I was raised in beautiful rural central Pennsylvania. After losing our beloved family dog, Rocket, my parents were reluctant to get another pet, but I convinced them that fostering endless litters of orphaned kittens for our local shelter didn’t count.

I meandered a little on my path to veterinary medicine. While I was drawn to all sorts of animals as a child, I didn’t feel called into the profession until my college years, when I worked as a veterinary assistant at a low-cost vaccine clinic in a city shelter. The experience showed me I was well-suited to cooperative care work and enjoyed the creativity necessary in shelter medicine when resources were limited.

I obtained my veterinary degree from Tufts University, and I love being a veterinarian because of the wide array of skill sets it fosters. Since graduating, I have worked as a general practitioner in small animal medicine and enjoy implementing cooperative care techniques whenever possible. I’m also fascinated by various topics in veterinary medical ethics and medical philosophy.

I am truly honored to be joining the Lap of Love team. The loss of a pet is profoundly difficult, in part, because it is the loss of something innocent. The bond we can form with an animal is remarkable and deeply personal. We become our pet’s protector and advocate. I think veterinarians are uniquely positioned to hold a space for that type of grieving. We can recognize, without passing judgment, the gravity and meaning of each relationship. I have always cherished how sorrow can mingle with love and belonging in life’s most difficult moments. That profound human experience is especially evident during the passing of a beloved animal companion.

In my free time, I enjoy taking walks with my family, listening to podcasts or shamelessly jamming out to Taylor Swift. I love a good organizational project and honestly believe that the musical CATS is significantly underrated.

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