Veterinary Medical Officer
Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation

1. Why did you become a veterinarian?

I loved math and science in school, loved animals, and decided I wasn’t an engineer after the first year of college. I also enjoyed being outside, which is a huge perk to being an equine veterinarian. I was a horse crazy kid, but I also loved science, so it was a natural progression for me.

2. What made you want to work for CVM?

I was initially attracted to the idea of a better work-life balance than what I had in equine practice. While I absolutely loved being on the farm, I could see the benefit to having more time for family. What I didn’t realize until I started working at CVM was the huge impact the center has on both public and animal health. Positively benefiting horses on a broader scale is what drives me every day.

3. What is the best thing about being a veterinarian for CVM?

It is simply amazing to work with such a group of caring and dedicated folks. Also, I love constantly learning new things, especially digging into the science of new technologies. Even though it is a “desk job,” it is truly never boring.

4. What does the veterinary profession mean to you?

Veterinarians are a very special group of people, and I’m proud to be a part of the profession.

5. What is your most memorable moment as a veterinarian?

I have so many good stories from my time in practice, and I can’t say any of them stick out more than another. However, my most memorable stories were when I was called out to work on something that was truly a challenge. These were usually middle-of-the-night emergencies, when I didn’t want to bother any of the other vets in the practice for advice. I had to first get over my fear of failure or mistake, and think rationally and work through the problem at hand. Successful outcomes were the most satisfying, but appreciation from the owners, regardless of outcome, was the most rewarding. I remember a particularly long gash in a horse’s side that needed sutures and it took me hours. The owner brought me a nice warm meal to thank me for my time. I was starving because I hadn’t been home for dinner, and obviously, eternally grateful! Or there was the owner who always made cookies for us. She was so kind and took such good care of her animals, we’d practically fight (not really) to get to go to her farm. These human connections were the ones that kept me going when my job was otherwise tough.