While many veterinarians make their mark in clinics and hospitals, College of Veterinary Medicine alum Stefan Knep’s leadership and impact extend beyond traditional practice walls. 

Knep, ’93 DVM, is one of two lead veterinarians for the Minnesota chapter of The Street Dog Coalition, a volunteer organization that provides free veterinary care for the pets of individuals who experience homelessness. 

For his outstanding dedication to providing compassionate and high-quality care through this organization and his work at Gehrman Animal Hospital in Minnetonka, Knep was recently honored with the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association’s Veterinarian of the Year award. This award is given to an MVMA member who has given much to the veterinary profession as well as to his or her community, and is a well-rounded member who is outstanding in the profession.

“Affordable care has become such a big issue in the veterinary community, and there are so many people in encampments and out on the streets in this weather,” Knep said while accepting the award at the MVMA Annual Conference. “Our team just tries to make a little bit of a difference and hopefully make the world a little better place.”

Knep, who co-founded Minneapolis’s Street Dog Coalition chapter, donates his time and expertise to the organization, which has cared for more than 2,000 dogs and cats since its inception. The chapter’s team now includes more than 20 veterinarians and more than 50 veterinary technicians and assistants. Each patient receives high-quality medical attention, vaccinations, wound treatment, parasite prevention and education for owners.

Over his decades of service, Knep’s nominators, veterinarians Jennifer Wilder and Mary Philippson, note he has earned the trust and admiration of colleagues, clients and community partners alike. 

“His contributions, both in clinical practice and through community outreach, reflect a lifelong dedication to advancing veterinary medicine in Minnesota,” Wilder and Philippson write. “He represents the profession at its finest—skillful, ethical, inclusive and kind—with his remarkable leadership, his tireless volunteerism with the street dog coalition, and his enduring impact on both animals and people.”

Read more 2026 Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association Annual Conference coverage.