My Path to Becoming a Veterinarian: Relieving Human and Animal Suffering

As a veterinarian, I took an oath to protect animal health, prevent animal suffering and to promote human health.  Remaining true to these values to relieve the suffering of both humans and animals has been a driving force in my life, and this commitment led me to become a veterinarian.

My career track began to take shape when I was a teenager and had the opportunity to serve on a work mission to Haiti. It broke my heart to see hungry and malnourished people. Seeing people suffer affected me deeply. That impact, combined with my love for animals, made veterinary work the perfect fit. My career has been dedicated to making sure farmers have the ability to feed the hungry.

The oath I took as a veterinarian is very important to me and I’d like to share part of it with you:

“…I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health and the advancement of medical knowledge.”

Staying true to these values and this oath remains as important today as it did when I first took the oath more than 20 years ago. During my time as veterinarian, I have gained deep insight into animal health issues. Antibiotics remain one important tool to help farmers and ranchers produce safe and affordable food. The responsible use of antibiotics helps to improve human health and benefits both animals and the environment.

If you would like to learn more or have questions, I would be happy to discuss animal health with you. I can be reached at AskDrDorman@pahc.com. I am committed to providing honest, accurate answers to your questions in a transparent fashion. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll be honest about that, too, and find it from a credible source. Thank you for your interest in agricultural use of antibiotics.