Grand Coulee Veterinary Clinic has added a new veterinarian.

Dr. Stefani Mark is now seeing animal patients at the clinic.

She joins Dr. Marlene Poe, who has practiced there since 2010.

The new vet is from Nebraska, where she got a bachelor of science degree in animal science, before attending Iowa State University to earn her doctorate in veterinary medicine.

Mark was raised in Exeter, Nebraska, where she grew up on a hay farm. One of six children, she had pets ranging from horses to geese.

Mark said she has wanted to be a veterinary doctor since she was a little girl, when a vet helped her pony get well.

"Ever since then, I have wanted to become a vet," she said.

Now she is.

Mark had decided that she would go to the Seattle area to get started, but then learned of the opening here in Grand Coulee.

"I love it here," she said. "The area is so beautiful."

Dr. Mark is certified in medical acupuncture and plans to obtain a certificate of chiropractics so she can provide a broader range of treatment.

"I took acupuncture training from Colorado State University," she said, adding that the method sees various degrees of success, depending on the animal.

In surgery Tuesday, she worked on a young male dog.

"I love surgery," she said. "Each animal is different."

Mark is now seeing veterinary patients in the office, but will soon include some field work.