MORPH MOUSE
Dr. Miguel Ortiz
Veterinarian, Frazer Veterinary Group, Homer City, PA | 2020 Secretary/Treasurer Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association | BS 2006, Purdue University | DVM 2009, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine | Master of International Development 2022, University of PittsburghVetaHumanz Live! Podcast
Dr. Ortiz was featured in Episode 12 of the VetaHumanz Live! Podcast. Listen now.
My Story
I have always had a great connection with animals. When I was young, my father used to take me to his lab on the weekends to help him work with rats, mice, fishes, rabbits and goats! I have always enjoyed caring for others and helping someone in need. I’m also a very curious person. Naturally, Veterinary Medicine is the best profession for me! I get to work with animals and help them when they are hurt. I also get to study and learn about new and exciting things in both animal and human health. I chose to be a veterinarian because of the wide horizons it offers.
My Struggles
During veterinary school I struggled with figuring out what veterinary “job” I really wanted to do. For many years that was a big challenge. As it turns out, after ten years, I am still trying out different jobs. I am, however, much more comfortable with that now and I get to pursue my curiosity with pride!
My Heroes
Ms. Anderson – my fifth-grade teacher. I used to be very nervous and scared of spelling quizzes. So much so that I would not even try out of fear. She believed in me and encouraged me to keep working hard. I’m very thankful for her.
My Typical Day
I get up early in the morning and have coffee with breakfast. I like to start my day off with something creative like drawing a picture, painting with watercolors, listening to music or learning a new language. When I go to the clinic, I get to do surgeries and see sick patients. I enjoy getting to know my clients and their needs. When I am not in the clinic, I study economics, read books, work in my garden and lead a mountain trail running club.
My Stressors
I get stressed by thinking about my parents and wondering what the future holds. My parents live nearby and I always want to make sure they are doing well and have everything they need. Even though they do have everything they need and more I still get stressed by this. I also get stressed by wondering what the future will hold. I find myself wanting to do many more things than I have time to and sometimes that freezes me up and causes me to not be very effective at any one thing. I manage these stresses by making sure to communicate with my parents and making time to be with them so that I can be more at peace that they are indeed ok. I am also very organized and systematic of the things I want to accomplish. Organization and compartmentalization help me manage my stress and helps keep me on track and focused.
My Why
I really enjoy the process of problem solving and coming up with creative solutions. It is very often that I am presented with cases that don’t have a straightforward presentation. Sometimes it is very difficult to figure out why a pet is sick and even harder to figure out what can be done to help. I enjoy asking out of the ordinary questions and pretend to be Sherlock Holmes in order to find the answer. I also really like talking with my clients after we have developed a treatment plan. I enjoy hearing about the progression of the case so that I can adjust the treatments or consider a recheck if needed.
