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Meet Katherine Broaddus '83, DVM '86, a veterinarian with Broad Run Veterinary Service in Bluemont, Virginia. One of only a few women to finish the Vermont 100 both on horse and foot, she is passionate about exposing people to foxhunting and carriage driving to preserve those sports for the future. Broaddus said being an alum has allowed her unlimited access over the years to top doctors and advice without judgement. She encourages current veterinary students to do a complete history and physical examination to diagnose patients before implementing the help of modern technology.

Aimee Dalrymple, DVM ’95, is a shelter medicine specialist at Shelter Veterinary Care Consulting LLC in Natick, Massachusetts. After beginning her career in small animal general practice, she transitioned to shelter medicine and later earned a Master’s in Shelter Medicine through the University of Florida’s online program. She credits VMCVM with providing the strong clinical foundation that has supported her more than 30-year career, which now includes consulting with shelters, teaching at veterinary schools, and collaborating on research. Passionate about advancing evidence-based shelter medicine and dispelling misconceptions about the field, Dalrymple says all the hard work is worth it because veterinary medicine is “inspiring, challenging, and wonderful”—and even decades later, she can still ear-tag a sow or operate a cattle chute when needed.

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.