What was your first job in the veterinary industry?
My first job in the industry was walking dogs at the local humane society in Montgomery, AL. During this time, I also shadowed at my own dog’s vet office. My first job after veterinary school was my rotating internship with Affiliated Veterinary Specialists outside of Orlando, FL.

Why did you get into veterinary neurology?
I was one of the few people who found the initial neuroscience course in the first year of vet school fascinating. I found the subject interesting and, already being addicted to Dachshunds, my interest in the subject continued to grow.

Where did you study?
Undergraduate: Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alabama

Vet school: Auburn University

Internship: Affiliated Veterinary Specialists

Residency: Auburn University and Mississippi State University

If you weren’t a neurologist, what would you be doing?
Traveling the world or being a food critic and blogger. Maybe I’d teach some Zumba on the side.

What has been your most interesting/unique/memorable case?
That’s hard for me to say. A lot of my cases are memorable to me for different reasons. Most recently, it would be Hero. He is a 9 year old Puggle who became unable to use his rear legs. After multiple slipped discs were diagnosed via MRI, he had decompressive spinal surgery. I cautioned the owners that Hero’s recovery might be prolonged because of his obesity (he was a very chubby boy!). Much to my delight, Hero was walking with minimal assistance two weeks later. This case is memorable to me because the surgery was one of the more demanding surgeries I’ve performed, his more rapid than I expected recovery, and the graciousness and gratitude of his family.