When I was five years old, I went to visit my grandparents in Ohio, who lived on a farm in a very rural area. It should have been idyllic, but my uncle’s Labrador, who had always been a sweet dog, attacked me. That event left me with permanent scars on my legs and a deep-seated fear of dogs.

Before that point, I was one of those kids who always answered the age-old, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” question with an enthusiastic, “I want to be a vet!” Afterwards, I thought I was going to have to set that goal aside. But despite my fear, the desire to help animals never left me.

My mother saw my dream being derailed. As she is close friends with Doctors Atz and Babuska, then owners of Manchester Veterinary Clinic, she put in a good word for me. They took a chance and offered me my first job at their hospital when I was sixteen. With their help, I learned how to read animals and work with them, and ultimately that allowed me to overcome my fear.

That summer was the first time my dream seemed like it might be able to become a reality.

My education and life took me on quite a journey after that, I studied chemistry and biology at Trinity college of Vermont and then earned my DVM Degree from Ross University in St. Kitts and Missouri, then back to Massachusetts and Connecticut. I have had the privilege to work with many different types of people and animals and to constantly keep learning. I have now become somewhat of a “cat lady”, sharing my home with four cats: the mischievous Daisy; a brother and sister pair, Walter and Lulu; and my sweet little Millie.

I am so excited to begin my next journey working with 4 amazing colleagues, Erika Collier, Alexis Soutter, Sara Dupre, and Marie Bates. They have all helped me grow both professionally and personally. I am so proud to have them as colleagues and more importantly as friends.

Education:
Bachelor's of Science, Biology and Chemistry, Trinity college of Vermont
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University in St. Kitts and Missouri

Fear Free Certified Professional

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