’ve known I was going to become a veterinarian since I was a little girl,” shares Dr. Renee McDougall, Bond Vet’s Head of Medicine and board-certified veterinary surgeon. “I’ll never know exactly what the driving factor was, but I do remember a time when a neighborhood dog got his paw stuck in a front door and screamed. I remember springing into action with very little knowledge on what to do. I examined his tiny paws for injury, evaluated his gait, and spoke with his owners. It was a small (and somewhat silly) moment in time, but the way I felt in that moment was absolutely addictive. I think I knew then that I was destined to become a veterinarian.
“And it wasn’t far from the example my parents had shown me, both of whom were physicians and who I’d had the opportunity to shadow in clinic,” continues Dr. McDougall. “They were both the most compassionate, kind, and intelligent people I knew, and no matter what I did, I wanted to be able to embody those characteristics, and I wanted to help people.”
“My undergraduate path at University of Pennsylvania had also uncovered a love for public health research,” she explains, “the result of a lucky recommendation to try a public health program designed to engage premed students, and my father’s push to add research to my vet school resume.”
“One Health was the intersection between that personal mission and my love of individual patient care, where there was space to acknowledge the individuality of the patient, honor the needs of the owner, and celebrate the bond between them both. What wasn’t to love?” expresses Dr. McDougall.
In addition to her passion for One Health, she also found her niche in surgery, which was sparked by the very first time she got to stand in an operating room.
“I was an overly excited kennel assistant at my first job in a local clinic, where a woman rushed in with her unconscious, giant breed dog,” Dr. McDougall recalls. “An X-ray quickly revealed the dog’s stomach to be huge and kinked. The minute the team saw the images they rushed into action, whispering the word ‘GDV.’
One Health was the intersection between that personal mission and my love of individual patient care.In her current role as Head of Medicine for Bond Vet, Dr. McDougall says each day is different, spending time all over the Bond network.
“One day last week I spent the morning in clinic figuring out how to best livestream content for our internal surgery YouTube channel,” she shares, “the afternoon interviewing candidates for our MADE new graduate program, and the evening at a nice restaurant giving a CE talk to internal and external DVMs on hemoabdomens and hemangiosarcoma.”
There is no shortage of reasons why she loves her role at Bond, but says that her favorite by far is the variety of ways she gets to invest in their teams so they feel empowered and excited to help the pets and owners who entrust them with their loved ones.
Bond Vet is all about empowering their teams to provide better, more sustainable care to the pets in their community.
“We couldn’t win as an organization without the contributions of each individual,” Dr. McDougall says. “It’s a dream job!”
Amongst her many undertakings with Bond Vet, one of her favorite accomplishments was starting the Bond to the Rescue program. The idea was sparked by the opportunity she had to interact with shelter and rescue pets as an intern and resident.
“Often the animals we met were in need of significant medical care,” Dr. McDougall recalls. “And despite the high costs of care for these complicated cases, each one of them was fully supported by a rescue that loved them and community that was willing to spend their own money to help them heal.
It had long been Dr. McDougall’s dream to bring that experience, education and community engagement wherever she landed next, and so when she joined Bond, she immediately set about forming relationships with local shelter and rescue programs.
“I emailed at least 100 organizations across our network to forge partnerships and started organizing surgical/dental training days where veterinarians at Bond could learn how to become more efficient, or more advanced, surgeons,” she shares. “We’re now in our third year of the program, and I’m so proud of its success!”
The Bond Vet practices have a rescue surgery day about once a month, treating anywhere from 4-12 pets in need within the local community. They also use these days as an opportunity to educate their teams in proficiency and efficiency in the operating room.
One change Dr. McDougall would like to see within the veterinary space in the near future is the passing of the People and Well-being (PAW) Act, which would allow pet owners to use HSA or FSA funds to cover the cost of veterinary care.
Staying on top of her own health and wellness, Dr. McDougall prioritizes spending time with her family, which includes her 14-month-old son, her husband and a large, enthusiastic pit mix.
“Outside of watching our little one grow and learn, my husband and I run when we can (once upon a time I was a track & field athlete!),” she shares. “I also have a weird love of puzzles!”
Clearly destined to become a veterinarian, Dr. McDougall has gone above and beyond the letters behind her name with her role in supporting both clients and their pets. With her talent for surgery, knack for leadership and passion for assisting those in need, she is sure to continue making positive change in the veterinary industry!