My first memories of my desire to be a Veterinarian were at about age six. I remember going with my Dad to his workplace where there was a very old dog that was quite ill. I can still remember thinking to myself, ‘Some day I will be able to help you get better.’

Throughout grade school and high school, we always had variety of animals. Although we lived in southern California, it was a rural area. Horses, goats, ducks, dogs, and cats always populated the back yard. My college education was interrupted for a few years when Uncle Sam said, "We Want You.” After returning from Vietnam, I began my studies again with a renewed dedication to my ultimate goal. After much hard work, I was accepted and graduated from Veterinary School in 1980. I moved to Arizona that summer and accepted a position at the original Veterinary Hospital in Tempe - University Animal Hospital. I was soon a partner and ultimately purchased the hospital in 1986.

Through the years, our community, Veterinary Medicine, and our Hospital have changed a great deal. Our hospital has grown from two Veterinarians and a staff of five, to 11 doctors and a staff of 80.

In 1996 we moved into our dream hospital. We were proud recipients of a national award presented by Veterinary Economics who judged all new veterinary facilities built in the United States and Canada. We are now able to offer state-of-the-art medicine for our patients.

Degrees:

• B.S. Zoology, University of California-Cal Poly, 1975
• D.V.M. Davis Veterinary School, University of California, 1980

Professional Affiliations:  

• Member of Arizona Academy of Veterinary Medicine
• Member of Arizona and California Veterinarian Medical Association
• Member of American Animal Hospital Association - Hospital Director
• Member of American Veterinary Medical Association
• Board Member of Emergency Animal Clinics of Arizona
• Board Member of Arizona Veterinary Medical Association

Areas of Interest:

I have developed over the years a special interest in dermatology and cosmetic surgery. I have built a strong following in the Shar-pei breed. The great thing about Veterinary Medicine is that every day is different and each case is a new challenge.

Personal Pets:

My family are the owners of a Golden Retriever  named Mackena, who our son loves to use as a pillow during T.V. time and an old cat named Precious.

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.

Degrees:

• B.S. Biology, University of Arizona, 1977
• D.V.M. Washington State University, 1981 (Cum Laude)

Awards:

• American Animal Hospital Association Senior Student Award for proficiency in small animal medicine and surgery.
• Small Animal Medicine Achievement Award

Areas of Interest:

My primary interest in veterinary medicine is orthopedic surgery. I have participated in two extensive courses on the use of bone plates for fracture repair. I have also attended many lectures on various subjects concerning orthopedic problems. Another area of interest for me is endoscopy, which involves the use of both flexible and rigid scopes to explore the stomach, intestines, nose, bladder and airways of dogs and cats. The visualization of these various organs allows one to remove foreign objects or to obtain a diagnosis through the sampling of tissues.

Personal Pets:

Our household now has a Cardigan Welsh Corgi named Rosie. Her unusual color (merle) and big ears make her very different looking. She does follow the traits of the breed in being energetic, intelligent, faithful, is good with kids and a very sweet pleasing personality. The only down side is her desire to change the landscape in our backyard through chewing and moving anything that is not anchored. We also have my wife's cat that she rescued many years ago as a stray that had been hit by a car and recovered from multiple pelvic fractures.

I cannot talk about my pets without mentioning my three golden retrievers and one orange tabby cat named Lionel. They have passed away over the last several years. All were extremely loyal and devoted pets, whose memories I still cherish.

I was fortunate to have family pets as far back as I can remember. There was always a cat or two, a dog and, for my thirteenth birthday, I got my first horse named Geronimo. This horse taught me a lot as we worked through 4-H showing, trail riding and barrel racing. My first job in high school was as a veterinary assistant for Tom Chauncey Arabians, a breeding farm in Scottsdale, Arizona.  I worked side by side with the veterinarians. I appreciated veterinary medicine as mostly science with a bit of art and had made my career choice.

While I was in veterinary school at Colorado State University, my emphasis changed from equine (horses) to small-animal medicine. The rigors and limitations of large animal medicine gave way to what I felt were greater opportunities to practice "high tech" medicine in the smaller species.

Every day I am rewarded with new challenges, relationships and opportunities to learn. Of course I love working with animals but I find I also appreciate interacting with their caretakers: who depend on us to keep their loving companions healthy and happy.

I just celebrated by 20th year here at University Animal Hospital.  I appreciate that I have known many of my patients from puppy/kittenhood to old age.  I share my Tempe home with my partner Lynnette and our pets Elke and Lynn Hill.  Tempe is a great community in which to live, work and play.  When I am not at work, I am probably enjoying our Arizona outdoors on my mountain bike.

Degrees:

• B.S. Arizona State University, Magna Cum Laude, 1982
• D.V.M. Colorado State University, Cum Laude, 1986
• Member of the Academy of Veterinary Practice (since 1986)

Areas of Interest:

• Small animal medicine and surgery
• Ultrasound
• Mammalian exotics (i.e., ferrets, rabbits, and rodents)

Professional Affiliations:

• Member Arizona Veterinary Medical Association
• Member American Veterinary Medical Association
• Associate American Animal Hospital Assosiation

Personal Pets:

A Boxer named "Elke".

I didn't always know that I was going to be a Veterinarian but I was always known as an "animal" person on my block (no, this didn't have to do with the parties while the folks were gone). I have memories of riding around on my "Big Wheel" picking up worms and putting them back in the grass after the rain and taking toads off the sidewalk and carrying them off to safety.

My best friend and I once fostered a baby Robin that was thrown from its nest. My parents didn’t start to object until I graduated up to fostering stray cats out of our stilt house in the back yard. Growing up in the suburbs didn't offer much farm animal exposure but whenever I got the chance I'd talk to the horses and cattle on my trips to the rural areas. On trips to the zoo, my parents had to pull me away from the primate exhibit. I would sit and watch them for hours (or they were watching me?).

In the seventh grade I was so nervous about dissecting the frog in school, that I couldn't eat breakfast. When I came home I couldn't wait to tell my mom how "neat the insides were." I had to describe (in more detail than she wanted) all about the anatomy of the frog. I was in the tenth grade when I started having great interest in the sciences and I decided to get a job at a "Vet" clinic. After witnessing my first surgery I knew I would become a Veterinarian.

Degrees:

• B.S. Michigan State University, 1992
• D.V.M. Michigan State University, 1994

Areas Of Interest:

• Pathology (maybe this stems from the frog experience)
• Feline Medicine.

Personal Pets:

I have three cats. One cat kneads my hair every night. One cat can jump more than three feet in the air to get a balloon string. Two of the cats fetch round objects, (i.e., milk rings). I also have a pug mix. The dog runs into the glass door if I don't put something on it to let him know that it's closed. He also gives a "high five,” shakes and just about anything else for a treat!

I have practiced in Arizona since graduating form Veterinary School in 1980.  I was the owner of East Maryland Animal Hospital in central Phoenix from 1984 to 2004.  After a brief period at the Arizona Humane Society, I joined University Animal Hospital in October of 2006. 

I am married and have a daughter who is a fourth grade teacher in San Antonio, Texas and a son who is a student at Colorado University.

Degrees:

• B.S. Bioagriculture, Arizona State University, 1976
• D.V.M. Colorado State University, 1980

Areas of Interest:

• Internal Medicine
• General surgery

Professional Affiliations:

• American Board of Veterinary Practitioners - Canine/Feline and Feline Specialties

Personal Pets:

A Jack Russell Terrier and "tuxedo" cat.

I was born and raised in Northwest Iowa on a farm where my parents still live. My dad raises crops and livestock and my mom works for Wells Fargo bank. I have two younger siblings, a brother who is currently attending optometry school and a sister who is attending Iowa State.

As a child I spent a lot of time outdoors and was always adopting stray animals. I enjoy traveling internationally as well as within the United States. Being fairly new to the area, I look forward to exploring the southwest.

I received both my B.S. in animal science and my veterinary degree from Iowa State University. My goal as a veterinarian is to provide the highest quality care possible for my patients. I have a special interest in surgery and behavior. I really enjoy working with both cats and dogs though I am fond of all animal species.

Degrees:

• B.S. Animal Science, Iowa State University
• D.V.M. Iowa State University

Areas of Interest:

• Behavior
• General surgery

Professional Affiliations:

• Member American Veterinary Medical Association
• Member American Animal Hospital Association

Personal Pets:

I have 2 pugs named Gus and Milo (ages 5 and 1 year). Miles came to me as a really sick puppy from a shelter who had lost an eye.  I took him in as a foster and fell in love with him immediately.  I also have 2 cats, Sherman and Gracie Lou (ages 9 and 2 years).  I adopted Gracie while doing a rotation at the Humane Society while I was in Veterinary School. 

I was born and raised in Kentucky with one younger brother and one younger sister. We always had lots of pets and I was forever bringing home strays. My family never had much money so I had to put myself through veterinary school with the help of my husband, Dan.

I did my undergraduate work at the University of Cincinnati and attended veterinary school at Ohio State University, an excellent school with many dedicated professors (Go Bucks!). My goal as a veterinarian is to improve a little bit each day. I really believe this is the best job in the world for me and I want to help maintain the positive image this career has and encourage future veterinarians.

My favorite thing to do in my spare time is to read and I read many different subjects including, of course, veterinary journals so I can keep up on the latest in veterinary medicine. I am a fan of football both college and professional. Though I really love all animals, cats and dogs are my favorites. I have six cats, Chloe, Erik, Nigel, Alex, Tom, Salem and two dogs, Joshua and Lily.

I was born and raised in Buga, a small town in the southwest of Columbia. My family owned a poultry company and since I was a kid, had the opportunity to be in contact with all sorts of animals at the farms.  Very early in my life, I knew I wanted to be a vet.  I finished veterinary school in 1994 and worked in poultry medicine for 6 years. 

I came to the USA in 1999 to take an English as a Second Language program in New York.  I attended graduate school and obtained a MBA from St. John's University in 2004.  I moved to Arizona in 2005 and received certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates in 2007.

Besides veterinary medicine, I have special interests in foreign affairs and enjoy outdoor activities in the desert, especially hiking and biking. I have 3 dogs: an Afghan Hound named Lamat, a Jack Russell Terrier mix named Latifa and a Chihuahua named Lulu.

Degrees: 

• D.V.M. Universidad de Caldas, Manizales-Colombia, 1994
• M.B.A. St. John's University, Peter J. Tobin School of Business, 2004

Areas of Interest:

• Cosmetic and General Surgery
• Internal Medicine 

Professional Affiliations:

• Member American Veterinary Medical Association

Depsite moving around a lot in my early years, I consider myself a native southwesterner.  I grew up in New Mexico and have chosen Arizona as "the place to spend the next 30 years". 

I have been married to a fellow veterinarian, Steve Deeb, for six and a half years.  We have one 4 year old daughter named Elizabeth.  I enjoy running, gardening, reading fiction and good food.

Degrees:

• B.A. Psychology, New Mexico State University, 1995 
• D.V.M. Colorado State University, 2001

Areas of Interest:

• Emergency Medicine
• Gastrointestinal Disease

Professional Affiliations:

• Member American Veterinary Medical Association

Personal Pets:

I have 2 dogs, Ollie a 14 year old German Shepherd mix and Jasper an 8 year old Pug.  I also have 1 cat, Yancy who is 16.

Growing up I was known as the kid on the block always involved with some critter, whether that was collecting insects, watching the neighbor's cat or taking my golden retriever Abby to the vet.  I know my ultimate path when I was in middle school, I began to focus my education on the sciences, and I have never looked back.

Working as a technician full-time while I attended undergrad at Ohio State University was far from overwhelming, as people frequently assume, because they don't realize that this career is not like others.  Now as a veterinarian, each day I still become excited about what's to walk in the door, the new animals that I see and people that I develop relationships with. While in veterinary school and through continuing education lectures, I have taken a special interest in specific fields of veterinary medicine and I am enthusiastic to help in challenging cases when they present.

After graduating from veterinary school at Ohio State University, I packed up my car and Ronin, my Doberman Pinscher, and I drove west to Arizona.  Although my family and many friends live in Ohio where I grew up, I provide them a great vacation spot most of the year.  During my time off, I enjoy doing almost anything as long as it involves the outdoors, but especially snowboarding, mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking and intramural sports.

Degrees:

• D.V.M. Ohio State University

Areas of Interest:

• Medical and Surgical Oncology
• Orthopedics

Professional Affiliations:

• Member American Veterinary Medical Association

Personal Pets:

Ronin, a Doberman Pinscher.