I recently moved to Portland after falling in love with Oregon’s stunning landscape and welcoming vibes of the city when I ran the Hood to Coast relay. I have always felt a connection with animals and a deep respect for interspecies bonds. I’m originally from the east coast, and wanted to be a veterinarian when I grew up. Instead, I chose a different path when I went to college in NYC, earning degrees in journalism and education. Post-graduation, I stayed in the city and dedicated a large part of my career working for wildlife conservation and other non-profit organizations. After 15 years as a New Yorker, I took a career break during the pandemic, relocated to rural Pennsylvania, and later Connecticut. Though I missed the energy of living in a city, I made the most of it, splitting my time between working on a farm in the mornings — helping care for chickens, goats, sheep, cats, and dogs, as well as lots of crops — and coaching high school track the rest of the day, where I was the first woman and AAPI distance coach in the history of the program. Both roles gave me the inspiration and courage to pursue two major life goals: align my career with animal care and move to an outdoorsy, running-centric city! My two darling and goofy cats, siblings Crepes and Monet, made the cross-country trip with me. I dream of one day adding a very large dog to the crew.
It’s certainly been a winding road to get here. I’m so grateful to join the team at Northwest Neighborhood Veterinary Hospital and grow within the veterinary field. In my spare time, I look forward to exploring more of Oregon, getting back into running, cycling and paddleboarding, learning to rock climb, and embracing the PNW weather!