San Diego DVM is fearless, fierce, and funny
Not too many stay-at-home mothers make the transition from caring for four children 24/7 to veterinarian, but Dr. Angela Hoffmann has proven absolutely anything is possible in the world of vet medicine.
At 42 years old and a single mother to four, the agonizing decision on what to do for the future of her family was one of the biggest career choices she made in her life—but she did it. Feeling positively ancient compared to her younger piers in the veterinary industry, she got into veterinary school and made the journey to becoming a vet.
Years down the line, her choice has greatly benefited both her own personal well-being and her family. They now reside in a beautiful Oceanside house, and she owns her own private clinic where she sees a variety of small animals.
Dr. Hoffman is an inspiration because she truly shows that no matter what your personal situation is, the potential is there to realize your dreams and become the person you want to be. When she first joined veterinary school, she was one of the oldest people there, but she was able to overcome this and succeed.
Her current position didn’t come without some bumps in the road. Her first job as an associate vet landed her in a toxic work environment with the owner screaming at her. Fortunately, she did not fight her way to her newer better future to be treated as a doormat. She left the abusive workplace the same day she was screamed at, without so much as a plan on what to do next.
That moment was more than enough to set a few ground rules for her own practice. She has taken great pains to make sure the staff in her own practice are treated well, given the respect they deserve, and are paid a living wage. This is particularly important for vet techs and other staff who don’t have veterinary degrees. Poor treatment is the reason why so many leave, and taking good care of them is a great way to ensure they stay on.
The results have been beneficial for everyone. Although she experienced some staffing losses do to the extreme stress of working during the pandemic, overall she has done a good job of managing and maintaining her clients.
She also talks candidly about life as a vet and practice owner on her blog, which is rich with details about how it all works. She responds to questions from people on her social media accounts, and gives advice to those who also want to start out as a new practice owner, or worry about what the needs are for their staff.
Dr. Hoffman credits her current success with the qualities of resilience, stubbornness, and a willingness to fail. Her inspiring success should be a lesson to everyone about what is possible no matter who you are, what your position is life, or where you want to go.
If there’s a dream
