• Hero Banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Buying or Selling a Practice
Hospital Design
Leadership & Personal Growth
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Technology
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Live Conferences
Conference News
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Fingerprints: Dr. Tom Catanzaro

February 9, 2015
Marty Becker, DVM

What youd ask and what youd never think to ask a leading voice of veterinary medicine.

Shouldn't somebody who's always been nicknamed "Tom Cat" be predestined to become a veterinarian? Lucky for us, he did.

Dr. Tom Catanzaro, MHA, LFACHE, DACHE, has been involved with many aspects of veterinary medicine from the military, organizations and education to leadership, writing and consulting. What has fueled his long career is a deep appreciation, understanding and celebration of the human-animal bond.

Seemingly having penned more books than James Patterson, "Tom Cat" has never been at a loss for words. Love him or hate him, Tom's made a dramatic and positive impact in our profession the results of which will last forever.

Where were you born and raised?

Born at Scott Field Air Base. I wanted to be close to my mom who wanted to be close to my dad who was in the Army Air Force circa WWII.

Your first job was?

Five at at once before age 16: Mowing lawns, raking leaves, shoveling snow, delivering newspapers and mopping a deli in the evenings. After turning 16 it was stocking shelves at National Tea and working in the steel mills of Chicago.

When did you first know you wanted to be a veterinarian?

Spring quarter during my senior year at Montana State University.

Catanzaro in Australia.

What is your greatest joy regarding this profession?

Puppy breath.

What's the worst mistake you ever made as a veterinarian and what did you learn from it?

Declaring an egg-blocked iguana dead post-surgery and telling the owner. Then I went to lunch and returned to see it up and looking at me (fast re-closure of suture line was indicated). I learned about stasis in iguanas and waiting for recovery of reptiles.

The best part about being a veterinarian is?

I have done so many things, have never gotten bored and am always excited about the new adventure on the horizon.

Tell us about a patient that shouldn't have lived but did.

A horse that fell in a Punji stake pit and ripped its shoulder. The tribal chief wouldn't let me flush the fecal matter from the wound (at threat of crossbow) but had me return in seven days. Maggots had given the shoulder a 99 percent debridement; the chief then allowed me to flush and treat, and healing was amazing!

Medicine or surgery?

Medicine. Surgery is too boring.

Practice or management?

Management (leadership) for sure!

What is your perfect idea of happiness?

A slow walk in the woods with my kids.

What is your greatest strength?

Advertisement

Leadership tenacity.

What living person do you most admire? 

An active Scoutmaster.

Catanzano, front-right, at a Cub Scout meeting in 1953.

What is your motto?

Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you will make it come true!

What do you collect? 

Beaver and veterinarian figurines.

What is your greatest professional regret?

Being unable to change our profession fast enough.

Tell us about your first pet?

Smokey, a long-haired black cat who was scared of most people but slept on my bed.

Catanzano and Smokey.

Who was your favorite teacher and why?

Ms. Gurst in 7th and 8th grades. She saw a glimmer of hope in my math abilities and got me into experimental math in high school.

What do you know now, that you wished you'd have known before you entered veterinary school that would have caused you to live your life differently?

The importance of a balanced family life

If you could spend a day with one veterinarian (living or deceased), who would it be and why?

James Herriott. He made such a major impact on the image of veterinary medicine, back when people read books instead of surfing the Internet.

If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about veterinary medicine that would help pets, people and the profession, you would ...

Instill an appreciation for team-based veterinary healthcare delivery, especially in well care.

When and where are you the happiest?

The trails of Philmont Scout Ranch.

Catanzaro at Philmont Scout Ranch during a Leadership Course for a Walking Wood Badge.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

The AVMA 2012 Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award.

What is your most treasured possession?

Memories of my Seminars at Sea faculty from the past 20 years.

What's your favorite hobby?

Scouting.

Tell us about a view or vista that took your breath away and left an indelible imprint in your mind?

The canals of Venice, Italy.

Would you encourage your child to become a veterinarian and why or why not?

Yes, I would. I think veterinary medicine is a great education with many avenues/potential careers.

Describe a perfect day as a veterinarian?

Achieving satisfaction at a job well done with a team proud of what we did.

Describe a perfect day away from work?

Boy Scouts of America Jamboree.

What is the most unusual pet name you've ever heard?

Pek'an (Algonquin for black spirit cat of the forest).

Catanzaro in Venice, Italy.

For the profession to thrive and not just survive, we must return to ...

Being interactive colleagues to share expensive resources, ideas and community outreach efforts.

Related Content:

Wellbeing & Lifestyle
How to create a safe work environment for LGBTQ+ team members
How to create a safe work environment for LGBTQ+ team members
Veterinary scene Down Under: DEI advancements, plus title protection and more
Veterinary scene Down Under: DEI advancements, plus title protection and more
New certificate program addresses the importance of self-care
New certificate program addresses the importance of self-care

Advertisement

Latest News

Four ways to curb no shows

FDA and European Union expand Mutual Recognition Agreement to include animal drugs

Successful tolerability study of CBD products for dogs

Second annual 'Dog Days of Summer' adoption event to take place in Michigan

View More Latest News
Advertisement