Kate McConnell grew up in the Sierra Nevada Foothills where she gained her love for all things outdoors. She attended the University of Nevada, Reno where she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Veterinary Science. After graduation, Dr. McConnell attended Colorado State University and graduated in the top quarter of her class earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. After obtaining her doctorate, Dr. McConnell was selected from a highly competitive applicant pool to participate in a rigorous small animal rotating internship at a large specialty and emergency hospital in Boise, Idaho (WestVet). Here she had the opportunity to practice medicine with, and be trained under, over twenty board certified specialists. During this internship, Dr. McConnell excelled and came to love the fast-paced, detail-oriented role that emergency and critical care doctors play. After finishing her post-graduate training, Dr. McConnell accepted a job at Animal Emergency and Specialty Center where she currently works. Dr. McConnell’s special interests include working dog medicine, the human-animal bond, animal behavior, and owner education. She enjoys the opportunity that emergency medicine allows to treat a variety of medical conditions, allowing her to gain experience across a breadth of concentrations and specialties. Dr. McConnell resides in Reno with her husband and animals. She enjoys living near extended family and being close to where she was born and raised. Her free time is spent hiking, fishing, backpacking, gardening, and exploring the Sierra Nevada mountains [citation].