Playful Go-Getter, Scholarly Dad
I may be an experienced veterinarian with a demonstrated history of team leadership and collaborative skills now, but I began my professional life by building a small business while still in college and watching it thrive over nearly a decade.
Owning a successful client services-based business - before taking the leap into veterinary medicine - helped develop my most valuable professional skills.
Managing a top-producing team, contributing to community, and understanding the power of reputation are all crucial components of my “brand.”
Academically, I equipped myself with the trifecta of biology, theatre and D.V.M. degrees. And every day, this unique grounding merges my love for public speaking with my love of science to fuel my main passion: educating people about animal health.
At every turn, my career is bolstered by my role as husband and dad. I’m a proud family man with a supportive partner of over twenty years and two talented and beautiful teen-aged daughters who drive us crazy and fill us with gratitude in equal measure. And, last but not least, our two rescue Frenchies are as gassy as they are essential to my sense of home.
In my spare time, I study French, plant stuff in dirt, refinish MCM furniture, bake, and challenge my husband or daughters at chess.
Community Leadership
2018 to present: Founding member of MVMA’s MOVE (Minnesota’s Opportunity for Veterinarian Engagement) committee
2018 to 2024: Board Member MVMF (Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation) and member of student scholarship subcommittee
2020 to present: University of Minnesota student mentor: 1 on 1 mentoring
2021: VOICE Brown Bag Lunch Guest Speaker: Topic – Diversity and Inclusion within our industry from a personal perspective
8/2021: University of Minnesota panelist for DE&I video to students for GOALE orientation. Link to Video
2021 to present: University of Minnesota Alumni and Friends Board Member and 2024 President: Link to AFS
2021: Weekend volunteer for no-cost vet clinic for the Aliveness Project
2018-Present: Yearly interviewer for DVM candidates for the incoming class at the University of Minnesota
2022-2025: Camp Frogwarts Camp counselor: as “Doctor Forest Green” – Professor of Magical Creatures
Featured in MVMA’s (Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association) monthly newsletter.
Page 14 (Click Here)
As 2024 President of University of Minnesota CVM Alumni & Friends, delivering Commencement Speech to DVM graduating class:
DVM Student Scholarship Winners MVMF Scholarship Committee Volunteerism:
2023-2024: VET GALA Sponsorship Sub-Committee:
Nikko (right) and husband Mick-Dean (left)
Media
Featured guest on Vet Life Reimagined video podcast, “Making Veterinary Medicine Magical with Dr. Nikko Grossapoulos” Audio Link : Video Link
Featured Vet in “Raising the Standards of Pet Care: Zoetis Professional Services Veterinarian” - a global promotional video (Click Here)
Guest Panelist for national product launch event for Solensia: providing perspective from a practicing veterinarian
National Spokesperson, Parasite Media Tour (Zoetis, 2023)
26 INTERVIEWS, including:
Studio 10 - FOX Media:
CW - Portland Koin6 Media
PUBLICATIONS: for a community newspaper/journal, I’ve contributed several articles regarding pet care
Bring in Da' Noise: published just before storm and firework season, this article discusses drug protocols for treating this common pet phobia
In the Know About Lepto: an effort to educate the community about leptospirosis as a disease and its prevalence
Holiday Pet Safety: outlining holiday-specific dangers for pets and how to avoid them
Experience & Recognition
EDUCATION:
University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine: D.V.M. Degree
2011-2014: SCAVMA President
2014 White Coat Ceremony Class Speaker
2015 Student Representative Commencement Speaker
CLINICAL:
Banfield 2015-present (full time 2015-2016, Locum 2016-present): Associate Veterinarian
Pet Doctors/Minnehaha Animal Hospital 2016-2018: Associate Veterinarian
Industry:
2018- present: Senior Professional Services Veterinarian, Zoetis:
2022 President’s Circle Winner
2022 Lead Dog Award
2018 Lead Dog Award
2023 MVMA’s Outstanding Industry Representative; Page 10 (Click Here)
Above: MVMA’s Outstanding Industry Rep 2023
2022 to Present: Originator and Principal Architect of Zoetis Onboarding Curriculum
Reflecting our company’s explosive growth, a near constant influx of new hires across our US Petcare field force confirmed a need to expedite their education and minimize disruptions to local sales operations.
An ongoing initiative of which I’m particularly proud, it is greenlit by Senior Leadership, and I am charged with leading a team to develop the first centralized, national repository of technical training resources for Zoetis. This curriculum will aid PSVs in their education of new hires about everything in the four major US portfolios.
