DR. HOOLIHAN'S PERSONAL STORY- KEEP REACHING FOR YOUR DREAMS

At age fourteen, Dr. Hoolihan sent out a letter to all the veterinarians within a five-mile biking radius of his home in San Diego, CA. The summer before entering high school, he wanted to volunteer his services and shared his dream of being a future veterinarian. He professed that he had a huge love for animals and "that if given the chance, (he) could aid you enormously." Thankfully, one veterinarian out of TEN answered his letter. 

Her name was Dr. Diane Defenbaugh. She gave Dr. Hoolihan the opportunity to at first volunteer in her veterinary hospital, then work part-time throughout his high school career to gain veterinary technician skills and learn about the veterinary industry. Dr. Defenbaugh gave 

Dr. Hoolihan a chance when no others would, and it literally changed the direction of his life. At Point Loma High School, Dr. Hoolihan was senior class president and in his senior yearbook, there is a picture of him and a yearbook article entitled, "I'm going to be a veterinarian; it's the only thing I've ever wanted to do". 

After attending UC Davis as an undergraduate, Dr. Hoolihan applied to veterinary schools around the country for three years before being accepted to UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, which is regularly ranked as the best veterinary school in the country. He is one of the fortunate few that was accepted and he graduated in 1997. He was then accepted to an internship in emergency and critical care at Southpaws Veterinary Referral Center in the Washington, DC area. He has been practicing veterinary medicine ever since. This extraordinary chance altered the trajectory of his life, and Dr. Hoolihan has paid it forward by mentoring PIMA student interns, undergraduates interested in veterinary medicine, and even veterinary school interns over the years. 

FEATURED IN: TIMES OF SAN DIEGO

FEATURED ON: FOX NEWS 5 SAN DIEGO