Most Things in Life are Better Together

I saw Dr. Fritzler’s lab coat across my desk chair the Tuesday morning.  Dr. Zawacki had to leave urgently the day before so Dr. Fritzler saw her afternoon appointments.  Beth doesn't see scheduled appointments anymore.  Her duties in management, book keeping, and business tasks, along with her responsibilities at our other practice, eventually made her decide, a few years ago that she couldn't practice regularly anymore.  She and I had practiced together for 15 years or so and it was great.  It was never too much togetherness.  We saw each others patients and always had each others backs. 

When she stopped practicing, it was a particularly hard transition for me.  For so many years, I would finish an appointment on a Thursday (I am off on Fridays) and say to the owner, "the doctor that will call back tomorrow is my wife".  It was fabulous continuity.  I would be home with our kids and she would call me with a list of my patients and we would go over what was next for each of them.  I felt like I was present even when I was off. 

           

 
 We have a wonderful set of doctors that do a great job following up on my patients.  I just sometimes miss practicing with her.  We can't go back.  And, we don't want to.  As the clinic has grown, we evolved in our different directions - me into medical director and she into hospital administrator.  We belong in these roles.  But, for a few hours that day, we weaved in and out of our rooms together, in our separate appointments, and we were practicing side by side again.  It was nice to step back for moment and remember that time.  

Timothy R Kraabel, DVM, DABVP (Canine/Feline Practice)

Vice President, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners

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The Next Generation of Veterinarians

We found out this week that our own Sarah Kwon has been accepted to the Washington State College of Veterinary Medicine class of 2021.  Sarah has worked tirelessly towards veterinary school admission and this is a culmination of many years’ effort.  

Sarah has been my assistant for several years and she and I work very closely on patients together.  She is an integral part of the care we provide.  From my recommendation letter to the WSU Veterinary school, “Sarah is skilled and excited about veterinary medicine.  She is adept at problem solving and is interested in applying clinical data for the benefit of active cases.  I am ever more committed that she is headed down the correct career path.  I expect her to excel in clinical medicine.  She has the interpersonal skills, compassion, competence, and drive necessary to succeed in school and practice.”  Sarah will be an excellent veterinarian.  The clinic and I will miss her but are so proud of her accomplishment.

Congratulations Sarah!  

I have long told her that she belonged in the doctor inner circle.  Time moves on quickly.  She will go off to vet school in August but it won’t be that long until you may see Dr. Kwon back at Lien.

Timothy R Kraabel, DVM, DABVP (Canine/Feline Practice)

Vice President, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners