Resides in: Versailles, Kentucky
Present Position: Ambulatory Practitioner
Practice Type: Equine Exclusive
School and Year of Graduation: Oklahoma State University, 2003
Additional Degrees / Specialty College: Penn State University – MBA Corporate Innovation & Entrepreneurship, 2018
AAEP Service:
- AAEP Primary Rep to AVMA Clinical Practitioners Advisory Council (Present)
- Member, Early Career Committee – (Present)
- Chair, Foreign Veterinary Graduate Task Force (2024-2025)
- Member, Scientific Review & Editorial Committee (2022-2024)
- Member, Foundation Development Council (2015-2018)
- Co-Facilitator/Facilitator, Parenting Rounds (2015-2017)
- Member, Member Engagement Committee (2011-2015)
- Attendee, Leadership Development Workshop (2011)
- Co-Facilitator/Facilitator, Reproduction/Perinatology Forum (2006-2010)
Professional Life/Community and Professional Volunteer Service:
I grew up as a farm kid in Ft. Laramie, Wyoming, where we raised cattle and farmed. A long move across the country brought us to central New Jersey, where we lived on a large Standardbred breeding farm. This is where I found horses, and my dreams of being a veterinarian began. I started out holding tails, then one day I was holding the ultrasound machine, and the next day I was drawing up vaccines and writing invoices for our veterinarian. I had always planned to return to New Jersey and be a reproductive veterinarian, but after one trip to Kentucky, I was hooked.
I spent several undergrad summers making farm calls with my great mentors, Drs. Jeff Pumphrey and Bryan Boone. They helped me prepare for vet school, wrote some great letters of recommendation, and when I finally graduated, offered me a job at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute as a rotating Field Intern. Lexington is an amazing place to start a career. Not only are the doctors at the large clinics great mentors, but the horsemen and women of central Kentucky are a great resource for young veterinarians starting out. Plus, there are plenty of horses and lots of work to do!
My practice now focuses on thoroughbred farm breeding work, mare and foal care, stallions, herd health, and dentistry. Within our practice, I have served in numerous leadership positions and currently oversee our Intern and Extern Programs, as well as serving on our Field Leadership Team. To bolster my business acumen for these various roles, I completed an online MBA program through my undergrad alma mater, Penn State.
Early in my career, my good friend Dr. Stuart Brown got me started in volunteer-organized veterinary medicine, and I helped facilitate my first Reproductive Forum. Since then, I have been fortunate to serve in leadership roles on a local level with our Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association (KVMA) and in several roles within the AAEP. Some of the highlights include working on the AAEP Foundation, organizing AAEP educational programs and wetlabs, leading the student programs at the AAEP Convention, and serving as the Chair of the Foreign Veterinary Graduate Task Force.
Through the opportunities afforded to me by the AAEP, I have seen firsthand the power and passion of the volunteer leaders of the AAEP. Our organization plays a crucial role in all aspects of equine medicine, and the driving force behind it is the dedication of our volunteer leadership. I believe my experience, work ethic, and dedication to the horse and the AAEP make me a great candidate to serve on the AAEP Board of Directors.
Why do you want to serve on the board?
I would like to serve on the Board because I am inspired by the leaders of the AAEP and the work they do. I am inspired to step forward and dedicate my time and talents to help them make the AAEP better, to make practice life better for our members, and to ultimately help improve the lives of horses.
To many, the AAEP may just be a big organization that sends out dues, prints out some journals, and hosts a convention, but there is so much more to it. To me, the AAEP is the leader in all things equine; we have the best members, the best staff, and the best volunteer leaders who are all always willing to help each other out. I would like to serve on the AAEP Board to help raise the tide for everyone and all horses. I would like to serve to help us find new ways to recruit and retain young veterinary talent. I would like to serve to help us address and highlight all the good we do as an organization, not only the care we give for horses, but the mentorship, collaboration, and support we give to each other. I would like to serve to help us tackle the mental health and wellness issues that challenge our profession. I believe that a rising tide lifts all ships, and I would like to serve to help improve equine practice for all of us, young and old.
What attributes would you bring to the board?
The attributes that I would bring to the board are an empathetic ear, a collaborative spirit, and an open mind. As a member of any leadership position, empathy and the skill of listening are two of the most important traits one can have. You must be able to see and feel the point of view of your members, and you must be willing to listen to their issues and needs. Then, as a Board, we must be able to see the impact our decisions could make on our membership and our profession.
Working in a large caseload and referral setting, I am often working through challenging cases collaboratively with specialists from multiple hospitals. While we may not all wear the same logo on our chests, we are all always working in the best interest of our patients and their owners. The ability to work collaboratively, setting aside personal loyalties for the betterment of a larger cause, is an important attribute for any Board, and I believe this to be a personal skill I’ve honed through years of collaborative clinical practice.
We must always keep an open mind as we look to improve those things around us. Through diversity and the melding of ideas and creativity, we will find the best solutions to our problems. I believe I would bring this skill to the Board, and I would work to foster an environment of psychological safety where no idea is discarded or scoffed at.
To summarize, I bring the experience of 20 years of clinical practice, 20 years of marriage to a small animal veterinarian, raising two teenagers, passion for the AAEP, and an overarching drive to help everyone succeed and do their best in their careers helping horses. It would be an honor to serve on the AAEP Board. I humbly ask for your consideration and support.
