Member Spotlight

FVMA MEMBER, DR. STEPHANIE JONES, IS AN INSPIRATION FOR LOCAL YOUTH

FVMA member and president of the Broward County VMA, Dr. Stephanie Jones, is an incredible leader with a big heart. A native of Arkansas, she received her bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M in 1994, followed by her DVM from the University of Florida in 1999. After graduation, Dr. Jones moved to Fort Lauderdale and, in 2000, joined the Animal Hospital of Ft. Lauderdale. She is now a co-owner of the hospital.

“My time as a veterinarian has been an ever-evolving learning experience,” Dr. Jones said. “I became a veterinarian to ‘help animals’ but through the years I have realized I cannot save them all, so my job is to make their time on earth as comfortable as possible. Veterinary medicine is about providing quality care and quality medicine. It is about client communication and allowing clients to make informed decisions, because at the end of the day that is all you can do: help them come to a decision of compassionate care for a pet, which promotes the human-animal bond and that provides an appropriate quality of life.”

In April of 2019, she founded Pets Help The Heart Heal, Inc. This non-profit organization provides an opportunity for vulnerable foster children to learn about veterinary medicine and interact with animals. The program incorporates veterinary medicine and animal industry through events and programs that promote the human-animal bond.

“It all started with a smile,” Dr. Jones said. “I was at a local foster care organization helping with a service project and, as we worked on art therapy, I saw the challenges the kids were facing on a day to day basis: bullying, judgement, rejection, abandonment. The one girl that was participating just seemed down. She was doing the assignment but seemed sad. Only when I asked her about bringing my dog here did she show a little glimpse of joy and that frown turned upside down. I began to talk about my job as a veterinarian; I asked questions; they asked me questions. I knew, then, that I needed to do something to bring veterinary medicine and animals into the lives of these kids. At first, it was going to be just a career day at their facility, but so much more could be done at an actual animal hospital.”

Dr. Jones' role as president of the Broward County Veterinary Medical Association has helped her spread her message about the benefits of the human-animal bond for youth. She hopes other veterinarians will get involved in this movement by providing learning opportunities in their area.

“Many youth that look like me, don’t know careers in animal industry exist for them,” Dr. Jones said. “Providing possibilities Dr. Jones knows the importance of the human-animal bond. Image courtesy of Dr. Stephanie Jones.

while promoting the human-animal bond is crucial in diversity and representation.”

A variety of organizations now participate in her event, Life of Pets and Jr. Vets. During this event, kids go to the Animal Hospital to experience veterinary medicine. In each exam room, kids learn about the physical exam, parasites, household toxins and how to read x-rays to learn about surgery preparation. During breaks, there are puppy love sessions, where kids have an opportunity to play with and learn about different dog breeds. Pets of all ages and types are available. Dr. Jones said the various ages are key. “You never know if the child needs to laugh with a puppy or just sit and pet a gentle, older dog as he lays his head in his/her lap.”

The group leaders are instructed to “capture moments” of the kids interacting with the animals, specifically photos of them laughing and smiling. The kids then get to decorate these photos and take them home as a simple reminder of when life was stress free — even for just a moment in time. Dr. Jones and her nonprofit team host this event twice a year. The program also introduces kids to a variety of professions that involve working animals.

In addition to her in-person efforts, Pets Help The Heart Heal also makes “comfort packs” to provide essential items and toiletries for foster youth as they transition from one place to the next. Dr. Jones said she feels her purpose is to motivate, encourage and uplift youth.

Dr. Jones speaks to the youth of Jack and Jill Broward at the Humane Society. Image courtesy of Dr. Stephanie Jones. Dr. Jones reads to the youth of SOS Village Florida. Image courtesy of Dr. Stephanie Jones. Pets Help The Heart Heal's biannual event, Life of Pets and Jr. Vets. Image courtesy of Dr. Stephanie Jones.

Pets Help The Heart Heal also partners with the Animal Hospital of Fort Lauderdale to host shadow students. The focus is to provide an in-depth experience as youth see the day-to-day interactions of veterinary medicine.

“I feel it is very important for youth to have a full understanding of the career they choose,” Dr. Jones says of her shadow student efforts. “It is vital in making informed decisions about their future.”

Before the current coronavirus pandemic, she also ran a Reading with Pets program where she would go to organizations and read to kids. She now provides a virtual version, Reading With Pets Across the Nation, which allows youth in one location to read with pets in a different location. Her goal is to have participants from all 50 states.

Dr. Jones got involved with at-risk youth over 15 years ago, when her sister was moving to Maryland and asked Dr. Jones to help finish a program her sister had started for youth at their church.

“I was hesitant to help because, at the time, I didn’t think I had a connection with youth at all,” Dr. Jones said. “As I worked with them, I saw there was a need, simply because they had no vision. When I asked my favorite line: ‘What do you want to do with your life?’ There was nothing. I just got, ‘I don’t know, Dr. Jones.’ I did not understand that answer. ‘Why don’t you know?’ There was no imagination — just the life in front of them.”

To combat this, she created a life skills for teens curriculum. Its purpose was to help shape a well-rounded young adult. The participants had to come to class with a vocabulary word each week. The group studied Sean Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, Jay McGraw’s Life Strategies for Teens and Robert T. Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad for Teens. Dr. Jones took them to restaurants they had never been to and exposed them to different food and different cultures.

“We worked on public speaking, etiquette and attire. The goal was to have them be able to adapt and adjust to any environment. I didn’t want them to lose their identity, but I wanted them to be confident and secure in any situation.”

Dr. Jones said she now sees those once-directionless teens doing amazing things. Since then, some of them have graduated from college, joined the military, traveled the world, become master chefs and started families. Some have started investing and are debt free, some tapped into their social media presence and others have pursued graduate programs.

"At the end of the day, I just want them to be happy with what they have accomplished and driven enough to keep going, if they want," Dr. Jones said. "I am to be a role model for youth, a representation of things accomplished. I want everyone to know you can have your heart’s desire…just believe. I have been fortunate enough to take my two passions, veterinary medicine and youth development, and bring them together with the purpose to educate, uplift and inspire.”

Dr. Jones hopes to educate, uplift and inspire youth to dare to dream. Image courtesy of Taylor Game Photography.