Scott Thompson
DVMMy passion for veterinary medicine was solidified while working at the Asher Veterinary Clinic in Redding, CA. I had already been accepted to the University of California, Davis when I graduated from high school at age 17. Within a month of high school graduation, I had secured a part time retail clerk job at Pay 'N Save, purchased a small mobile home, and moved my cat and me to Davis, California. I had help from home, my savings and a pile of honors, honorariums and scholarships in science academics that helped fund my first year at UCD. Sadly at only 44 years of age dad died as my freshman year at UCD was ending. Now I had to put all my early education to work and prove I could pay for my own education and become the veterinarian I strived to be. Now working full time, with being awarded a 4 year scholarship from the Oakland Scottish Rite / Scaife Scholarship Foundation, we fast forward to application to and acceptance to UCD School of Veterinary Medicine. After just 3 years of undergraduate studies, I had also been accepted to UC San Francisco School of Medicine with a full ride scholarship and offer of Fellowship in transplantation medicine. However, I followed my first love in medicine and in the fall of 1972 at age 20, married for 2 years, I started my official veterinary education. I turned 20 during my first week of classes along with the announcement that our first child was in the oven. Cheri was born in March 1973 and my Bachelor's degree in Veterinary Science was awarded. The next four years were a blur of grueling class schedules, challenging curriculum content, VMTH [Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital] tour director, diapers and toddler, work, senior class treasurer, and camaraderie with 94 classmates. We ushered in the pilot program for the new wave veterinary education track programs. We survived the Vietnam War, campus unrest and social revolution of the mid-sixties to mid-seventies. As a class we were known as the Spirit '76 celebrating our graduation with the 200th birthday of the USA. And a spirited class, we were breaking about every school rule there was and won nearly every battle for change that we stood for in improvement in education and patient care. We were class that produced more future professors, researchers, Diplomats, veterinary military officers and other notables in veterinary medicine than any class in recent school history. As I entered by 4th year of vet school, it was announced that I was to be a father, again. Just weeks before our National and State Board exams, Jeremy was board in April of 1976. Graduation came in June 1976 and I found myself employed back in the practice where I had worked as a kennel boy. I was the wet-behind-the-ears Veterinarian, who had just had braces removed from his teeth and younger that most of the other employees and staff Veterinarians. Now at 24, cutting my college long hair and full beard, I entered clinical practice looking like a 12 year old baby faced kid. My talents were soon appreciated by clients and in 1978 I bought into the Asher Veterinary Clinic as a junior partner. 1980 brought significant changes with a divorce and the opportunity to purchase the practice outright. With the help of a prime plus 5 % adjustable SBA loan, I was the boss and sole practice owner. The early '80's proved a challenging time to have a variable note when prime went to 23% and I was paying the government 28% interest on my loan. Determined spirit, hard work, leading by example and past experiences I not only survived the economic times, but also grew the practice to 5 full time veterinarians. As a down side, we were out growing the physical building we were in, even though we could house 132 pets at any one time. I paid off my SBA loan and it was time to expand. Another epiphany came to light. I decided after 35+ years of practice ownership to turn the reins over once again. I want to spend the next 7 years enjoying my clients and feline patients and not taking the baggage of management home every night. Once again, I sold my practice to VCA. I remain as a full time feline veterinarian with limited management duties: yippee!! I am the Medical Director for VCA-Feline Medical Center.
