Carmen Bastek, Staff Veterinarian

I was fortunate to have family pets as far back as I can remember. There was always a cat or two, a dog and, for my thirteenth birthday, I got my first horse named Geronimo. This horse taught me a lot as we worked through 4-H showing, trail riding and barrel racing. My first job in high school was as a veterinary assistant for Tom Chauncey Arabians, a breeding farm in Scottsdale, Arizona. I worked side by side with the veterinarians. I appreciated veterinary medicine as mostly science with a bit of art and had made my career choice.

While I was in veterinary school at Colorado State University, my emphasis changed from equine (horses) to small-animal medicine. The rigors and limitations of large animal medicine gave way to what I felt were greater opportunities to practice “high tech” medicine in the smaller species.

Every day I am rewarded with new challenges, relationships and opportunities to learn. Of course I love working with animals but I find I also appreciate interacting with their caretakers: who depend on us to keep their loving companions healthy and happy.

I just celebrated by 20th year here at University Animal Hospital. I appreciate that I have known many of my patients from puppy/kittenhood to old age. I share my Tempe home with my partner Lynnette and our pets Elke and Lynn Hill. Tempe is a great community in which to live, work and play. When I am not at work, I am probably enjoying our Arizona outdoors on my mountain bike.

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