ABOUT NANCY

How long have you been with the Sacramento SPCA Board?
I’m one of the longer-serving board members. I first joined in 2007 and served until 2016. I then came back to the board in 2018.

Where do you live? 
I live in Gold River and like Pat McNeil, another board member, I spend a lot of time running on the trails along the American River.

Tell us a little about your workday, what do you do, what have you done?
I am a physician who specializes in the management of high-risk pregnancies. I’m also a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UC Davis and I’m certified in diabetic education. Every workday is different. One day a week I’m in Stockton or Lodi working with high-risk patients, the next I’m reviewing fetal ultrasounds in Radiology. Another day is hospital patient rounds and surgery. Twice a month I’m on hospital overnights. It’s never boring!

Are you currently participating in any other organizations or associations? 
I’m an avid runner, so every year I look forward to the California International Marathon here in Sacramento. I organize relay teams composed of attending physicians and medical residents. We have a lot of fun.

What unique talents and skills do you bring to the SSPCA board?
I would say a deep investment in animal welfare. I enjoy being a community ambassador for the Sacramento SPCA. It’s an important mission. I also started a Reading for Dogs Program where we read to dogs with behavior problems to socialize them and increase their chances of adoption; I started this program in 2016.

We would love to hear about your home life, starting with your pets…
I’m single and my life in Gold River is shared with my cat, who fittingly, has diabetes. One of my goals is to have one or two dogs and a horse again, once I no longer work 80-100 hours a week. It’s all about animals for me.

What excites you about being part of the SSPCA board of directors?
Helping to plan the future of Sacramento SPCA. We have accomplished so much. My favorite part of the week is volunteering for surgery in the the Spay & Neuter Clinic. It’s exciting to work with people that I would never meet at work, where my focus as a physician is attending to high-risk pregnancies. At the S/N clinic, it doesn’t matter how many fancy initials I have after my name—we all work together to achieve the same goals. I find it very refreshing. I also enjoy walking the dogs at the shelter.

As a child, I wanted to be a vet. I started vet school, but I just found it too sad. I cried every day. After I realized that vet school wasn’t my path – my dad, who was a doctor, suggested medical school. Now I can use my animal experience to help the Sacramento SPCA and indulge my passion.