Dr. Heidi Rice graduated from Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. Before becoming a veterinarian, she completed a Master’s degree in biology at Eastern Michigan University, where she studied the ecology of bat species on the islands of Lake Michigan at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
After receiving her undergraduate degree in zoology from MSU, Dr. Rice worked in environmental education with a non-profit conservation organization. From 2007 until 2012, she practiced on the East Coast, and while she loves Boston, she and her husband Ben are very happy to be back in the Midwest so they can be closer to friends and family!
One of Dr. Rice’s outside interests is traveling. She was even able to study veterinary medicine in India, and was lucky enough to study the ecology of the Galapagos Islands during her graduate school years. She also enjoys skiing, reading, spending time throwing the tennis ball for her Terrier mix Molly and Brussels Griffon mix Gertie, and of course snuggling with her three spoiled cats Charlotte, Foster, and Oslo.
Dr. Rice’s professional interests include feline medicine and surgery, internal medicine, dentistry, and geriatric medicine. She also has an interest in wildlife rehabilitation, and has been able to see a lot of interesting medical and surgical cases in species from skunks to coyotes.
Dr. Rice’s philosophy of veterinary medicine: “I love every part of this job. Although sometimes there are difficult decisions to be made, I feel extremely privileged to be part of this amazing profession, and strive to help each and every patient as if they were my own.” [citation]