Meet Our Team: Dr. Ku & Dr. Chen

Dr. Gloria Ku

What part of your work do you enjoy most?  

I enjoy the challenge of figuring out the best way to keep the pet as healthy as possible while meeting the goals of the owners and the reality of how we can make that all happen.  And of course, I enjoy seeing the pets do well and thrive with great care, no matter their age or issues!

What is the most exciting change you've seen in veterinary medicine?

The improvements in dental care and how we address dental issues has really been a big change from when I first started in practice 28 years ago.  So many dental issues are treated with more care for the patient’s comfort and recovery now.  Also, the accessibility and improvement in technology with abdominal ultrasound has been a great non-invasive diagnostic tool. This has made identifying internal medicine problems a lot easier from the patient’s perspective, and more straightforward from the client’s perspective.

What change(s) in veterinary medicine do you hope will occur in the next 50 years?

The cost of veterinary care is rising and the cost of running hospitals is getting really expensive as well.  Because each hospital has to have all of the expensive equipment needed to do lab work, take X-rays, do dental work and dental xrays, and a surgical suite, it makes more sense to have these procedures only at certain facilities, and routine office visits at doctor’s offices like the human model.  The drawback is that the patient has to potentially go to multiple or larger facilities and owners currently are used to only going to one. It’s costly to reproduce a full hospital without having bigger practices to justify the expense, so unfortunately something is going to have to change to keep costs from continuing to rise and squeeze out smaller practices.  I feel fortunate to have practiced at a time when we can still do most things under one roof. I suspect that will not continue into the next 50 years as the cost of care continues to rise, and we can, and want to, do more to optimize our patient’s care. 

What books are you reading now?  What book would you recommend?  

I enjoy reading a lot of different things.  Recently I’ve read and liked The Sixth Extinction, Americana, Becoming, and Crazy Rich Asians! ;)

What makes a good veterinarian?

A curiosity for how things work, patience, and a big heart with enough grounding to let our emotions thrive without consuming us. 

Dr. Brian Chen

What part of your work do you enjoy most?
I enjoy the fact that being a veterinarian at Hatton Veterinary Hospital allows me to meet and build relationships with my clients and patients. It is also extremely rewarding to see staff members develop and foster an interest in the veterinary profession.

What is the most exciting change you've seen in veterinary medicine?
The quality of medicine and quality of care we are able to offer our pets compared with even 5-10 years ago.

What changes in veterinary medicine do you hope will occur in the next 50 years?I hope that veterinary school will be more affordable for future generations (it costs over $300,000 for undergraduate and vet school studies).

What favorite musicians or songs would you include on your personal jukebox?Anything by Jason Mraz. Classic rock is a favorite genre as well.

What makes a good veterinarian?  

A good veterinarian must be able to show empathy for both their patients and clients. They should enjoy working in a fast paced environment and work well with others. And of course they have to enjoy playing with all the dogs and cats (and other pets) that come in to see us.