Sedona, AZ Grand Canyon National Park 2023

Dr. Heather L. Kvitko-White insisted from the age of five that she would be a veterinarian one day. She remained true to her passion through the years, and eventually became a Veterinarian Internal Medicine Specialist. After residency, she was faced with a decision of whether to stay in academia and become a professor or go into private practice. Deciding to go into private practice was a defining moment because it provided the real world experience and foundation that she is known for today.  She quickly learned that veterinary schools struggle to train ‘practice ready’ veterinarians.  Additionally, veterinary medicine as a whole is a cost negative career that comes with financial stress and aggressive competition. She recognized a need for change, and left private practice after only seven years to begin her bold journey to educate the industry about the benefits of pragmatic medicine. This focus, and her outspoken efforts for change, is how she became known as “The Pragmatic Professor”. Today, Heather is an industry activist and national speaker who promotes a creative and common sense approach to caring for animals without sacrificing quality. She teaches a pragmatic medicine approach that helps fellow veterinarians run a profitable business while keeping their sanity. She also mentors veterinary students in an effort to better prepare them for real world practice, and develops and delivers content for continuing education at all industry levels.