I did not always think I would be a small animal veterinarian. Growing up in Okeechobee, Florida, I spent the majority of my childhood raising livestock and competing in rodeos all over the country. It was during this time I fell in love with horses and started working for the local mixed animal practice. After high school, my love of large animals and agriculture brought me to the University of Florida where I obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science and, later, my Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. However, it was during veterinary school that I became especially interested in small animal emergency medicine. (My love of horses still remains and I hope to be able to make them a part of my life in the future).

After graduating from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, I went to the University of Tennessee where I completed an additional internship in small animal medicine and surgery. I then returned to the University of Florida to complete another advanced internship focused solely on small animal emergency medicine and critical care, which are the areas that I find fascinating. It was during this time that I met my wife, Holly, who was in her senior year of veterinary school at the time. Since that time, I have worked in both emergency referral and general small animal practices. At my wife’s insistence to move closer to Lakeland and her family, we were fortunate to meet Dr. Latter and his All Creatures Team, and I feel very privileged to be able to work for such a great veterinary hospital.