Welcome to the CIVT podcast series. This interview is with Dr Liz Fernandez, a holistic veterinarian with a special interest in end-of-life care for pets who runs a house call practice in California, USA. Please enjoy this conversation as we discuss her education, transition to holistic practice, creating educational materials, and finding balance while doing emotionally taxing clinical work.
About Dr Liz Fernandez, DVM, MA, CVA Dr Liz Fernandez was raised in Southern California and decided at an early age that she wanted to be a veterinarian. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and her veterinary degree from the University of California Davis in 1982. She went into emergency and small animal relief practice for the next twenty five years.
A shoulder injury led her to seek acupuncture care, and she decided to pursue veterinary acupuncture training for herself. She is certified in acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Tui Na, and Food Therapy from the Chi Institute. She is also certified in TCVM Palliative and End of Life Care by the Chi Institute and in Hospice and Palliative Care by the IAAHPC.
Dr Fernandez started a holistic house call practice while still working in conventional practice, moving to full time house calls in 2010. In 2016, she published a book about her patients, "Sacred Gifts of a Short Life: Uncovering the Wisdom of our Pets end-of-life Journeys."
In 2019, she created Wisdom Paws, an online program and individual consultation practice to support End-of-Life guidance for both pet owners and veterinary professionals.
