Dr. Rosemarie Strong: 2020 Oklahoma Veterinarian of the Year

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Since she was a young girl, Rosemarie Strong, DVM, originally from Oklahoma City, dreamed of being a veterinarian.

“I enjoyed science and animals and I put the two together,” said Strong a small animal veterinarian for 26 years at Memorial Road Pet Hospital in Edmond, Oklahoma. “It’s been a dream of mine since I was 7.”

In January, Strong received the 2020 Oklahoma Veterinarian of the Year award from the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association.

“It was a very humbling experience,” said Strong. “There is no way I would be where I am today if not for family, friends, colleagues and classmates. It’s a team award. I think about my time at Oklahoma State. I am so grateful that I have led the path that I have and that it’s brought me to this practice. It meant a lot to me and I felt I was receiving this award not only for me but for all the people who had an influence on my life and on my career.”

Over the years many people made a huge impact on Dr. Strong’s life, especially her mother and sister with their hard work and determination.

“I was born here but everyone else in my family was born in South America,” said Strong. “My sister had polio and my mother brought the family over from Colombia, South America. For her to overcome all that – learning a new language, going through the treatment process my sister had to endure for polio and seeing my sister fight through that was really an inspiration to me. I am grateful for them.”

She is also grateful to Drs. Wade Lyon (OSU CVM ’54) and Gary Nida (OSU CVM ’73).

“They were great mentors at Portland Veterinary Hospital when I was in high school. Dr. Neal Atkinson in South Carolina was a huge influence on my career and I’m thankful for the five years he gave me there. Dr. Larry Woods has impacted veterinary medicine in Oklahoma with his leadership, his influence in the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association and his involvement with Southwest Veterinary Symposium. I have been able to watch him work so hard in those areas over the years and then watch him build this practice that is still here today.”

Strong earned her DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 1989.

“We have absolutely one of the greatest universities. Everyone knows I am a huge Cowboy fan. I never dreamed of applying anywhere else. Many people recommended Oklahoma State whether they were practitioners or family and friends. Reading about their reputation and knowing the veterinary alumni who had come out of that institution, I knew it was where I wanted to go.”

Following graduation, Strong practiced small animal veterinary medicine at Dr. Atkinson’s Shandon-Wood Animal Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina. Five years later, she returned home eventually joining Memorial Road Pet Hospital.

While Dr. Strong calls the “Veterinarian of the Year” a team award, she earned the accolades that accompany this prestigious honor. A life member of the OSU Alumni Association, she participates in class reunions, served on the Dean’s Development Associates, and is extremely active in organized veterinary medicine. She likes being a veterinarian because of the daily impact veterinarians have on families.

“We take care of the pet, the animal that means so much to the family. Because of that care and the compassion we have for their well-being, we positively impact the family.”

She also finds time to work with the Guardian Angels dog program at Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in McLoud, Oklahoma.

“Dr. John Otto (OSU CVM ’90) is a very convincing colleague,” said Strong smiling. “He has worked with the Department of Corrections and the dog program for years. I give him a lot of credit for his work and his vision. He wanted to start a program at Mabel Bassett and asked me if I would volunteer to come in and work with the lady prisoners, answer their questions and talk about the medical side of what they would be doing with the dogs. It’s a win-win situation for everyone. The prisoner learns an occupation and has a chance to work with the animals and have compassion and patience that may have been taken away from them within the prison environment. It’s a win for the dogs. People have given up on some of these dogs and they don’t want to work with them anymore, they don’t have the patience. And then also, the person, family or organization adopting this dog out of the program. It benefits everyone and we’re so excited about this work!”

For those considering following in the footsteps of Dr. Strong’s exceptional role model, she offered this advice.

“Remember it is determination. It’s not the smartest people or the people with the most money. It’s not the people with the most influence. It’s the people with the most determination. They know what they want to do. They go after it and they work hard. No one ever said it was easy. It just takes a lot of determination and hard work if you are considering a career in veterinary medicine.”

The OVMA has been recognizing outstanding veterinarians since 1980. Of the 41 veterinarians honored by the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association, 35 (85 percent) have been alumni or faculty members of the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

MEDIA CONTACT: Taylor Bacon | Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator | 405-744-6728 | taylor.bacon@okstate.edu