2009-2010 TAVP President
by Lindsey Oechsle
In his thirtieth year of membership in the Texas Academy of Veterinary Practice, Dr. Michael A. Doherty will serve the veterinary profession as the 2009-2010 TAVP President. A love for animals and science, an interest and dedication to education, and a natural sense of leadership and service create a personal blueprint of Dr. Doherty’s continued success.
Born and raised on a cattle ranch in Folsom, New Mexico, Dr. Doherty is a fourth generation commercial cattle rancher. His family has produced commercial cattle from horned Hereford and Hereford cross stock since 1896. He developed a great love of animals and interest in science at a young age, which continued to develop through his high school years. Not only did he graduate early—at the ripe age of 16—but he was also Valedictorian.
Following high school, Doherty moved to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech University. Again, displaying leadership and high standards of education, Doherty served as President of his social fraternity and was one of eight individuals in the nation to be awarded a fraternity scholarship.
After graduating from Tech with a B.S. in Zoology (with Honors, of course), Doherty went on to Colorado State University for veterinary school. While at CSU, he continued to display leadership by serving as the National Delegate to the Student Chapter of the AVMA. He graduated from CSU in 1977, and was in the Top Ten of his graduating class.
Throughout his four years in veterinary school, Doherty spent the summers at Creek View Veterinary Clinic in New Braunfels, TX. Dr. Larry Waldrip and Dr. Gary Brotze offered Doherty a position at the clinic upon graduation, and he became a co-owner within his first two years.
It is at Creek View Veterinary Clinic that I meet up with Dr. Doherty. When I arrive at the clinic, I am greeted by a colorful reception area and a happy, informed staff. There are several clinic cats—one in particular that caught my attention. It is a young kitten, and at just six weeks of age, it has energy to spare. The orange kitten is up for adoption, and is fixed with its vaccinations. It sits at Dr. Doherty’s feet, and at one point during our conversation, it manages to close the office door on us. If Jack—our cat at home—weren’t quite so territorial, this little ball of energy would have been making the trip back to Austin with me.
Dr. Doherty is on the phone when I arrive, and he is giving helpful advice to a long-time client—and obviously a friend—who is attempting to breed a lab. The office is a library of veterinary information. What wall space is not covered by stacks of journals and bookshelves is occupied by various hunting trophies, framed awards and pictures of family.
Over the thirty plus years that Dr. Doherty has been involved with Creek View, the city of New Braunfels grew from 15,000 to 50,000 in population. The practice has evolved from a three-veterinarian, three-employee mixed practice (30% LA, 70% SA) to a three-veterinarian, 16-employee predominately small animal practice, including about 3% non-traditional species, which he says, “keeps it interesting.” They have just completed their third major remodel of the clinic in January of this year, but it is an ever-evolving project. The day I arrive, there is a man on a ladder painting touch-ups and working on basic maintenance.
There are a few philosophies that Dr. Doherty lives and practices by: Do all things right and fair, quality before quantity, and the single most important thing to always work toward is respect. These values are evident in his professional work and in his philanthropy.
Throughout his time in New Braunfels, Dr. Doherty has served his community in so many capacities in addition to providing animal care. His involvement has included serving on the Board of the New Braunfels Humane Society, as President of the Landa Recreation Center, President of the Circle Arts Theatre Board, Board member and President of the American Heart Association Comal Chapter and six years on the local United Way Board. As a long-time active member of the Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Doherty has enjoyed introducing eighth grade students to veterinary medicine through the Chamber’s Shadow Program.
Doherty has been a member of the New Braunfels Rotary Club since 1978, and was a founding member of the Downtown Rotary Club, of which he served as President in 1986. He serves as co-chair of the club’s fundraiser, “The Wild Game Dinner” which raises about $250,000 each year ($2,000,000 over the past 19 years). These funds go toward child abuse programs, local food banks, children’s museum, crisis and hospice centers and more.
Dr. Doherty is a proud Red Raider Alum, and served for several years on the National Board and the Board of the San Antonio Ex’s. He even helped develop a chapter of the Ex’s in Comal County, on which he served as President for the first twelve years. His face lights up as he speaks of his years at Texas Tech and his continued involvement with the school. He’s obviously got Red in his blood.
From my perspective, Dr. Doherty is quite a tall man—6’3’’ to be precise. He has always had a love for basketball, and was active in local and San Antonio area basketball leagues for 20 years. He laughs and tells me that 6’3’’ used to be considered tall, but these days, only when speaking in terms of women’s basketball. Nowadays, Doherty feeds his love for the sport as a season ticket holder to the San Antonio Spurs. In his free time, which is few and far between, he also enjoys traveling and hunting trips in locations such as Africa and Canada. His next trip destination is Argentina—a dove hunter’s paradise.
Almost every year, one of Dr. Doherty’s regular travel destinations is the Western States Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas. It comes as no surprise that one of his favorite activities is attending veterinary CE, and in his opinion, Western States offers some of the greatest CE options. Dr. Doherty has been a member of the Academy since 1979, and this year, as President of the Texas Academy of Veterinary Practice, Dr. Doherty hopes to bring some great CE opportunities to the John Newcomb’s (Nukes) Tennis Club and Convention Center for the TAVP Symposium.
Dr. Doherty also travels as often as time allows to visit his four children, Susan, Michael, Cara and Rachel. Cara lives in Germany and was in town for her father’s installation in San Antonio.
“Above anything, after a hard day at the clinic,” says Dr. Doherty, “I enjoy a quiet evening with my wife Ginger, relaxing at our home overlooking the beautiful lights of New Braunfels.”
