Veterinarian and Medical Director
Hello, everyone. I'm Doctor Penn, and I'd like to share with you how I became a veterinarian and what led me down this path. I was born in Texas but later moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma, as my mother pursued her post-doctorate degree.
As a child, I was always curious about nature. I spent my time catching crawdads in creeks, playing with little horny toads, and observing antlions. I was fascinated by the natural world. I remember asking Santa for gifts like a microscope and an ant farm, and I even had a chemistry set. I was a very inquisitive child. By the time I was twelve years old, I knew I wanted to become a microbiologist, driven by my early passion for science.
In my senior year of high school, I had a dog named Laika, named after the first dog to go into space. Spending time with this Samoyed puppy triggered a pivotal moment for me. I realized that I wanted to understand how dogs functioned from the inside out. I wanted to delve into the intricacies of their anatomy and physiology. This realization set me on a path to pursue my passions.
Over time, my passion evolved towards wanting to become a veterinarian who specializes in caring for birds, exotic animals, or zoo animals. However, the core of my ambition remained the same: I wanted to be a veterinarian.
I began my journey at Oklahoma State University, where I enrolled in a pre-veterinary program and earned a zoology degree while completing the prerequisites for veterinary school. I was accepted into the Oklahoma State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993 and proudly graduated in 1997. During my time in school, I worked on various projects and became the youngest member of the Humane Society in Stillwater. I dedicated myself to promoting wildlife and exotic medicine at Oklahoma State University.
After graduation, I embarked on an internship program in Scottsdale, Arizona, where I eventually transitioned into working in emergency medicine and providing relief services throughout the valley. Subsequently, I accepted a full-time position as a medical director at a large hospital, which introduced me to upper-level management.
From there, I returned to performing ultrasounds and continued to provide relief services across the state, working in more than eighty different hospitals. My journey eventually led me to Horizon Animal Hospital, where I started working on contract projects with Dr. Beth Hareski, whom I had known from our days in the emergency clinic.
Dr. Hareski needed assistance, and I gladly joined the Horizon team. I spent a decade working here until the day came when Dr. Hareski decided to retire. With that opportunity, I was able to purchase the practice.
I wanted to take a moment to share my journey with you and express my gratitude for your support here at Horizon Animal Hospital. Thank you for being part of our community. We genuinely appreciate each and every one of you.