Growing up on Handy Lake in Hartland, Tessa Brown was fascinated with the wildlife she saw in her backyard.
She would go on nature walks with her dad, visit the fish in the lake by her house and once carried an injured Canada goose to her mom, hoping to help it.
Brown knew early in her life that she wanted to be a veterinarian, and this spring, she achieved that goal.
In May, Brown received her doctorate of veterinary medicine from the University of Illinois and is returning to Michigan in July to begin her veterinary career.
"It's very surreal," Brown said. "My entire life has been focused on this one goal... Now that it's happened, it's like 'what now?'"
Brown's next step is to work at Millwood Animal Clinic, a small animal clinic in Portage that specializes in exotic pets -- which Brown said includ most pets that aren't dogs or cats. She will also complete an online internship where she will learn from mentors in a variety of veterinary specialties.
She loves taking care of all types of animals, but Brown said her favorite pets to care for are fish. She anticipates that by the end of June, she will receive certification as an aquatic veterinarian, which will allow her to help fish owners care for their freshwater and saltwater friends.
"The reason I landed on pet fish (rather than aquariums or conservation) is because I discovered this niche that is so lacking and so needed," Brown said. "Every state has a DNR with somebody who works on fish medicine for conservation, but there is so little for people with pet fish."
Brown said her ultimate goal would be to work at - or start her own - all-fish veterinary practice.
"My dream would be to have my own company where I could work on fish all the time, ideally pet fish," she said. "I want to be boarded (licensed) in all 50 states so I could do telemedicine consults with people I can't see in person."
Contact Sara Kellner at skellner@livingstondaily.com. Follow her on Twitter @skellner21.
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Full-time pet fish veterinarian? Newly minted vet from Hartland has dream to serve that niche - Livingston Daily
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