Veterinarian and Owner
Hello, I'm Dr. Nie!
Tell us about your career and from when you graduated college up to this point.
Oh, and that's a lot of years. I graduated in 1988 from the University of Missouri and I practiced for about 20 years as a conventional practitioner. Moving around the country, several different places all the way from California to Auburn, Alabama, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Kentucky, and back to Missouri. So, we've been here now for 19 years and have owned this hospital. I had a chance to retool once we got here, and that's where I picked up the natural service and have been developing it and growing it for the last 17 years now. It has been a wide variety on the conventional and natural side, and I enjoy the natural side much more.
Why did you choose this profession or rather why did you choose integrative over conventional?
You know, I really enjoyed what I did as a conventional practitioner, but always had an interest in the natural side or integrative medicine. I think I give credit to God for leading me to this, and he kind of pointed the way for me, and never let that interest die in me. When I got an opportunity in my career to pursue it and started learning more and applying it, I just saw that I was helping animals so much more. Now, after many years of doing this and lots of experience and seeing so many animals benefit from it, I enjoy this much more than I did the conventional side because I can help animals so much more now than any conventional application can.
What are some of your personal hobbies and interests?
Oh, I work an awful lot, but when I do get some time off, I enjoy farming, hunting, fishing, and church. I participate in our local parish an awful lot and try to raise our kids who are both adults now. That's been a handful and they're not quite out the door yet, but we'll get there soon and then we'll be empty nesters. So, I'll find plenty of things to occupy my time.
What are some of your favorite things about veterinary care?
You know, I think being able to—I'm an academic at heart. Most of the conventional time that I practiced was spent in academia, so I like learning new things constantly, applying them, and seeing them work. On the natural side, it is very much a learning curve throughout your career because there is no official training program for natural medicine, like we might find programs on the human side. It's been an accumulation of knowledge, certifications, and experience over the years. Seeing that work in patients and their bodies healing themselves when I provide the right inputs to them is very rewarding, and I find that to be probably the most interesting part of veterinary medicine.
Going off of that, what certifications do you have?
Well, after my DVM in 1988 from the University of Missouri, I practiced for a little while and then went to the University of Minnesota where I completed a master's in theriogenology, a PhD in theriogenology, and a residency in theriogenology. Theriogenology is reproduction in animals. Basically, it combines both male and female sides where the human side splits that. I was board-certified in theriogenology in 1993 and am a member of the Society for Theriogenology (SFT). After I left that program, I went to Oklahoma State University and completed a residency in equine internal medicine, and I got boarded while I was in Oklahoma in what's called the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM).and the Equine Specialty. So that's a second board that I have. Then in 2005, I got boarded in internal medicine as well for the large animal specialty. So, three board certifications all on the conventional side. When I started to retool in 2008 after we got here, I did acupuncture first. So, I certified in acupuncture out in Colorado at the Medical Acupuncture for Veterinarians program. Then in 2013, I certified through Options for Animals College of Animal Chiropractic, and I'm recognized with certification in that from the International Veterinary Chiropractic Associations.
I also maintain membership in a number of professional organizations including the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA), American Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA), American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP),
Fun Fact:
Dr. Nie is also a Certified Magna Wave Practitioner and provides PEMF for people and animals. A very natural yet cutting edge technology, Magna Wave is the most effective PEMF therapy available.
Dr. Nie would be pleased to talk with you or your veterinarian about how chiropractic, acupuncture or other IVM care can benefit your horse, dog, or cat. He is also available to speak at group functions about the benefits of IVM care.
