Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Cullen.
Hi Robert, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When I was a kid, bringing our pets to the vet meant that we were going to be taken care of, our critters were going to be pampered, and that I was going to learn something new. From there, it as only a matter of time before I realized that this is what I wanted to do with my life.
I worked hard, became a proud graduate of Virginia Tech and then had the provilidge to stay on campus at the Virginia-Maryland Veterinary School. After graduating, I was able to continue training with emergency and surgical internships in northern Virginia, and then staying in the area working in general practice clinics.
Opening a practice with the support of the Caring Hands community is an amazing chance, and being able to do so in as wonderful an area as Tenleytown has made the whole process even better.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Veterinary medicine is, by nature, a bit chaotic and wonderful and stressful all at the same time. We set up long-term relationships with our clients and our patients, providing a place to answer any questions and handle any situation as they come. We have good days and bad days, but we know we have the support of our colleagues, friends, family, and also the pet parents who come to see us.
Opening the clinic, just like any other business, has had its hurdles but I’m happy to report we’re opening soon!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Caring Hands Animal Hospital of Tenleytown?
We are a small animal general practice. We will be helping dogs and cats with annual wellness and preventative needs (exams, vaccines, regular labwork, nutrition), same-day sick and urgent care appointments, surgical procedures, full dental cleanings and procedures, x-ray imaging, and management of long-term chronic illness and palliative needs. In essence, we are here to serve the pets and ownrs of the community with any questions or concerns, and to provide the best quality medicine and education possible.
A large part of my life and personality is my family, and I am very excited to encourage families to come visit for their pet’s appointments. I want nothing more than for young kids to help and listen while we’re talking about their furry brothers and sisters!
We are proud of Caring Hands’s general open door policy. We want owners to be involved in every step of appointments and decisions. I encourage owners to come into the treatment area and we try and do as much of our appointments in the rooms with their family as we can. We will be happy to provde tours of the facility to anybody who walks in and is curious.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I can talk about reference texts and academic journals that help me stay informed and hopefully leading the charge for top-tier medicine. But for me personally, I am always a fan of a silly podcast while driving or biking into work (“The Lonely Island Podcast” or “How Did This Get Made” come to mind). Most of the books I’m reading right now are 15 pages long and being read to my kids at bedtime, but if there was any book I would recommend to people with pets and young kids, it would be “Tails are Not for Pulling”
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