Burkina Faso RPCV Kimberly Kal-Downs to talk on on veterinary medicine and animal health care
Local veterinarian to focus on pet health care during Treible lecture
GREG DIUTE -- Evening Times Reporter
WAVERLY -- The focus of this week's Treible Lecture at the Sayre Public Library will be on veterinary medicine and animal health care. Featuring guest lecturer Dr. Kimberly Kal-Downs, the hour-long lecture will be used to teach people the ropes about caring for their pets.
"I always wanted to be a veterinarian, that's something I've always wanted to do," Kal-Downs explained. "I grew up in a suburban area of Maryland and I certainly had pets growing up, but by the time I got to vet school I was interested in larger animals, and pursued a study of mixed animals."
In 1982, Kal-Downs earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, where she majored in political science and Russian studies. For the next three years Kal-Downs spent her time working in Burkina Faso in West Africa for the Peace Corps. It wasn't until 1994 that Kal-Downs received her doctorate of veterinary medicine from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia-Polytechnic and State University in Blacksburg, Va.
With doctorate in hand, Kal-Downs moved to East Smithfield and began work as an associate veterinarian at Laurel Hill Veterinary Service. Currently, she is employed as the staff veterinarian at Liberty Research in Waverly. According to a press release from Kal-Downs, Liberty Research is an animal health research organization specializing in dog and cat health.
Kal-Downs said because of her love of animals, she was very interested in being the guest Treible lecturer. She said she will use the time to help people gain a better understanding of how to better maintain the health of the pets.
"With the lecture, I'll kind of talk generally on nutrition, exercise, socialization and possibly some grooming, health vaccinations and spaying and neutering," she said, noting there will be a lengthy question and answer session aimed at addressing specific audience questions.
The lecture will take place Thursday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Sayre Public Library and admission is free to the public. For more information, interested parties may call the library at 888-2256.
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Greg Diute can be contacted at gdiute@eveningtimes.com.
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