A Dream Come True

Andrea S. Mullen, DVM

Operating a mobile veterinary hospital is a dream come true for Dr. Mullen. Years ago, when she graduated from veterinary medical school at Mississippi State University’s Starkville campus, Dr. Mullen opened a mobile veterinary service in southern Mississippi. That involved packing supplies in a Suburban and traveling to pet owners’ homes with a smile and a stethoscope. 

She still has the smile and the stethoscope, but her Los Angeles area practice now includes a fully equipped hospital. While other mobile veterinarians may provide a housecall service, Dr. Mullen provides both the service and the hospital. Her hospital is a 24-foot Born Free RV which has been customized to include equipment to do surgery in front of clients’ homes.

"Dr." Mullen used to be "Nurse" Mullen, beginning her career in medicine as a Registered Nurse for the United States Air Force, where she did everything from ward nursing to ICU nursing. She was graduated in 1980 from the United States Air Force Anesthesia School and spent five years practicing as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist serving military personnel and their families. Her nursing provides the sensitivity to the human factors of veterinary medicine and her anesthesia specialty training provides years of experience shared by few veterinarians. 

"Many of my classmates in vet school wanted to open clinics," said Dr.
Mullen. "But I always wanted to do housecalls. And when I saw this mobile hospital the first time, I knew it was made for me. And Los Angeles is the perfect place for a mobile hospital. Busy clients need the service and appreciate having a whole hospital in their driveway. Of course the pets are under enough stress needing veterinary care. They certainly don’t need a ride in the car and a waiting room full of other sick pets on top of it all." 

"Sometimes I can’t believe that my dream has come true. It’s like the life of James Herriot with all the modern conveniences and technology."

Dr. Mullen is a member of the Class of 2000 of the Chi Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine in Ocala, Florida and is applying her studies by offering in-home acupuncture and TCM, in conjunction with Western medicine as part of her housecall practice.  

Nancy Myers Smith, JD

Betty poses with Nancy (wearing telephone headset) in a digital camera self-portrait including the trusty computer with a fish tank screen saver and guarded by Puffy, of “Something About Mary.”

 "Closing my law office in 1998 to devote my time to answering the phone, talking with clients about their pets and handling the hospital marketing has opened a life of service and satisfaction-- pleasantly far from the conflict-ridden practice of civil litigation," said Nancy Myers Smith.  Surrounded by her gaggle of dogs, cats and bunnies, Nancy picks up where Dr. Mullen drops off-- ordering drugs, handling office matters and putting out the monthly Mullen's Mobile Veterinary Hospital Newsletter.  She has happily resurrected her former journalism career to provide readers with news about pets as well as Dr. Mullen's practice.