Veterinarian Overview
I grew up an only child deep in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Castle Rock State Park. My cat and dog were my constant companions in that childhood wonderland. In fact, my big fluffy grey cat used to tramp along beside me on my many explorations of the mountains. To this day, I remain a nature girl at heart (but my new hiking companions are my husband and two sons!). When I was very young, my sweet, loyal miniature dachshund slipped a disk in her back and was suddenly paralyzed in her hind legs. A team of veterinarians worked together in her diagnosis and surgery. She went on to live ten more adventure-filled years. Her accident and recovery had a profound effect on me and led to my personal calling: I wanted to be a veterinarian and help animals and their people, too. I graduated from Los Gatos High School, then went on to earn my bachelors degree in biochemistry from UCLA. Newly married, my husband and I packed up our few belongings and headed to the welcoming Midwest. There I attended the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. My extended family roots are deep in Wisconsin, and it was a fun time to learn the joys and trials of cheese, bratwursts, dairy cows, Packers football, and snow in the month of May. I graduated with my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1997.
