12 Special Specialists

A love of animals. A passion for learning. A hunger to make a difference. A desire to discover. A fascination with overcoming challenges. A commitment to caring. A drive to excel. Those are just a few reasons the 12 extraordinary veterinarians profiled here chose to become specialists.

Alas, the veterinary profession needs many more like them. The American Veterinary Medical Association counts more than 16,500 board-certified diplomates in specialties ranging from avian medicine to zoological medicine. That’s a large number, to be sure, but it’s far from adequate. A Mars Veterinary Health study documented academia’s inability to train enough specialists and the industry’s struggle to fill specialist job openings. “A prolonged shortage of specialists could have a substantial negative industry-wide impact on both access to care and quality of care for years to come,” the study’s author, Dr. James Lloyd, wrote.

We hope you enjoy learning about the 12 veterinarians’ career paths and contributions to their respective fields: anesthesiology, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, neurology, nutrition, oncology, ophthalmology, surgery, and theriogenology.

We found their dedication to excellence to be steadfast and inspiring. We hope you do, too.

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ANESTHESIOLOGY

Amber Hopkins, DVM, cVMA, CCRT, CVPP, DACVAA

• Vice president of medical operations and national director of anesthesia and analgesia at Thrive Pet Healthcare
• Owner of Summit Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (Castle Rock, Colorado)

Dr. Amber Hopkins saw a dead deer in the back of a pickup when she was 6 and begged her parents to pull over and help it. “Since that moment, I knew I wanted to help animals,” she says.

Dr. Hopkins worked as a veterinary technician during her undergraduate (Texas A&M University) and post-graduate (Ross University) years, including stints in anesthesia, general practice and emergency medicine.

“Anesthesia was the perfect fit for me, in part because I love physiology, critical care and the opportunity to work closely with almost every discipline in veterinary medicine,” she says. “I also had the opportunity to work with a few clinicians in pre-veterinary school who had an interest in pain management from both Eastern and Western medical philosophies. I became enthralled with the pathophysiology of pain and the management of it.”

Because she worked in so many areas before veterinary school, “It was a no-brainer to specialize,” Dr. Hopkins says. “When I find something interesting, I go down the rabbit hole to learn as much about it as possible.

“I’d rather be amazing at a couple of specialties than OK at everything. As much as we want to believe we can know everything about everything all the time, not a lot of us can achieve or maintain that.”

After earning her DVM, she completed an internship at Bay Area Veterinary Specialists in Northern California and a residency at the University of Pennsylvania. She is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia.

“I love so many things about my career in anesthesia,” she says. “I love putting clients at ease. I also love problem-solving. I have a tremendous drive for learning, self-reflection and being the best I can at the things I do.

“Being a veterinary specialist is a lot of work, and it’s not easy. You’ll have to sacrifice some parts of your life and time to be successful, so it should be your passion. If it’s something you love, it will still be fun, and if it’s your passion, it will all be worth it.

“Specialists are hard to come by and needed everywhere, so you can’t go wrong in any field you choose.”

 

CARDIOLOGY

Kathy Wright, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology and SAIM)

• Cardiologist at MedVet Cincinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio)

“Remember the ‘What I want to be when I grow up’ assignments in kindergarten and elementary school? Mine always listed veterinary medicine as a career,” says Dr. Kathy Wright.

To that end, she started her professional journey with an undergraduate degree in physiology from Michigan State University, where she also earned her DVM. She completed an internship at North Carolina State University, followed by a residency in internal medicine at the University of Tennessee and a second residency in cardiology at Ohio State University. She is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in cardiology and small animal internal medicine.

What drew her to specialize in cardiology?

“The summer after freshman year in veterinary school, I volunteered with a pediatric cardiologist,” she says. “It was an amazing experience that introduced me to the wonders of the cardiovascular system. I wasn’t seriously considering specialization until one of my surgery professors encouraged me to do so. I am so grateful that he did.

“My main considerations were the career satisfaction that specialization would bring me and the many avenues I could explore within cardiology. I enjoy the ever-changing challenge that veterinary specialty medicine presents. There is always an opportunity to grow and advance in one or many areas.”

Clinical research is one.

“It’s something I feared I wouldn’t be able to pursue in a busy private practice,” she says, “but I’m pleased to say that hasn’t been the case. We have several projects in progress. We are investigating several aspects of arrhythmias and catheter ablation of certain tachyarrhythmias, including their genetic basis. In addition, we have a project to characterize canine cardiac tumors further. Plus, we’re engaged in several multicenter trials. One is examining a potential drug therapy for feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.”

Dr. Wright enjoys the long-term relationships she forms with patients and their families. “It’s a double-edged sword,” she admits, “as losing patients is painful, but lifelong friendships can be built with their owners.”

She says one of the veterinary profession’s greatest challenges is the shortage of specialists.

“It’s particularly painful in emergency care,” Dr. Wright notes. “Specialists depend so much on the support of our emergency teams for the hands-on care of patients after hours. These past four years have acutely demonstrated how vital referral partners, emergency veterinarians and staff, and specialists are to the optimal care of our patients.”

To cope, she falls back on the advice she gives to younger veterinarians

considering specialization: “In tough times, never forget why you originally fell in love with veterinary medicine.”

She adds: “I always remember that God is in control, and every pressure has a purpose. I can choose to be crushed by the pressure or grow from it.”

 

DENTISTRY

John R. Lewis, VMD, DAVDC, FF-OMFS

• Co-owner of Veterinary Dentistry Specialists (Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania)
• Founder and instructor at Silo Academy Education Center

An errant ball hit Dr. John Lewis in the face when he was 12, breaking two incisors. Endodontic and restorative therapies helped for over a decade, but he needed extractions and implants after he graduated from veterinary school.

“The dentists were great about educating me throughout the process,” he recalls, “and it was then that I realized how much more veterinarians could be doing for our patients in dentistry.”

A seed was planted.

As a fourth-year veterinary student at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Lewis thought each rotation was worth consideration, so he entered general practice to see what rose above the others. During his five years there, he performed many dental procedures, and the seed began to germinate.

After an in-practice fellowship, he applied to Penn Vet’s dentistry and oral surgery residency program.

“The plan was to return to practice, but I enjoyed teaching at the university and spent 11 years at Penn Vet,” he says. “I loved my time in academia, but I needed to step up as a breadwinner.” (He and his wife have six sons.)

After working as an associate veterinarian for five years, he partnered with a colleague in 2019 to start a dentistry and oral surgery practice and a continuing education center. “It’s been a wonderful experience to build something from the ground up, allowing for concierge-level patient care and small-batch learning opportunities for veterinarians and vet nurses,” Dr. Lewis says.

He is helping to advance veterinary dentistry through research, particularly canine mandibular reconstruction. “I’ve utilized a new type of bone graft material to span large gaps of missing mandibles, held in place with titanium miniplates and locking screws,” he says.

Today, his career is in full bloom.

“Becoming a specialist was the right move for me to become the best possible veterinarian in a focused area of expertise. It’s allowed for the development of skills and knowledge at a deeper level than I was able to as a GP.

“Being a specialist allows you to spend more time with individual clients and patients. It also allows for better client education regarding outcomes and expectations and, ultimately, more satisfied clients and patients.”

 

DERMATOLOGY

Russell “Rusty” Muse, DVM, DACVD, MANZCVS 

• Medical director and clinical dermatologist at Animal Dermatology Group (Tustin and Long Beach, California)

As a youngster, Dr. Rusty Muse knew he wanted to be a veterinarian when he saw Rex Harrison as Dr. Doolittle on the big screen. “While I’ve never learned to talk with the animals, working with dogs and cats is my happy place,” he says. “My early life and undergraduate studies focused me on becoming a veterinarian.”

He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Louisiana and his DVM from Louisiana State University. Then, he worked in private practice in Northern Virginia, completing what he calls the equivalent of a four-year internship.

“I was in general practice but found that I wanted to learn more about dermatology,” he says. “I wanted the knowledge and expertise to take a patient from initial symptoms to resolution.

“The chronic nature of dermatological skin disease means you develop relationships with your clients and patients. I loved that, and it was a natural fit. Specialization was the best way forward for my personal growth and career goals.”

He acknowledges that the cost of a veterinary medical education can be a barrier to entry for would-be specialists. “If delayed earnings for a few years can be worked into the equation, the long-term rewards — both financial and personal — are well worth it,” he says.

Muse landed a residency at Animal Dermatology Clinic in Garden Grove, California — a “few-and-far-between position in those days,” he says — and achieved diplomate status from the American College of Veterinary Dermatology in 1996.

“I like being on the cutting edge of my field, enabling me to provide the best clinical management for clients and patients,” he says. “There is nothing more personally satisfying than to take frustrated clients and educate them about a pet’s problems and then come up with a game plan together on how to manage it.

“From a personal standpoint, becoming a veterinary dermatologist enriched my life far beyond what I could have envisioned. I’ve had opportunities to visit places, work with people and influence aspiring veterinarians, which I would never have had if not for my career. I will be forever grateful that I chose this path.”

Dr. Muse’s peers hold him in high regard, as evidenced by his serving as president of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology, receiving the ACVD’s Award of Excellence and being named secretary of the Ninth World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology.

What advice would he give a younger veterinarian about specializing?

“Do it,” he urges. “Find out what you like and are good at and pursue that goal until you achieve it. Your career will be a long one. You have to love what you do. If it’s general medicine, then do that. But if you are interested in specialization, educate yourself about the process. If you decide that’s what you want, don’t let anything get in your way.”

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EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE

Elisa Mazzaferro, MS, DVM, Ph.D., DACVECC 

• Staff criticalist at Cornell University Veterinary Specialists (Stamford, Connecticut)

Like many veterinarians, Elisa Mazzaferro always loved animals. As a toddler, she would pick up ants, kiss them and gently put them down. “That love for animals and my passion for science led me along what I thought was the best path for me,” she says.

Why emergency and critical care medicine?

“That was my first rotation during my clinical years at Michigan State University,” Dr. Mazzaferro says. “Until then, I’d anticipated becoming a veterinary endocrinologist. Once I was immersed in my ECC rotation, I realized this was where I needed to be.

“The fast pace, not knowing what will come through the door next, seeing critically ill animals get well with intense interventions — it was and still is fascinating to me.”

Dr. Mazzaferro completed an internship at the Veterinary Institute of Trauma, Emergency and Critical Care in Wisconsin and a dual residency and doctorate in ECC at Colorado State University. She became board-certified in emergency and critical care in 2002.

After serving as the director of emergency services at a multispecialty practice in Colorado for 10 years, she joined Cornell University Veterinary Specialists in Connecticut in 2012. She also is an adjunct associate clinical professor of emergency and critical care at Cornell University in New York.

Dr. Mazzaferro has earned international recognition as a leader in her field. In addition to her fast-paced clinical practice, she lectures worldwide and has written four manuals and numerous chapters on emergency and critical care medicine. She is a past president of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society.

How does she do it all?

“I live by the motto ‘Life is a constant triage,’” she says. “And I could not have become successful without the support of very collegial and respectful teams. Without an excellent team to support me, I could not do what I do.”

She truly loves what she does.

“I attribute my success to being happy in my career,” she says. “Because I’m happy, I have remained enthusiastic and passionate about being a veterinary criticalist and lecturer. If I could start my career over, I may not do anything differently. I have been so happy.”

 

INTERNAL MEDICINE

Leah A. Cohn, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM (SAIM)

• Former interim dean of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine and a professor of small animal internal medicine (Columbia, Missouri)

“Veterinary medicine is truly the only thing I wanted to spend my life doing,” Dr. Leah Cohn says. “Much to my surprise, I fell in love with teaching veterinary students during my internship. It was as if a light bulb went off, and I knew that was what I wanted to do.”

Specialization was the means to that end.

“At the time, my mentors told me that to become an academic faculty member, I needed to specialize,” she recalls. “Small animal internal medicine offered the greatest breadth of any specialty out there, and all the internists I worked with were amazing veterinarians, educators and people. I wanted to be like them when I grew up.”

After earning her DVM from the University of Tennessee and completing an internship and residency in small animal medicine and surgery at North Carolina State University, along with a doctorate in veterinary microbiology and immunology, Dr. Cohn was awarded diplomate status in small animal internal medicine by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

In July 2023, she was named interim dean of the University of Missouri veterinary college, a position she relinquished this past summer.

“Being a dean is pretty much a full-time job,” Dr. Cohn says. “Although I continued teaching and editing a textbook, I didn’t have time to continue my research significantly. I look forward to starting some new projects when I return to my real job as a professor of veterinary medicine and surgery.”

Teaching, research and hands-on clinical service are an ideal mix for her.

“The interactions with other people, especially people who share my passion for understanding more about physiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic approach and treatment opportunities for dogs and cats, are what I enjoy most about being a specialist,” she says. “I also enjoy working with pet owners willing to go the extra mile to provide the best possible care for their animals.

“If I could start over, I would definitely become a veterinarian, I would definitely become an internist, and I would definitely become an academic faculty member who is lucky enough to get to teach smart, compassionate, motivated students.”

 

NEUROLOGY

Fred Wininger, VMD, MS, DACVIM (Neurology)

• Veterinary neurologist and neurosurgeon at The Animal Neurology Center (St. Louis)

Dr. Fred Wininger was always fascinated by animals and how each species evolved complex abilities, like visual processing or sensitive smell, to gain an edge.

“My interest in neurology stemmed from that fascination,” he says. “I watched practitioners wave their hands at a dog’s face, flip their feet over, watch them walk and suddenly know what was wrong with them. It was like magic. No fancy lab tests or instruments, just their eyes, hands and minds. This was the puzzle work I was looking for. And the secret to this Sherlock Holmes-like aptitude is an understanding of functional neuroanatomy.”

Dr. Wininger acquired that understanding as he completed the rigorous training that specialization requires. For him, it was a VMD from the University of Pennsylvania, a rotating small animal internship at the University of Georgia, a residency in neurology and a master’s degree in neuroscience at Washington State University, and diplomate designation from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, with certification in neurosurgery.

Today, he is the founder of The Animal Neurology Center, which leverages opportunities to teach students and help address the specialist shortage.

“Most residencies require the trainee to choose either the didactic approach of a university or the case volume of a private practice,” he says. “Our residency affords both.”

While the initiative is his proudest career achievement, practicing his profession fulfills him.

“The intrigue of neurology is what drew me in,” he says. “The ability to be a diagnostician, an epileptologist, a surgeon, an inventor was too great to pass up. And it’s given me a sense of belonging, to be part of a bigger whole and bring others into that circle.

“As a specialist, I have two inherent members of my team: the client and their primary care veterinarian. I draw tremendous satisfaction knowing that my referral base can call me ‘their guy’ and reassure pet owners, ‘Don’t worry, he’s going to take care of you.’”

The residency program facilitates Dr. Wininger’s research.

“I own a company that creates customized surgical tools for safe and effective therapy of individual animals, using 3D printing,” he notes. “I’m also intrigued by MRI, which we can use to look not just at the brain but also at how it works. And we’re investigating the role of artificial intelligence in optimizing MR images for the best diagnostic results.

“The virtue of veterinary medicine is that it’s a professional degree without vocational limits. While the training is very linear, the degree offers opportunities to interface with entrepreneurs and innovators in science and engineering, business and legislation.”

 

NUTRITION

Martha G. Cline, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition)

• Senior manager of North American veterinary technical communications at Nestlé Purina PetCare
• Part-time clinical consultant at Red Bank Veterinary Hospitals (New Jersey)

Dr. Martha Cline’s desire to work with animals hasn’t wavered since she declared her intention at a kindergarten career day. After completing an undergraduate degree in biology, she earned her DVM at the University of Tennessee.

“During my first year of veterinary school, I became a Purina student ambassador, which gave me my first exposure to veterinary nutrition,” she says.

That summer, she worked on a research project at UT’s Veterinary Nutrition Service and in a clinic. Joining the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition as a student provided her with networking opportunities.

“I knew early in my veterinary education that I wanted to pursue a specialty,” she says. “I took an interest in nutrition because I enjoyed the subject matter and connected to the topic on a personal level. I also recognized that the nutrition specialty college was a small group of brilliant minds with a big influence.”

She soon became one of them, completing her residency in small animal clinical nutrition at Tennessee and becoming a nutrition-certified diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in July 2013.

Specialization has afforded tremendous career opportunities and visibility.

“Being one of a few practicing clinical nutritionists, especially in private practice, I had many requests to speak, write or be interviewed, enabling me to get my name out there and develop my confidence and skills,” she says. “Shifting into an industry position has also been a unique opportunity that put me on a steep learning curve.

“I have the opportunity to lecture, write, edit, network with key opinion leaders, engage in research and work cross-functionally with others in the industry, like marketing, sales, and research and development. And by stepping into private practice part time, I continue to engage with clients, patients and colleagues while keeping up my clinical skills.”

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ONCOLOGY

Philip J. Bergman, DVM, MS, Ph.D., DACVIM (Oncology)

• Global director of clinical studies at Mars Veterinary Health
• Veterinary oncologist at Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center (Bedford Hills, New York)

Dr. Philip Bergman’s favorite quote, revealed on his Veterinary Information Network bio, is, “We learn from our tumors every day.” While unattributed, the line arguably could be the motto of any doctor or scientist in the oncology field. For Dr. Bergman, it’s the essence of what he does, and it understates his impact on pets diagnosed with cancer and the people who love them.

Dr. Bergman knew from childhood that he wanted to be a veterinarian. During summers, he’d visit small-town Plain, Wisconsin, where “About half are Bergmans, and they’re almost all dairy farmers,” he says.

“I thought when I got to vet school that I was going to become a dairy veterinarian. But then I realized it was not for me.”

What informed that realization?

“I had some amazing mentors,” he says. “And then I had a grandfather with metastatic prostate cancer. That’s when I said, ‘Well, maybe I should think about pivoting to cancer.’”

After earning his DVM from Colorado State University in 1990 and completing an internship at Kansas State University, Dr. Bergman returned to CSU for a three-year medical oncology residency and a master of science degree. He was board-certified in oncology by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1994. He then went on to complete a Ph.D. fellowship in human cancer biology at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Today, he is the global director of clinical studies at Mars Veterinary Health, a network of nearly 3,000 veterinary clinics. Before that, he was the director of clinical studies for VCA Animal Hospitals. Notably, he served as the principal veterinary investigator of Oncept, a fully licensed canine melanoma vaccine. He also teaches at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and keeps a hand in patient care as a veterinary oncologist at Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center, a post he’s held since 2007.

While Dr. Bergman’s path to specialization was long and challenging, “I never thought twice about not pursuing oncology as a specialty,” he says. “I think I’ve been successful because I have a strong work ethic and sense of caring, no matter how hard it was.”

He says his best professional habits are to “work hard and read scientifically for one hour a day.”

The reward is what drives so many veterinarians to the profession: “I enjoy helping people and their beloved pets,” he says.

Dr. Bergman urges would-be veterinarians to “Follow your heart.” As for what he would do differently if he restarted his career, he says, “Nothing. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

 

OPHTHALMOLOGY

Christian R. Nettune, DVM, DACVO

• Founder of Blink Veterinary Eye Specialists (Dallas)

Dr. Chris Nettune didn’t enter veterinary school until his late 20s, after a career in finance. But coming from a family of human eye specialists — his father and brother are ophthalmologists — perhaps it was inevitable that he’d see his way into the medical field.

“I like helping people, love animals and love solving problems,” he says. “Veterinary medicine ticked all those boxes. Specializing in ophthalmology seemed almost preordained. I remember looking at the first ocular diagram during a lecture in second-year vet school and having flashbacks to my childhood. My dad had similar diagrams around his office and on the covers of periodicals he read at home. I felt confident that I could command a great understanding of this specialty, and from that point forward, I focused on specializing in it.

“I knew I was behind the curve in terms of when I’d be earning an income compatible with what I was making before vet school,” he adds. “As soon as I decided to specialize, I put 100% into making that happen.”

While earning his DVM from Oklahoma State University, Dr. Nettune spent summers shadowing ophthalmologists and preceptorships at veterinary ophthalmology services across the country. He then completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Ohio State University.

“I was determined to get a residency one year after finishing vet school, so I made numerous sacrifices to make that happen,” he says. It worked when he landed a three-year residency in veterinary ophthalmology at the Animal Ophthalmology Clinic in Dallas.

He earned board certification from the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 2020. And today, his  thriving ophthalmology practice treats dogs and cats suffering from trauma, cataracts, corneal ulcers, lacerations, foreign bodies, glaucoma, eyelid abnormalities and masses.

“I’m fortunate that one of my brothers is a local corneal specialist at one of the busiest human eye surgery centers in the country,” Dr. Nettune says. “I’ll frequently spend mornings in their ORs, learning new techniques to address issues I see in veterinary patients, including corneal transplants. It’s enabled me to restore corneal clarity and comfort for pets with perforated corneal ulcers, a condition for which many animals previously would have an eye removed.”

He acknowledges that the path to becoming a veterinary specialist can be challenging.

“Know that there are sacrifices,” he says. “It is truly competitive to get a residency, and the work you do in every year of vet school can impact your path.

“Don’t cut corners,” he advises. “Treat every person along your journey with respect. Veterinary medicine is a small world.”

As for his success, he attributes it to “never giving up and never being afraid to change course.”

“If something isn’t working to help you achieve the goal, you don’t have to change your goal; just try the next path to see if it helps you get there,” Dr. Nettune says.

“My dad was a New York City lawyer before he decided to go to medical school. Hearing my mom talk about the sacrifices he made practicing law while taking pre-med classes at night, all while recently married, helped me see that truly anything you set your mind to is possible.”

 

SURGERY

David Dycus, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS (Small Animal)

• Founder of Fusion Veterinary Orthopedics (Lanham, Maryland)

Dr. David Dycus didn’t consider veterinary school until he was in college and majoring in biology. He’d been a baseball player from childhood but realized he needed a more reliable career path.

“I liked medicine and animals, but I didn’t test well and didn’t want to take the MCAT for medical school,” he says. “A teammate suggested I go to veterinary school. Then, I got a job at a veterinary clinic and fell in love with it.”

After earning his DVM from Mississippi State University, Dr. Dycus completed an internship at Auburn University and a residency at Mississippi State. He became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2014 and a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner the following year.

“I loved surgery and bones and joints,” he says of his decision to specialize in small animal surgery. “I knew that doing wellness examinations and vaccinations was not for me.

“I love the challenging cases and that people come to me when others can’t figure out or fix what’s wrong,” he adds. “With that comes additional work to stay up to date with the latest research. That’s why I started doing so much lecturing and teaching outside of clinical practice.”

Dr. Dycus conducts research and has published over 20 articles, mostly on osteoarthritis, cranial cruciate ligament disease and repair, and the biomechanics of implants and fractures. He co-edited the textbook Complications in Canine Cranial Cruciate Ligament Surgery.

What would he tell a younger veterinarian about becoming a specialist?

“Start early, focus on grades, get research experience during veterinary school and let the specialists at your school know you want to specialize,” he advises. “Work hard, show up early, leave late, and be prepared and present in the moment. Lastly, don’t let others get you down on your dreams. Take and seek feedback, and continuously mold yourself into the clinician you want to be.”

 

THERIOGENOLOGY

Bruce W. Christensen, DVM, MS, DACT

• Founder of Kokopelli Veterinary Center (Sacramento, California)

“As soon as I understood what a veterinarian was, that’s what I wanted to be,” Dr. Bruce Christensen says. “I always pictured myself as a zoo vet, and I studied wildlife biology as an undergraduate with that goal in mind.”

While earning his DVM at Cornell University, however, he became fascinated by the reproductive system.

“Conception was mind-boggling,” he says. “Two autonomous individuals coming together and creating a separate autonomous individual from a single donor cell each. I was hooked on theriogenology before I even knew what the word meant.”

He completed an internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in New Jersey, followed by a residency in theriogenology at the University of Florida, where he also earned a master’s degree in reproductive physiology. He became a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenology in 2006 and today is one of fewer than 400 board-certified theriogenologists worldwide.

After 13 years of teaching and conducting clinical research in academia, he established Kokopelli Veterinary Center in 2017, giving Northern California canine and equine breeders an exceptional level of expertise in assisted reproduction. He continues to consult on research with colleagues in academia.

“I enjoy knowing a lot about a specific area, and I love the deeper dives,” Dr. Christensen says of his work. “And I like being one of a few people who really understand clinical reproduction in canines and equines.”

How has the shortage of veterinary specialists affected his practice?

“Theriogenologists have always been in short supply,” he says. “Personally, that’s good business for me. But we suffer from not having enough surgeons, cardiologists and oncologists in our area to provide the referral care needed for our clients.”

If he could start his career over, would he do anything differently?

“Knowing what I know now, I’d go into private practice sooner than I did,” he says. “It’s much easier to accomplish goals outside a bureaucracy.”