Dr. Kara Kochek comes to us from a town outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. She completed her undergraduate degree in Public Health from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Following undergrad, she completed a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and Engineering.

Originally thinking she wanted to pursue a career in human medicine and research, it was after completing her Master’s degree, while working on a large animal farm, that she decided she wanted to work with animals full-time and become a veterinarian.

Kochek graduated from veterinary school at Long Island University. During her second year, she discovered the connection and passion between her background in public health, with the concept of OneHealth, leading her to the shelter medicine specialty.

She says, “shelter medicine was that connection between one health, population medicine and herd medicine in the shelter.”

Over the course of the next year, Kochek is excited for the mentorship opportunities that her internship with Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Program has to offer. Learning more about infectious disease, access to care, hands-on surgery experience and shelter protocols. She’s also eager to further her education on consultative services to area shelters.

Looking ahead to the future, Kochek says her dream job would be to work in a shelter that also does community medicine. Blending the two would be her ideal work environment.

Welcome aboard, Dr. Kochek! 🙂

FUN FACTS:

Dr. Kochek enjoys spending time outside and exploring new foods. She is excited to try all that Ithaca has to offer!