DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Will Kay
Will Kay
For Dr. Will Kay, being a veterinarian is a family value.
“I am a third generation vet,” Will said. “I grew up at a vet hospital. I’m also a second generation neurologist. Dad is a neurologist and Mom is a veterinary surgeon.”
Neurologists treat patients with issues related to the nerves and nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord.
Will is in the second year of a three-year residency at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine.
“We see primarily referrals and emergencies from the local veterinary community, up to a 5-hour radius for various neurological cases,” he explained. “From seizures to surgical cases, traumas, and emergency herniated discs in dogs, we provide imaging, such as CTs and MRIs, and diagnosis. Then we provide the best treatment plan, whether it be medical or surgical.”
In a typical day, Will and the team see three new appointments and a couple of rechecks, plus the various inpatients in the hospital. His patients are primarily dogs and cats.
“The team is a combination of a good group of veterinarians, excellent veterinary technicians, students, and our front-of-house staff. My mentors are board-certified neurologists. We all work very closely together, and we work with the imaging staff,” he said. “We teach the students in 2-week rotations to get them familiar with neurological exams. They learn how to come up with a reasonable differential list so they are better able to provide care, communicate with clients, and refer to us when necessary.”
Will said he enjoys working up some of the more difficult cases and provide an outcome they might not have had at a smaller institution.
“I like providing that service for the community and owners to extend the time they can have with their pets,” he said. “The highlight of my residency so far was sending home a young husky puppy to his family after a month in the hospital for treatment of tetanus.”
Will enjoys running and spending time with his family, including his wife, Tiffany, a veterinarian in Columbus, their 4-month-old son, James, and their dogs.
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