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Meet Amber Lee, a 2013 graduate of VMCVM who is the medical director at Mountain View Humane Spay/Neuter Clinic. Amber says she values staying connected to the VMCVM network -- living and working in Christiansburg enables her to collaborate with veterinary college faculty regularly. Amber loves to bake, and, even though her work is focused on dogs and cats, finds that equine and food animal factoids she learned in vet school are very helpful on trivia night.

Meet JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM ’10, a freelance medical writer at JPen Communications. After earning her DVM from VMCVM, she took a non-traditional path, pursuing a postdoctoral research fellowship at Emory University and then a career transition to medical writing, where she uses her clinical knowledge to make complex veterinary topics accessible to pet parents. Her VMCVM education equipped her with the resilience and versatility to thrive in a unique and meaningful career.

Meet Melani French DVM '14, associate veterinarian at Clevengers Corner Veterinary Care in Amissville, Virginia. A proud VMCVM alum, she values the strong Hokie network in her area and the hands-on experience that shaped her career. Passionate about youth mentorship, Melani coaches a middle school step team and volunteers in her community, bringing the same dedication to her patients as she does to inspiring the next generation.

Meet Tim Fan '91, DVM '95, a VMCVM alum and professor at the University of Illinois. A leader in comparative oncology, he’s passionate about advancing cancer therapies for both pets and people. He credits VMCVM with teaching him the value of teamwork and communication — skills vital to building trust in veterinary care. At home, he’s surrounded by a lively crew of rescue dogs, cats, and even a box turtle.

Meet Dr. Lisa Pinn McFaddin DVM ’07, associate veterinarian at Caring Hands Animal Hospital in Bristow, Virginia. Her education at VMCVM broadened her perspective on veterinary medicine, strengthened her clinical and research skills, and ignited her passion for integrative medicine. She takes pride in her Hokie roots and advancing evidence-based holistic care to improve patient outcomes.

Rachael Dunn '10, DVM '14 is the owner and veterinarian at Loudoun Urgent Vet. She values the strong foundation and network she gained from VMCVM. Inspired by her parents, Rachael’s passion for rescue work shines through her involvement with Loudoun Community Cat Coalition. Her favorite quote, "How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard," reflects her love for the human-animal bond. At home, she cares for a mix of pets, including dogs, cats, a rabbit, a goose, and ducks.

Kaitlyn McBane, DVM '18 reflects on the invaluable problem-solving skills she gained from VMCVM, the enduring relationships with classmates, and the inspiring advice to believe in herself, while passionately enjoying her work and maintaining a fulfilling work-life balance.

Pamela Wykes Armstrong, a VMCVM alumna and owner of Damascus Veterinary Hospital, shares how her education laid the foundation for her success, the sense of community among alumni, and her passion for continuous learning and mentoring future veterinarians.

Andrew Gorman DVM '11, currently serves as the Deputy Chief of the Comparative Medicine Branch at the National Institute of Environmental Health Science/NIH. With a foundation from the veterinary college, his well-rounded veterinary expertise extends from hands-on practical experience to advocating for staff development, emphasizing empathy in professional interactions, and dispelling misconceptions about lab animal medicine.