Faculty Spotlight: Erin Phoenix '11, DVM '17

Erin Phoenix '11, DVM '17

Clinical Assistant Professor, Community Practice

When did you join the veterinary college?

2022

The best part of being a faculty is?

Teaching students and working with a collaborative and knowledgeable department.

Best advice I've gotten...

Your perceived limitations are self-created.

How would you capture the essence of your work in a newspaper headline?

Young Alumna Returns to VMCVM to Teach Surgical Skills

My hidden talent...

Guessing people's surgical glove size.

A person who has inspired me...

My husband inspires me everyday- reminding me to go for what I want, try new things, and work hard to be a better teacher and clinician.

Words of encouragement to a current veterinary college student...

Keep your chin up and keep moving forward. Get a therapist. Get a financial advisor. Learn good coping mechanisms, because this is a tough but rewarding career.

One misconception that all students seem to have is?

That we are the only vet school that has problems with keeping faculty.

If I had a superpower, it would be...

Breathing under water.

This excites me the most about the future of my industry...

The growing role of primary care veterinarians and all that they can do.

A cause I'm most passionate about...

Student/vet community well-being.

Favorite way to end the day...

Glass of red wine in front of the woodstove with a book and the critters asleep around me.

Top of my bucket list...

Switzerland! Italy! Thailand! New Zealand!

My favorite quote...

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."- Maya Angelou

How many pets/animals live at home? Can you tell us about them?

Two cats (Siamese mix sisters that love to snuggle together), and two big pit bulls (who are very sweet and loving, and also chaotic and destructive).

Anything else to add?

I am so happy to be back in Blacksburg and can't believe I have the opportunity to help grow and support future veterinarians. What a gift... and the best way I could imagine that I can serve the community that built me.