Meet Dr. Herdest Bethel

Herdest Bethel, Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care at Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals

Veterinary School: Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

1: What drew you to this position at Cummings School?

I was drawn to Cummings School because of the world class faculty, and the experience I knew that would come with this program that will help me to care for my patients.

2: What are you hoping to do after you complete your time at Cummings School?

I am currently exploring many opportunities, it's hard to say, but I am excited about the future Cummings School has afforded me.

3: Can you share an experience from your time here at Cummings School that stands out to you – a patient, case, owner, faculty, etc.?

Spoiler alert**(This was not the outcome we wanted, but lives will be positively impacted in the future from this case), however, there was a case of a young Portuguese water dog, named Moose, presented to me by referral to the Emergency room for acute distress syndrome, a notorious and highly fatal complication of several disease states, but Moose had pneumonia. Moose was put on a ventilator for two weeks, but ultimately passed away from this disease. Although Moose did not survive, his case highlights the future of emergency critical care for pets and their loved ones. The mortality rate for this complication in dogs and cats is upwards of 84-100 percent, whereas in humans it is closer to 50 percent pending severity.

In emergency critical care practice, we hope to bridge this gap with more advanced treatment strategies, such as venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (similar to kidney dialysis for the lungs), which has been shown to improve survival in humans. Cummings School is a leader in clinical excellence and care, and I am excited to be a part of this community of leaders.

4: What brings you joy professionally?

Seeing once critically ill pets re-unite with their parents brings me joy.