HUMAN

Name: Jason Heesen

Age: 49

Residence: South Dakota

Occupation:  Veterinarian

Years involved with Iditarod: This is my first year

Iditarod role: Staff veterinarian for the Iditarod

Current Location: Nulato, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 15, 2020
Temperature: 26F/Outdoors

What, who or how and when did you first get involved with the Iditarod?

I got involved with the Iditarod because I wanted to experience this type of veterinary medicine associated with hardworking, hard-charging sled dogs. I first learned of the Iditarod many years ago and it’s kind of always been in the back of my mind. I’ve applied for the Iditarod several times as a staff veterinarian and through different circumstances was never able to come. This year I sold my practice and work part-time, so I had the time and ended up on the alternate list. Then got the call that, “Would you like to come help on Iditarod?” It didn’t take very long to say “yes.”

What do you know for sure?:

What I know for sure in life is that if you believe in Jesus Christ as your personal savior, this is the only hell we’ll ever know, because we are going to heaven. If you don’t, this maybe the only heaven you’ll ever know.