When I was very young, I spent a lot of time in Mexico because my father is an archeologist. I remember having a hard time making friends because I was shy and didn’t speak the language. As a result, I became obsessed with the animals around me, including a Mexican wolf that someone domesticated (now an endangered species), bats, and a chicken that I raised from an egg. Ever since, I have had a special connection and interest with animals. As soon as I was old enough to know what a veterinarian was, I knew what I wanted to do when I grew up.
I’m not sure I’ve grown up yet, but I have become a veterinarian. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a V.M.D. (U. Penn’s equivalent of a D.V.M.) in 2006. Immediately post-graduation, I returned to my hometown of New Orleans (just post-Katrina) and worked at a small animal clinic belonging to the city’s previous zoo veterinarian. Because of my early experiences with exotic animals and subsequent work in Africa, I thought I wanted to do wildlife medicine and was happy to find a job with someone who had worked with exotic animals. But I surprised myself and fell in love with dog and cat medicine and have continued working with them (now exclusively) to this day.
In 2011, I moved to Colorado and now live with my husband and dog in Boulder. My special interests include the human-animal bond, medicine, low-cost services and dentistry. Outside of work, I love to hike, play word games (I do the NYT crossword every day), and spend time with my family. I have a particular fondness for beagles since rescuing one in vet school, especially because it led me to another beagle that was attached to the man who is now my husband.