| Dr. Carrie La Jeunesse grew up in La Habra, California, in the Southern California area. She received her undergraduate degree and DVM from the University of California (Davis). She then moved to Washington State to complete an internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. During her internship year, Carrie met and subsequently (smart woman that she is) married Dave Rosenberg, who has never questioned her bizarre work hours, or need to be a perpetual student. Together, Dave and Carrie have two boys, Steven and Danny…the lights of her life. She has practiced primarily in the area of emergency and critical care medicine (small animal), and also has private consulting and bereavement support practices. She lives in Kitsap County. Carrie began her involvement in organized veterinary medicine during her first year in veterinary school when she was elected as president of her class. In her third year, she served as the first female student representative to the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA). The CVMA made Carrie feel welcomed and valued, and helped her understand the importance of organized veterinary medicine as a force for positive change within the profession, based on a foundation of camaraderie, cooperation, understanding, and fun. Her experiences with CVMA set the stage for later involvement with both the South Puget Sound VMA, and then the Peninsula VMA, where Carrie eventually served as representative for both locals to the Washington State VMA’s Executive Board. Carrie served as president to WSVMA for the 2009-2010 term. She is particularly interested in areas of Animal Welfare, Wellness, Grief/Loss/Bereavement, and Compassion Fatigue. She loves mentoring, and is particularly inspired by veterinary students and recent graduates, all of whom share varied and exciting visions of her beloved profession. Carrie served as chair of the WSVMA Wellness Committee, and as a member of a number of other committees, including the Animal Welfare Committee. She was a trustee of the Washington State Animal Health Foundation and has represented WSVMA to the board of directors for the Northwest Association for Biomedical Research. Mostly, Carrie is proud of the role that veterinarians make in the lives of their communities, whether in supporting the “human-animal bond” (she wonders at that term…humans are animals, too!), promoting animal welfare through science, advocacy and education, or contributing to efforts in public health and ensuring a safe food supply. She feels blessed to have been a part of such a robust profession wherein she can interact daily with her three “loves”…medicine, animals and people. And she is grateful to WSVMA and the local VMA’s whose volunteers work together to make the profession stronger, better, more accountable and increasingly relevant, always with an eye toward honoring the public trust. |
