Growing up in Montgomery County with a menagerie of pets taught me how special the human-animal bond can be. From a young age I knew I not only wanted to be surrounded and enriched by pets for the rest of my life, but I also wanted to give back to them by being an advocate and voice for their needs.

My journey in the veterinary field started in Northeastern Pennsylvania and continued in Columbus, Ohio where I attended The Ohio State University and graduated with an undergraduate degree in biology with a focus in pre-veterinary medicine. I then went on to attend The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated with my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. During veterinary school I was a volunteer for the pet loss support hotline through which I supported families during the end of life process. This experience opened my eyes to the meaningful and important service we provide in this field.

After graduation, I went back to Southeastern Pennsylvania and for over a decade practiced general medicine in multiple hospitals and clinics. During my career I grew especially drawn to caring for geriatric pets and educating their families about this life stage. I always enjoyed hearing stories that families would share with me about their pets and their lives together. Throughout this time, I was also an adjunct instructor teaching veterinary nurses at the Manor College, Program of Veterinary Technology; and was a veterinarian in the pet insurance industry. I value my varied experiences as a veterinarian advocating for all pets and the veterinary profession; however, I always found myself being called back to the field of veterinary end of life care.

I decided to pursue this calling after I experienced my own beloved Kitty’s end of life journey. That experience and her passing made it clear to me that I wanted to dedicate my life to help pets and their families by walking with them through the hardest part of any life journey, a loved one’s end of life.

I believe our pets deserve the best care and all available options, knowledge, and support at the end to honor the lives they live. It is truly an honor for me to help preserve the human-animal bond between pets and their families during this difficult time.

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