I was born and raised in Montana, where I always had a dog (or two) by my side exploring the mountains, and a cat waiting at home for affection. In our home growing up, our pets were always family, and I experienced firsthand the unconditional love that our pets offer us during all of life's ups and downs. 

I stayed in Montana for college, where I graduated with a degree in Philosophy from the University of Montana with plans to go to law school after fulfilling a lifelong dream to volunteer with the Peace Corps. While serving in Honduras, I had the opportunity to help translate for visiting doctors from the United States who came to provide specialized surgeries and other medical care for my Honduran neighbors. I was captivated by the resilience of life, and utterly fascinated by the procedures and medical principles that those doctors taught me. My interest did not go unnoticed, and one of the nurses told me she was certain I was in for a career change. 

She was right! From that moment, I shifted my focus to medicine, and my lifelong passion for animals guided my focus to veterinary work as my life's calling. Upon returning to the US after finishing my volunteer service, I immediately jumped into a Post-Bacc Pre-Medical program at Montana State to prepare for Veterinary School. Then life took to me to Pullman, Washington, to finish my doctorate at Washington State University. While there, I adopted a sweet senior shelter dog named Bernice to keep me sane through all the studying and to remind me of the importance of taking time to play in the mountains. 

Bernie and I moved to Park City in 2016 to start my career as a companion animal veterinarian. Slowly, she started to lose her energy, and we traded our trail runs for leisurely neighborhood strolls. When she was losing her battle with cancer, I made the difficult decision to help her pass away peacefully. We said our final goodbye on a sunny patch of grass with her face covered in cake and fried chicken. It still brings me comfort to know that I gave my best friend a proper farewell. 

The most impactful experiences I have had as a veterinarian are during end of life care, when families invite me into this deeply personal moment in their lives. It is an honor to help guide pet parents through their most difficult decisions, and to help their beloved pets say goodbye in comfort and dignity of their own homes. 

In my free time, you can find me in the mountains playing with my rescue dog, Tigo, trying to enjoy life like he does.

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