Veterinarian Overview
I can recall at the age of six my parents taking our family to spend a week on a Mennonite farm in Pennsylvania. This was my first exposure to a variety of animals. To this day, I have vivid memories of that trip: a litter of puppies, milking cows and riding a horse, to mention a few. Although at the time I had no idea I would someday be a veterinarian, perhaps subconsciously that was the beginning. Through grade school and high school I was most interested in the sciences. I began college at the University of Arizona as a Pre-Medical student yet had no idea of exactly what I wanted in a career. Between my sophomore and junior year in college, I got a job working for our family veterinarian. This exposure enabled me to see up close what the profession had to offer. Although late in my education, it was at this point that I knew veterinary medicine was for me. My wife, on the other hand, knew that she wanted to be a veterinarian from childhood. How time flies. I have now been a veterinarian over twenty years, the majority with University Animal Hospital (UAH). Besides being very dedicated to UAH, I have tried to involve myself in other aspects of veterinary medicine. I have held a variety of board positions in local and state veterinary associations. I have also been involved with Companion Animal Association of Arizona many years, including being a founding member of The Pet Grief Support Service. I also instruct pet owners for thirteen years on how to perform CPR on dogs and cats. This is one of several topics taught by our doctors concerning pet first aid. Veterinary medicine is a wonderful career offering many daily challenges in dealing with people and animals. I am grateful to be in this profession and could not see myself doing anything else.
