Dr. Donna den Boer attended Macalester from 1946 until her graduation in 1950. After doing special studies in Hematology, along with graduate work in French, Dr. den Boer graduated in 1961 as the only woman in her class at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Since that time she has worked in private practice, working solo for the last 33 years. In additon to her practice she conducted research on a grant from the American Heart Asociation and has published scholarly articles in several journals. Dr. den Boer developed and provided leadership to the animal nursing courses at Los Angeles Pierce College, and taught in the UCLA Extension program for four years. She also taught courses in bacteriology and farm animal anatomy and physiology, among others. While at Pierce College Dr. den Boer opened a hospital for the campus farm animals.

Dr. den Boer moved back to Minneapolis in 1988 and opened a veterinary clinic. Her practice encompasses traditional, Western veterinary procedures and incorporates other holistic considerations and practices, such as the importance of good nutrition and the use of acupuncture. She has always been involved her her community, writing columns on animal care and pet health for her local neighborhood papers, both in Los Angeles and here in Minneapolis. She is involved in working with and doing outreach to mentally retarded adults at St. Stephen's church in Minneapolis.

- excerpt paraphrased from Citation for Donna den Boer, Alumna Member Phi Beta Kappa, Epsilon of Minnesota