Board Certified Veterinary Dentist™ and Oral Surgeon
Dr. Jennifer Emerson-Mathis grew up in a small town in Iowa but was originally born in Canada, making her a dual Citizen! She comes from a long line of Veterinarians, including her Father, Grandfather, and Great Uncle. You may also occasionally see her teenage children as they are considering continuing in the family profession. She graduated high school as Valedictorian and soon went on to receive her Bachelors of Science degree in Biochemistry in 1997. In 2001, she graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University. After graduation, Dr. Jen joined a multi-vet practice outside Chicago for many years before returning to Iowa. She practiced in Adel before starting her own practice here in West Des Moines.
Dr. Jen is happily married and has two kids (four, if you count the fur babies!) One dog is a Dachshund and Yorkie cross named Daisy, which is a coincidence because her favorite dog breed is also a Dachshund. The other, Chewbacca, is a Shih Tzu that seems to be a ball of hair covering a large Pac-Man-type mouth. Should free time arise, she enjoys stamping, scrapbooking, crafting, and quilting, and she's often told her craft room looks more like a craft store!
She expanded the practice to include the Norwalk office to provide additional care for patients in the area. Her focus in the animal industry is dentistry, and in July 2024, Dr. Mathis earned her diploma from the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) after training under Dr. Heidi Lobprise, DAVDC. This prestigious achievement marks her as one of around 300 dental specialists worldwide to hold this rigorous specialty degree, demonstrating her exceptional expertise and dedication to veterinary dental care. Veterinary dental care encompasses a wide range of advanced procedures, including periodontal therapies such as guided tissue regeneration, advanced 3D imaging, oral tumor removal, oral fracture repair, root canal therapy, crowns, and orthodontics.
Dr. Mathis has been honored with a 2024 Continuing Educator of the Year Award by the Viticus Group at the Western Veterinary Conference (WVC). This award is a testament to her outstanding contributions to veterinary education and her unwavering commitment to advancing the field. “It’s a huge honor to be selected by the 20,000 attendees among more than 375 eligible continuing educators,” said Dr. Mathis. “WVC holds a special place in my heart. Receiving this award brings back fond memories of the great times I've had educating and presenting to veterinary professionals. It is an honor to be recognized by such a respected organization. I plan to have more fun teaching in future years."
Prior to formal dentistry training, she became a Certified Veterinary Medical Acupuncturist and a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner with the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management in 2013. She believes that Dentistry is the greatest way to stop hidden pain in patients and offers specialty dentistry and oral surgery services through the Norwalk location. To Dr. Jen, veterinary care means improving people’s lives through pets as well as treating pets as family!