Dr. Elizabeth Goedeke ('Go-to-key'), VMD, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2005 and worked at hospitals in Stroudsburg, PA and Moorestown, NJ for 11 years before returning home to French Creek.

Why I Do What I Do: Dr. 'G.' made her decision to work in the veterinary field while caring for animals as a kennel attendant at French Creek in her teens. Her skills as a 'cat whisperer' were honed at the hospital and at home, when a pregnant cat moved into an unfinished addition her parents were building and had kittens. The family adopted out the kittens but kept mom, naming her 'Nimby' (not in my backyard), and Dr. Goedeke was hooked.

As a veterinarian at French Creek, Dr. Goedeke has special interests in feline medicine, ultrasounds, practicing and teaching others "fear-free" patient care and handling, and general medicine for patients in all stages of life.

Having worked elsewhere, she returned to French Creek to rejoin a collaborative team devoted to its community and to lifelong learning. "We always do our best," she says of the practice, "and we keep your pets' cases on our minds well after we go home."