Douglas W. Hart is originally from White Plains, New York. "Working on a small dairy farm during high school and summer vacations introduced me to working closely with animals," he said, and was inspired to become a veterinarian. "I was fortunate enough to experience both rural and suburban environments while I was young." Riding horses in western North Dakota and working with dairy cattle in upstate New York were two of his earlier experiences. "As younger children, my brothers and I were always surrounded by cats and dogs in the neighborhood." For his undergraduate studies, Dr. Hart attended Cornell University where he majored in biochemistry. After receiving early admission to veterinary school, he enrolled in Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1967. During summer breaks, Dr. Hart worked in small and mixed animal practices. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Bovine Practitioners, the American Animal Hospital Association, and is a member and past president of the Hudson Valley Veterinary Medical Society. He is a certified consultant for the New York State Cattle Health Assurance Program, a member and past president of the Dutchess County Agriculture Society and the Eastern New York Holstein Club, and a member of the New York Holstein Association and Holstein Association USA. Today, Dr. Hart's area of special professional interest is cattle reproduction. Dr. Hart has a very simple and straightforward philosophy about why he is a veterinarian: "I enjoy being useful to people and the animals they care for." Dr. Hart and his wife, Rae, a retired school teacher, have seven grown children and 17 grandchildren. Dr. Hart's interests include skiing, golf, swimming, and showing cattle at the county fair [citation].