"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul

remains unawakened."

                                                                                      ~ Anatole France

 

Aloe entered my life between my undergraduate education and veterinary college.  I had returned home for the summer and was working as a veterinary technician in Reston, VA.  Aloe was a stray carried into the Animal Hospital and subsequently diagnosed with a broken arm.  After my shift, I remember sitting on the floor with her in my lap for hours.  Her brown eyes looked into mine, and it was truly love at first sight.  I would heal her.  And, she would heal me.  The healing puppy, Aloe, ultimately healed my soul.  Her namesake, the Aloe Vera plant. 

 

We went off to the University of Florida together for veterinary college.  During the second semester of my second year, a classmate found a stray black and white kitten. Aloe and I took her into our family and named her Vera.  Aloe and Vera were great friends, as Aloe was such a gentle soul.  We graduated from veterinary school in 1996.  Aloe and I were inseparable – my companion, confidante, protector, teacher.  E.T. and Yoda in the form of a 30 lb Australian Shepherd mix that accompanied me from coast to coast, and even would swim out to me and share a ride on my windsurfer.  Aloe and Vera left this world during my last year of my cardiology residency.  They taught me about friendship, ever-lasting love, bravery, and showed me that the effects of the human animal bond are limitless. 

 

The center tile of our logo displays the electrical signal (an ECG) for one heart beat.  Within this heartbeat, you can see an Aloe Vera leaf.  Symbolically I placed this icon at the center of the logo connecting the other elements, the paws and heart.  Aloe is the inspiration for the logo, because she is my foundation and at the heart of everything I do. 

 

From this foundation comes the mission of Veterinary Cardiology Partners.  By combining cardiology expertise with compassion and personalized communication, our goal is to provide peace of mind for their heart and yours.