Veterinarian Overview
Dr. Larry Nafe graduated from the University of Missouris School of Veterinary Medicine Summa Cum Laude in 1976. Upon graduation, Dr. Nafe completed an internship and residency at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. In 1979, he joined the faculty at Louisiana State Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine as an assistant professor in Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department. During his tenure, he directed a Neurology/Neurosurgery/Internal Medicine referral practice in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. In 1981, he was named head of Small Animal Medicine where he directed the academic curriculum of the fourth-year veterinary students. He was board certified in Neurology/Neurosurgery in 1982 and in Internal Medicine in 1983.In 1982, he and his wife established Hillcrest Animal Hospital where he started a specialty referral practice. He remained an adjunct professor, lecturer, and consultant to LSUs Veterinary school until 1985. Dr. Nafe has published over thirty scientific articles and has held multiple positions in the College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. He was awarded founding member status in the Veterinary Neurosurgical Society and awarded one of the initial neurosurgery training certificates by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Soiree platinum award winner 2012. Currently a co-investigator with Dr. Joan Coates at the University of Missouri for an NIH grant investigating novel therapy for canine degenerative myelopathy.Dr. Joan Nafe grew up in Little Rock and graduated from Hall High School in 1969. She attended Vassar College and Colgate University, where she graduated with a B.S. in 1974. She then attended the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, where she was honored as the top Arkansas student. In 1979, Dr. Joan completed a Small Animal Medicine and Surgery internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City, where she met and later married Dr. Larry Nafe. In 1982, they founded Hillcrest Animal Hospital and have enjoyed twenty four years of a growing, active practice. They have a daughter, Laura, who just completed a residency in Veterinary Internal Medicine at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
