Dr. Stassa Ferikes was raised in Asheville, NC. She attended Appalachian State University where she graduated with an undergraduate degree in Biology. She received her veterinary degree from Tuskegee University in 2008. She then began working in general practice, followed by over 10 years as an emergency veterinarian. Dr. Ferikes has recently moved to Pennsylvania with her family and is looking forward to returning to general practice. Her clinical interests include preventative medicine, wound management, pain management, and end-of-life care. Her favorite part of veterinary medicine is being able to foster the human-animal bond, which takes on many forms. She also loves that no two days are ever the same, and that it’s always something new, different, and challenging When not at work, Dr. Ferikes enjoys spending time with her family, spending time outdoors, traveling, and trying new places to eat [citation][2][3].