I grew up around Findlay, Ohio, and attended a small rural school in nearby Van Buren. To give you an idea of “small,” K-12 was all on one site, and I graduated with 56 classmates! Even as a child, I always enjoyed the sciences. I also loved spending time at my grandfather and uncle’s dairy farm. Aside from the cows, there were always plenty of other animals around.

Still, my biggest early influence was our neighbor, a veterinarian. Tagging along on calls to the nearby clinic or the county fair were some of my first introductions to the world of veterinary medicine.

And that’s all it took.

I completed my undergraduate education at the University of Findlay and graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

I’ve spent the majority of my career in equine medicine, where I enjoy solving problems pragmatically while building trust with patients and their owners. My 22 years in equine practice also instilled a deep compassion for end-of-life care and decision-making, especially in emergency euthanasias, when such decisions weren’t expected and often had to be made quickly.

One of my first personal experiences of losing a pet taught me how much stress we carry with us as we care for a sick or elderly pet. Once they are at peace, the weight that is removed from our shoulders is more significant than I’d realized. Letting it go allowed me to appreciate my life and the time I spent with my pet.

While a pet’s passing is incredibly sad in the moment, I hope I can give peace to owners whose pets are suffering.

When I’m not caring for pets, I’m running a small farm with my wife. This includes felling and milling lumber that I then use to build shelters and structures for our small flock of sheep and chickens. I enjoy meandering about the pasture, watching our dogs explore. I also have an appreciation for music and enjoy playing the piano in my spare time.

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