ABOUT ICHABOD INK

I founded Ichabod Ink in 2005 with the goal of teaching future veterinarians, and those who love them, all about the veterinary profession. Through the articles and illustrations, I want visitors to this site to feel that they have a friend in the profession or a “veterinarian next door”—a veterinarian who will help them learn all they can about this great profession.

Ichabod Ink started with the publication of my first book, Lilly’s Heart. Since I have been a veterinarian, countless people have told me that they wanted to go to veterinary school, but the science was too difficult for them. I didn’t want this to happen to today’s future veterinarians. So I wrote Lilly’s Heart to introduce them to the science of veterinary medicine in a fun and colorful way. Today, I think that both Lilly’s Heart and the Kids section of this website are the perfect way to teach children that both a love of science and of animals are important for a successful veterinary career.

For students, parents, and teachers, I hope the information here helps you or the ones you love learn all they can about a career as a veterinarian. This is a relatively new website and I hope you will use the Contact Us page to tell me what was helpful and what needs to be added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Like most veterinarians, I made my career choice when I was quite young. I was 11 years old and working at dog shows in Southern California when I told my parents I was going to be a veterinarian. Many years later, I graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Microbiology and entered Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine. I graduated from veterinary school thinking that nothing could ever get me back into the classroom again, but 3 years later I graduated with a Master's of Business Administration from the University of Southern New Hampshire. And this was the start of an extremely unique career path.

My career is a great example of the fantastic opportunities the veterinary profession offers. I have practiced medicine as a small-animal doctor, managed a region of veterinary hospitals, served our country as a Captain in the Army Veterinary Corps during the first Gulf War, worked for companies to launch cutting-edge medicines for both humans and pets, and written books for children. Through these experiences, I have learned that the opportunities this profession offers are limited only by one’s desire.

Although my career continues to take me on different adventures, nothing it offers compares to the husband and “Daddy” role that I play every day.

VETERINARY CLINIC CASES BOOK SERIES

I developed The Veterinary Clinic Cases Series to teach children the science of veterinary medicine. It is the only series of children's books written and reviewed by veterinarians. It takes a child into the veterinary clinic and lets them follow the work-up of a fictional medical case with Christopher and his Newfoundland dog Ichabod.

By reading Lilly’s Heart and future books in this series, children will watch Christopher's veterinarian mother as she uses veterinary tools and equipment. They will also explore the basic anatomy and physiology of the case with Christopher and Ichabod. Finally, they will see how a veterinarian's understanding of science helps to make sick pets feel better.

I hope you will take the time to preview Lilly’s Heart. I think it will be the perfect book for your future veterinarian.