Christina Herejk, DVM
Dr. Christina Herejk & Ann-chovy
Like many of us in the veterinary profession, my love for animals and medicine started at a young age. As a child growing up in South Florida, there wasn’t a day that went by where I wasn’t tangled in the hedges, climbing up a tree or tromping the plants in the garden as I chased after local wildlife. I kept my parents busy checking for any captured critters in my overall pockets (and sometimes my bedroom) after a day’s adventure outside.
By middle school, I was affectionately known by my classmates as the “Lizard Queen” and even set up my own makeshift ‘hospital’ for the injured anoles on our patio. Animals in nature fascinated me. As the daughter of a nurse and an agricultural major, my parents’ professions fueled my interest and exposure to nature and the world of medicine.
My first encounter with veterinary medicine wasn’t until I was in the 8th grade and our first dog, Crystal, joined the family. We spent a lot of time at our veterinarian's office those first 2 months she was with us. I remember feeling so worried for her every time we arrived at the hospital, followed by relief when she returned to us healthy by our vet and his team. Those visits were the sparks that ignited my journey into the veterinary world.
In 2005, I graduated from the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine and spent the following 8 years working at several local South Florida small animal hospitals as an associate veterinarian and as a relief veterinarian. My love for helping, educating, and traveling led me to volunteer in veterinary campaigns in several countries around the world. To be able to use my skills to positively impact the lives of the animals and people in those communities filled me with gratification on so many levels.
