09/11/2026
Crossing Borders - Denkai Vets Now Licensed to Practice in New Mexico and Colorado!
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Jamilea “Jami” Van Hemel and Dr. Lisa Bane! Both of these remarkable women recently passed the New Mexico state veterinary examination and are now licensed to practice veterinary medicine in both Colorado and New Mexico!
Dr. Lisa Bane began her veterinary career in a small log-cabin clinic in Telluride, Colorado. Her early years included late-night emergencies, surgeries, treating a horse with a broken leg after traveling by snowmobile, and performing emergency C-sections on cattle in temperatures well below zero.
After selling her Telluride practice and moving to Boulder, Dr. Bane expanded her experience through holistic veterinary medicine, including acupuncture and herbal therapies. She later practiced at holistic clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area before returning to Southwest Colorado.
Dr. Bane combines conventional veterinary medicine with holistic care and has extensive experience in acupuncture, herbal medicine, surgery and emergency care. She also played an important role in developing Denkai’s affordable veterinary clinic and creating the medical and surgical capabilities necessary to serve animals throughout the Four Corners. Her work is grounded in protecting the bond between people and their animals—especially for seniors, families experiencing homelessness, single parents, teachers, students and others who may otherwise struggle to afford care.
Dr. Jami Van Hemel is originally from Florida and graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine**. Before joining Denkai, she gained valuable experience caring for companion animals in private practice in North Carolina.
Dr. Jami brought to Denkai exactly the combination of skill, energy and heart our growing clinic needed. She is passionate about surgery, preventive medicine and taking essential veterinary services directly into rural and reservation communities. She has become an important part of Denkai’s mobile vaccination and wellness clinics and shares our commitment to helping injured and sick animals while preventing disease whenever possible.
Now that both veterinarians are licensed in Colorado and New Mexico, Denkai can expand its reach even further! We are now offering veterinary house-call visits for individuals in both states throughout the Four Corners region.
This is especially meaningful for seniors, people with disabilities, families without reliable transportation, households with multiple animals, and those living in rural or underserved communities where veterinary care may be hours away.
For more than two decades, Denkai’s mission has been to remove barriers and bring compassionate, quality care to animals and the people who love them. Dr. Bane and Dr. Van Hemel embody that mission every day. Their dual-state licensing represents another major step forward in our work to serve rural Colorado, Northwestern New Mexico, Tribal communities and the greater Four Corners region.
We are incredibly proud of these two talented, determined and compassionate veterinarians—and beyond grateful that they have chosen to be part of the Denkai family.
Please help us congratulate Dr. Lisa Bane and Dr. Jami Van Hemel on this tremendous achievement! 🎉🐾🩺
For appointments, outreach services or information about house calls:
📧 [email protected]
📞 970-508-9008 Text Please!
🌐 https://www.denkaisanctuary.org
Denkai Animal Sanctuary Affordable Veterinary Care Clinic at Denkai
