I have been interested in caring for animals from my earliest memories. When I moved to Plymouth two days before the beginning of 5th grade, I made life plans of operating a horse farm with my good friend and classmate at Bird School. She would ride the horses, and I would care for them. At that time, I thought caring for the horses involved feeding, cleaning and brushing them.
As I grew up, I maintained my fascination with animals, and loved visiting homes with pets. My mother was allergic to anything with feathers and fur, so enjoying other families’ pets was the best I could do.
In school, I loved math and science and literature, a strange combination, I know. Puzzles of most types fascinated me greatly.
My father wanted to know my career goals before I applied to college, and I read college catalogues cover-to-cover so that I could choose wisely. I was the oldest of four children, and was expected to be responsible in my choice, not a bad thing, I might add.
Veterinary medicine seemed to be the best way to combine my love of problem solving, science (especially biology), animals, and interaction with people. I am pleased to report that my choice has been a wise one for me as I cannot imagine doing anything else as passionately as this.
I graduated from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1977 and began work in a small animal practice in Grand Rapids. This was a great learning experience and I really learned to appreciate the Plymouth community that I had grown up in. After nine months, I returned home, and began working at a large practice located in Detroit. This practice consisted of a large central hospital with a 24 hour emergency service and several smaller satellite clinics. I loved the mix of emergency work with general practice and benefited greatly from the ability to follow cases as they recovered from the initial emergency and became healthy, happy patients once again.
In 1990, I returned to Parkway Veterinary Clinic in Plymouth. This was where I first worked as kennel help before vet school. My long-standing mentors have been Dr. Clif McClumpha and Dr. Richard Kirchgatter. I feel fortunate to have been first exposed to veterinary medicine by these two caring and wonderful veterinarians.
Currently my life centers around my faith, family and career. I have two children currently in college, and a dog, a cat, and a very patient husband. In my “spare time”, I enjoy reading and nearly anything to do with textiles. This includes weaving, spinning, sewing, needlework and quilting.
My second family consists of the staff and clients of Parkway Veterinary Clinic, and I feel very privileged to be invited by clients to help them provide the best care they can for each of their beloved pets.
My current plans are to remain at Parkway Veterinary Clinic as long as I can practice, which, God willing, will be for many years to come.