued her. So set her sights on veterinary medicine. She graduated from the program at Iowa State University in 2015. She has recently joined the Elkader Veterinary Clinic.
“I practiced for three years in Fredericksburg but it was a smaller practice with fewer doctors to handle nights and weekends,” she said. “The opportunity to come here has given me some free time to enjoy the other parts of my life.”
In addition to changing jobs, Dr. Balik has also changed her address. She and her boyfriend, Michael Polashek, and their two pets recently moved to Clermont.
Though she enjoys all aspects of her practice, Dr. Balik says she really enjoys surgery.
Dr. Balik is one of four vets at the clinic. Also serve and small- and large-animal needs in the area are Drs. Ryan Royer, Michelle Christianson and Megan Kleve. They have offices in Elkader and Strawberry Point.