Veterinarian Overview
DR. KAROL PODERSKI I was born in Poland, the land of Karol Wojtylla also known as John Paul II. I grew up in a family of 5 children in Wroclaw, a town that was about 80% destroyed during WW II. Here in Wroclaw I got my education. My upbringing was catholic and conservative. In 1977 I graduated from Veterinary School. From that year till 1980 I worked at my alma mater at the Small Animal Surgery Department where I advanced my skills in surgery. To live in a communist Poland in the Eastern Block dominated by Soviet Union, at that time, was so suppressive that the population was rebelling. In 1981 the first independent trade union in Eastern Block, Solidarity, was born and I with thousands of other Poles found myself in Western Europe, a refugee but a FREE man. Give me Liberty, or give me Death Patrick Henry. This period of modern history, the end of Cold War, collapse of communism, is so incredible that is very much worth studying. Caritas, a catholic emigration organization in Vienna/Austria assisted me in securing a green card and in 1981 I landed at JFK airport in NY on a PanAm jumbo jet. With a suitcase and $500 in my pocket I was my own man. There were challenges: English language, driving license, transportation, job, license to practice, etc. I remember my 1st job in West Caldwell, NJ and studying American English at Bergen Community College. It took me 4 years before I was able to fulfill all the requirement and pass all the necessary exams to get my American DVM license. I passed my National Board in Hartford Connecticut and my first state license was Oklahomas. I decided to settle in Florida because it sounded exotic, subtropics, ocean, sand, palm trees, Caribbean Islands, it sounded great. In Palm City I had an opportunity to purchase my own practice. Animal Medical Center was a converted small animal hospital that originally was run by Dr. Hyatt as an equine hospital. The year was 1989. In 1991, I met my wife who was my competition operating Martin Downs Pet Clinic and the rest is history. As they say if you can not beat them join them, she couldnt (some might dispute this) so we got married the next year. Running 2 practices, raising 2 kids was getting nutty. In 2002 we merged and built a new, present Martin Downs Animal Hospital. The hospital was designed, with my input, by DBA architecture firm from Albuquerque, NM. It is the state of the art facility recognized by American Animal Hospital Association only 15% hospitals, in USA and Canada, earn this certification of excellence. We are already a 10 year member and going strong. I am a member of several veterinary associations: AVMA, AAHA, TCVMA, VIN, IVIS, CRI. I have a special interests in: surgery, rehabilitation and dentistry. Every year, at least twice, I participate in, in-residence approach to interactive hands-on laboratories to sharpen my clinical skills. Led by a team of board-certified professionals I have completed courses in: orthopedics, soft tissue surgery, emergency and critical care, dentistry, ultrasound, laparoscopy, rehabilitation to mention only the most recent ones. A note on a family level. I have 2 children. Karolina is a plebe, first-year student at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Bucky in a sophomore at Jensen Beach high school with a strong interest in flying wanting to attend the Air Force Academy. I am married to Robin for 20 years now. Presently we have one dog Daisy and two cats Butter and Sport. If I have any time left to enjoy I like water sports, tennis, soccer, volleyball, fishing, gardening and much more. Please visit us at work. Our clients trust us, your pets love us. We do it the old fashioned way we earn it.
