Dr. Morton is a member of the small animal surgery service.
Tell us about your background.
I grew up in rural upstate New York, where I was involved with equine 4-H with my Morgan horse. My father was a farrier, and I was usually tagging along with him on our local veterinarian on farm calls.
After graduating from high school, I relocated to Colorado with family and attended Colorado State University (CSU), where I earned a bachelor’s degree in microbiology. I then pursued a master’s degree in public health and biosecurity from St. Louis University.
I knew early on that veterinary medicine was the career path I wanted to pursue and hoped to combine it with my growing interest in infectious disease.
While living in Colorado, I worked at the CSU Equine Orthopedic Research Laboratory as well as a small animal specialty hospital, where I was initially introduced to advanced surgical procedures.
I earned my DVM from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, followed by a rotating internship at The Ohio State University. I then came to the University of Illinois for my small animal surgery residency.
After residency, I spent several years as a small animal surgeon in a private specialty practice in Florida before returning to Illinois to join the faculty. I am excited to be back in Champaign-Urbana and contribute to the training of future veterinarians and surgeons.
How did you become interested in surgery?
While in high school, I worked as a kennel tech and veterinary assistant at a local general practice. One weekend I had the opportunity to scrub in and assist with an emergency GDV (gastric dilatation and volvulus) surgery, which made a lasting impression on me.
As I continued with my education and clinical experiences, I came to appreciate how surgery can restore function, resolve complex wounds, or help with cancer treatment. I also love the teaching side of surgery; helping students, interns, and residents develop confidence in the OR and understand the “why” behind each decision.
Read more about Dr. Morton at Referral Services.
