Natalie grew up in Madison, WI, but she considers Southwest Florida her true home. From a young age, she knew she wanted to work with animals. Inspired by family trips to SeaWorld and Discovery Cove, she initially dreamed of becoming a dolphin veterinarian/trainer. This passion led her to seize every opportunity to work with animals, eventually guiding her into the veterinary medicine field.
One of Natalie’s favorite memories is training her Australian Shepherd, Tanner, in obedience and confirmation during middle school. They won best in show at their county fair, a testament to her dedication and love for animals.
Natalie pursued her education at Florida SouthWestern State college in Fort Myers, FL, earning an associate’s degree in general studies. Throughout her two years in the veterinary field, she has gained diverse experience in general practice, handling everything from routine check-ups to urgent and emergent situations and surgeries.
Outside of work, Natalie enjoys Crossfit, particularly the sense of accomplishment it brings. She loves beach outings, paddleboarding, reading by the pool, and cooking. Currently, she lives with her rescue dog, Nova, a lively lab/great dane/hound mix. Recently, she moved back to SWFL to be closer to her family, sharing a home with her parents, younger siblings, and their menagerie of pets, include two dogs, three cats, two guinea pigs, and a rabbit.
Natalie leads a team at UrgentVet Fort Myers where they treat non-life-threatening emergencies in cats and dogs.