You got me. I am not a girl.

I am a 37 year old male veterinarian, a board certified specialist in emergency and critical care, and the Co-Founder of the number 1 veterinary continuing education resource for busy veterinary professionals, VETgirl.

But no. I am not a girl.

Last week I attended the North American Veterinary Conference (NAVC) in Orlando, Florida. I was an invited speaker and exhibitor for my continuing education company, VETgirl.

More than once, but less than 7,400,120 times, a conference attendee would walk up to the VETgirl exhibit hall booth and make the snide remark, “You’re not a girl.”

Yes. I agree with you. My wife is a girl. My 5 year old daughter is a girl. But no. I am not a girl.

I am a very lucky person who is getting to live his dream practicing medicine and being part of a company that provides the best online continuing education in the world.

I teamed up with Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT. Justine is a double board certified specialist in emergency/critical care and toxicology (who just so happens to have won 3 NAVC speaker of the year awards). We are both board-certified veterinary specialists who are passionate about providing practical, clinically relevant, convenient veterinary continuing education.

We recognized there was a problem and together changed the way veterinary team members learn.

I was the kid that was online using Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) before there was AOL.

I was the kid that created apps for Palm Pilots before there was the iPhone.

I was the kid who self-taught himself HTML.

I am lucky because every day I get to use my passion for veterinary medicine and technology together. I am honored to use my knowledge in both veterinary medicine and technology to educate others. I am excited to be a small business owner with an amazing business partner.

I watch The Golden Girls. (Who doesn’t think Betty White is the best???)

I have sipped on a Skinnygirl Margarita.

I think the #LikeAGirl campaign is awesome.

And I am proud to be the Co-Founder of VETgirl.

VETgirl has helped educate veterinary team members all over the world with our content accessed in over 150 countries.

So next time you see me wearing my VETgirl jacket, standing behind our VETgirl booth, and you inform me that I am not a girl…

I will agree with you. You are right. I am not a girl.

I am a 37 year old male veterinarian, board certified in emergency and critical care, a small business owner, helping improve the care veterinarians provide and the care patients receive.

I am living my dream. Every day.

Knowledge is power!
Garret Pachtinger, VMD, DACVECC
Board Certified Emergency and Critical Care Specialist
Co-Founder, VETgirl