PARSONS WV – Katelyn Gnegy-Roth, DVM, grew up in Oakland, Maryland on one of our wonderful local small farms. At a very young age, she developed a love and interest for animals, specifically large animals.
She was determined to become a veterinarian.
Throughout her schooling, her dedication and determination to become a veterinarian grew stronger, especially as she worked with her family to develop a successful farming operation in Garrett County.
Katelyn graduated from Southern High School, and then attended Garrett College earning an associate degree in science before entering the University of Maryland where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in animal science, respectively.
Following graduation from the University of Maryland, she was accepted into Purdue’s College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2020. “Becoming a veterinarian was my life-long dream,” Katelyn beams.
Veterinary Medicine is probably the most demanding medical field there is … “Every patient is different and since they can not tell me what is hurting, we have to learn to become part of their lives and special circumstances,” Katelyn reminds us, “but every patient is just as special as one of us.”
Veterinary science is not only demanding of every doctor’s talents, but increasingly expensive to study. The costs of veterinary training are often higher than any other medical field.
“It was with the help of various scholarships, like the Joyce Colbert Veterinary Scholarship, that I was able to fund my education,” Katelyn is proud to say. Part of her education was supported by the Colbert Scholarship that was initiated by the Tucker Community Foundation in honor of Dr. Colbert following her passing at a very young age.
“I also had the privilege of knowing Dr. Colbert. On numerous occasions, my family needed her out to the farm to care for our animals. Dr. Colbert was always very supportive and encouraging of my dream to become a large animal veterinarian, taking time to teach and explain things to me,” Katelyn tells us. “I will be forever in her debt.”
Upon Graduating Purdue, Katelyn took a job in a rural farming town in northeast Indiana. “I work at a mixed animal practice, spending half my time as a large animal veterinarian and half my time as a small animal doctor. This is as close to heaven as one can come in veterinary practice.”
Katelyn said “It was always a goal of mine to continue my involvement with the youth of 4-H and FFA. My role as a large animal veterinarian has allowed me to work with 4-H and FFA youth to provide care for their animals as well as show them the opportunities as a veterinarian.”
Katelyn continues her future dreams, “My long-term goal is to operate my own clinic and continue to give back to my community, while sharing my love for veterinary medicine with others. I cannot thank those enough in my community who made my dream of becoming a veterinarian possible.”
The Tucker Community Foundation manages more than 140 endowed funds providing annual scholarships and grants to nonprofits and charitable causes throughout their eight-county service area. Inspired by the flood of 1985, the mission of the Foundation is to create opportunities for the communities we serve. For more information on how to set-up an endowed fund or to learn about the foundation, call 304-478-2930.