My fate was sealed when evil cousins shredded my favorite stuffed animals. After meticulous stitching, bandaging, and hours of care for my stuffed friends, I knew that I had to be a vet when I grew up. I was 5 years old. Thus followed years of toads, box turtles, baby sparrows, one-legged crows, family dogs, strays, science fair hamsters, and biology.

Somewhere along the way, my path diverged a bit into grassland ecology, and I wound up with a BS in botany and MS in biology; and after an exciting career as an artist, I returned to my childhood dream at age 29, and entered vet school at Oregon State. Being too short-armed to follow a dairy career, I decided to concentrate many of my externships on zoo and exotic practices. I started my veterinary life as a generalist, but in San Francisco, it is possible to become an exotic vet and still see ordinary patients.

It was a gift, a scrawny little Hooded Lovebird, that changed my life. She captivated my heart and my interest in avian medicine. Previous field experience with reptiles and fish along with my new enthusiasm for birds eventually landed me my own practice.

After a number of years, I left my practice in good hands and went back to school. This time around, I gained a certificate in Science Illustration. I learned valuable skills that have been indispensable to my veterinary career. Computer literacy, graphics and animation have supplemented my income as well as spicing up lectures and training sessions.

I have served as an in-house veterinarian for a huge animal shelter, and as staff veterinarian for a large wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and exotic animal sanctuary facility. I have been active in psittacine conservation and rescue issues for many years. I worked as a dotcom animation artist and have sold coffee beans. I have volunteered for several wildlife, rescue, and shelter institutions, and donate artwork to a number of conservation organizations.

I currently am the staff veterinarian for the Arizona Bird Clinic, the only veterinary facility in the state that caters solely to avian species. We have seen everything from hummingbirds to ostriches, and all the ducks, parrots, finches, doves and chickens between. The Arizona Bird Clinic boasts a superb staff of competent, caring and experienced people including the generous and talented Judy Ray and parrot-whisperer extraordinare Virginia Latas.

My hobbies include birdwatching and travel. My own pets are an assortment of birds who use me mercilessly as a slave, and a macaw-like husband.