Stefanie came to VidaVet Veterinary Urgent Care after serving two years as a client services coordinator (and later supervisor) at a local emergency vet, although much of her professional career has been spent managing a family-owned optometrist’s office back home in her native Scranton, PA. While Stefanie loved the thrill of emergency medicine, she longed to make lasting, more one-on-one connections with the clients she was aiding daily. Caring for both animals and people has been amongst her core values, so she was drawn to the family-like atmosphere of VidaVet. Unlike most in veterinary medicine, Stefanie’s educational background did not revolve around technician school or the sciences. She’s a life-long student of the Humanities. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English (business and technical writing) from Wilkes University in 2009 and her Master’s in English Literature (with a concentration in Postcolonial Studies) from Duquesne University in 2012. She found value in studying the literature of peoples whose own stories were often suppressed and how the intensely personal and communal nature of literature provides a window into various aspects of the human condition. While working in veterinary medicine, Stefanie became passionate about prioritizing mental health and wellness in the veterinary community. She joined her hospital’s Wellness Council to promote daily mindfulness activities and other self-care and mental health resources. When not working, Stefanie can be found spending time with her family – husband, Dan; daughter, Penelope; three fur-babies, Thorin Kittyshield (who wants you to know he is the bestest boy), Sunshine, and Ceres; and an axolotl named Ovid. She also enjoys playing guitar and ukulele, reading, writing, playing video games, matching her hair color to her eyeglasses, and cooking. She is excited to begin her new adventure at VidaVet!