Check Out Jansel Perez Martinez’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jansel Perez Martinez.

Hi Jansel, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. 
My name is Jansel Perez Martinez and I am a Veterinarian. I was born in Manzanillo, Cuba. Later on, my family decided to move and establish in Puerto Rico. I have been living in Oceanside for the past  2 years now. Animals have been a large part of my life since my earliest memories. I was enveloped into the field of veterinary medicine thanks to my father who is a veterinarian himself. I fondly remember excitedly joining my father on farm calls as I got to witness my idol in action. My father’s passion for animals and the field of veterinary medicine enlightened me to realize my own desire to live in his legacy and become a veterinarian myself. I developed an interest in surgery due to the many surgeries my father performed as I sat there hypnotized, watching his every move and essentially “fixing” the animals. A fire lit inside of me as I knew what my meaning was. My mother is also very passionate about the health and well-being of animals and cares for all like they are her own. She has the kindest heart and will take in any animal to help them. Thanks to my parents, I learned how to listen to the animals that cannot speak for themselves to be able to understand what they need and treat them with limited equipment. At 8 years old, I started volunteering at the local humane society in my hometown in Puerto Rico. I continued my passion to become a veterinary technician and spent 12 years working at multiple veterinary hospitals around the island. 

My educational career began as a biology major and Ecological and Environmental Sciences minor to research the behavior of wild fauna in Puerto Rico. My research focused on bats, feral cats, and birds which was later published in a scientific journal, “Acta Chiropterologica.” Upon the completion of my undergraduate degree, I started the long journey to apply to veterinary schools. After three years of applying to various universities, I was accepted to Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. I completed my didactic courses at Ross and spent 1 year at Stillwater Oklahoma School of Veterinary Medicine for clinical rotations. After my graduation from Ross in 2017, I returned to Puerto Rico in search of my first job as a veterinarian. A few months after being home, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico and obliterated the island. My sister and I decided to leave the island to search for employment in the States and landed in Virginia. I began working at Stonewall Veterinary Clinic, the pillar of my education and growth within the field. I was surrounded by brilliant veterinarians who were eager to pass on their knowledge. I gained an immense amount of knowledge and developed my surgical skills during the 4 years that I spent there. I owe a lot to those who nurtured my progress. I decided to move to California to seek warmer climates and be closer to coastal beaches with my mind set on my life’s goal of opening my own surgical practice. One year after my venture to California, I opened the doors of my new practice Dorado Animal Hospital & Surgical Center, named after my hometown in Puerto Rico. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being from Puerto Rico, I have faced many challenges that developed the strength and resilience needed to be within the veterinary field. Through all of my challenges, my eyes were always set on my life’s goal. One big challenge that I faced was learning a brand-new language to me while I was starting veterinary school. My first language is Espanol and was accepted to an English-speaking school. I knew a few things here and there, but I had to learn a brand-new language while also learning about veterinary medicine. It is challenging enough to study veterinary medicine, but I did this while also having to use my dictionary in class listening to the professor, and while studying my textbook to try to understand. It was difficult but I started to catch on with the help of some classmates and my determination to earn my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree no matter what obstacle I faced. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a companion animal veterinarian that just opened my first privately owned veterinary practice with a focus as a general practice and surgical center. To me, as a veterinarian, it is our responsibility not only to treat animals but also to educate the clients. I take client education very seriously and take pride in myself for the transparency I share with the clients so that they can make well-informed decisions about their pet. I advocate for the patients and ensure the human-animal bond is maintained or improved. For every pet that undergoes surgery, the first thing that comes to my mind is to think about how important this animal is for a person or even a whole family. It brings me happiness and satisfaction seeing the pet improve its health and comfort and seeing the joy and tranquility from the owners. What I love most about my job is the human-animal bond I encounter daily and being involved in the concerns and responsibilities of clients/owners while caring for their beloved pets. 

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
PERSEVERANCE, ADAPTIVITY, AND HONESTY. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.doradohospital.com

Image Credits
Sage Rose
Rafael Juizar