This National Pet Wellness Month and National Women’s Small Business Month, both celebrated in October, the University of West Georgia sat down with alumna Dr. Jasmine Gibbs ’14, owner of Two Beating Hearts Mobile Veterinary Clinic, to discuss her journey to entrepreneurship.
Animals have been Gibbs’ constant her entire life. Before she could walk, talk or even form memories, they’ve been there.
“My home was never without a pet,” Gibbs stated. “I was always the one who wanted to make sure they were healthy, well-kept, fed and in overall good health.”
Gibbs as a child with pet, BooBoo Kitty
So it seemed natural that she started volunteering at an animal shelter at age 15, followed by her first job as a kennel technician. Gibbs said it wasn’t much different than what she did at home – cleaning, feeding and administering medication – but she was exposed to a different side she hadn’t seen before.
“I became intrigued by the doctors: how they would advocate for the pets they worked on, come up with treatment plans and perform surgery,” she explained. “I wanted to not only be a champion for the pets, who are unable to speak, but also the families who loved and cared for these fur babies.”
Around the same time, Gibbs was introduced to UWG by an older cousin. Needing that academic bridge between high school and vet school, she decided to check it out.
“Once I visited UWG, I loved how the community felt,” she recalled. “Everyone interacted as if they were family, no matter their background. The diversity of the campus was a huge bonus.”
She enrolled in the biology professional preparation track, one designed to prepare students for the exams and standards of medical, dental, veterinary, physical therapy and physician’s assistant programs.
“A bachelor’s in biology was not easy,” Gibbs sighed. “Veterinary school was the exact same. I had everything down pat once I hit my second semester at vet school, making sure I had time for myself, my studies and friends. It’s all about balance, and UWG definitely prepared me.”
Original source can be found here.
