Veterinary Medical Officer
Office of Surveillance and Compliance

1. Why did you become a veterinarian?

Because I love animals!!! They tell you to never say this during an interview for vet school but it’s true! I’ve wanted to be a vet from the time I was 5-years-old. I was even a microbiologist for a few years after graduating from college in an attempt to ignore my calling but I eventually took the plunge and applied to vet school.

2. What made you want to work for CVM?

I was a small animal practitioner for 15 years before coming to CVM in 2008. I was getting burnt out from the long hours, cranky clients, and stressful situations. It was time for a change. I still wanted to do something to help animals but not in the hospital. Working at CVM was the perfect transition. Now, I work at the animal hospital 6 hours a week and I love practicing again!

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

I still get to do meaningful work that will help animals but with more flexibility and less stress in my day-to-day life. And I don’t work on weekends!!!

4. What does the veterinary profession mean to you?

I can’t think of a better profession. Veterinarians are needed in so many different work arenas; you could change careers every two years and continue to be challenged.

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

My two favorite vet stories involve vomiting (of course):

A vomiting black lab came in to the hospital. X-rays revealed at least EIGHT golf balls in his stomach. When I told the owner what I had found, he remarked, “So that’s where those golf balls went. Every so often Buster comes back without the ball. I just figured he couldn’t find it!” Turns out, the dog had been occasionally swallowing the golf balls and had a collection of them hanging out in his stomach.

A vomiting cat came in to the hospital around Halloween. When I showed the X-rays to the owners, they quickly identified the foreign body as a plastic finger they had been using as a decoration.