Dr. Thomas has had a lifelong passion for exotic animals, growing up with reptiles, dogs, birds, and fish. She went on to earn her Bachelors of Veterinary Science from the University of Arizona, where she completed a capstone project working with lowland leopard frog conservation and was heavily involved in the wildlife groups and rehabilitation work. She then went on to attend Midwestern University to earn her DVM. While at MWU, she was a founding member and Vice President of the Animal Welfare Club, and served as both the Exotic Medicine Chair and President of the Wildlife Exotic Zoo Avian and Aquatic Medicine club. During her doctorate, she also spent two years as a research fellow in venomous reptile infectious disease projects, and spent her clinical year at multiple exotic and zoo facilities. After finishing her doctorate, she spent an additional year training as a small animal rotating intern at a large emergency and specialty practice. She is excited to meet all your feathered, furred, and scaled family members and join the VCA University team.