We are extremely proud of our dedicated team. We hire only the best and most experienced employees to become a part of our team here at Southway Animal Clinic.

Our team is filled with highly dedicated animal lovers who are well trained at their jobs. They will do anything possible for their patients and the owners who love them.

Learning and education are very important here at Southway Animal Clinic. We strive to have a state of the art hospital with a staff trained in the latest medical advances. Our patients deserve the very best veterinary care.

Basically, our team is full of animal lovers. They make it a goal to treat each patient like their own. They give each patient plenty of love and attention. They are prepared to discuss preventative medicine so that every pet can stay as healthy as possible. They will also do everything that they can to make a sick pet feel better as soon as possible.

If you would like to speak to someone on our team, don’t hesitate to contact us today at (208) 743-0280.

Kariann Ruff

Veterinarian

I was born in Alexandria, Minnesota and from as early as I can remember, I wanted to pursue veterinary medicine as my career. In 1998, my family left the Midwest for the Wild West and settled in a beautiful area of northwestern Montana. I graduated from high school from Troy, MT, and proceeded to Bozeman to begin my secondary education in animal sciences.

I received my undergraduate degree from Montana State in May 2008. I was accepted into Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine prior to finishing my undergraduate degree in the Fall of 2007. I fell in love with the Palouse, and my husband, in Pullman. I graduated with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from WSU in 2011.

My husband and I accepted an associate veterinary position at Southway Animal Clinic with Dr. Ard and his wonderful team and have built an exciting life and career as a general practitioner in the Lewiston/Clarkston area. We are joyfully raising our family and enjoying the many activities the area has to offer. We keep busy with our small children, 2 dogs, 2 cats, and visiting family. We feel blessed to be a part of a great practice in a great community.

Chia-Lin Lee

Veterinarian

I was born in Taipei, Taiwan, and I grew up with multiple pets, including dogs, cats, hamsters, parrots, and turtles. I moved to Boston, Massachusetts to pursue a college degree at Berklee College of Music.

After obtaining a Bachelor of Music in Film Scoring and working as a composer for a few years, I started volunteering at several animal clinics in Southern California, and became deeply drawn to the rewarding nature of the veterinary profession. I went back to school and obtained an Associate of Science in Pre-Veterinary Medicine from Los Angeles Pierce College, and was accepted to the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis. I graduated in May 2024 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, and I am honored and grateful to be a member of the Southway team!

In my spare time, I love to explore nature, try new restaurants, crochet, play the piano, play video games, and spend time with my partner and my two cats.

Heather Robison, CVT

Certified Veterinary Technician

I was born in Sunnyside, Washington and grew up in Spokane. In 2011, I graduated from University of Idaho with a degree in Wildlife Resources. After realizing that my true passion lied with caring for companion animals, I went back to school and earned my AAS in Veterinary Technology from Yakima Valley College. I joined the Southway team as a Certified Veterinary Technician in 2018. I enjoy spending time outdoors, horseback riding, kayaking, hiking, camping and skiing. My hidden talents include sewing and calligraphy.

Emily Carlson

Kennel Manager
I’ve been at Southway Animal Clinic since November 2016. I started full time as Kennel Manager in March of 2017. I’m proud to say I’m very happy working here with the amazing doctors and professional staff. Being able to help take care of the animals in boarding and recovery is a great feeling knowing they are well cared for.

Sarah Wimer

Office Manager
I was born and raised in Idaho and moved to this area to attend college. My husband and I have raised our two children in Lewiston and love living in this area with access to great rivers and beautiful camping spaces. Working at Southway Animal Clinic has been a great opportunity and I enjoy the teamwork and commitment our team puts into what we do.