We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Erica Johnson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Erica thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was your school or training experience like? Share an anecdote or two that you feel illustrate important aspects or the overall nature of your schooling/training experience.

I am a proud graduate of two HBCU schools, Xavier University of Louisiana, where I earned my undergraduate B.S. degree, and Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, where I received my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. Both of these schools were instrumental in shaping and molding me into the doctor, wife, mother, and friend I am today.

When I arrived on campus at Xavier University of Louisiana, ( XULA), I came expecting to be a big fish in a small pond. I was a National Honor society student, great SAT score, on a merit academic scholarship… I would blow through this this school with no problem. What I didn’t realize is that XULA was, and is, the top school in the nation for the number of African American graduates who go on to medical school, and so it tended to attract the best and brightest scholars in the nation with the goal of attending professional school. So, as I attended my first class in a summer program before school started, and kids started talking about themselves, I realized I was surrounded by valedictorians, merit scholars, pure geniuses. My first significant aha moment,.. I had to step up, work harder, faster, smarter, just to keep up. My freshman year was transformational, keeping up academically, learning who I was apart from the “smart Black girl from South Carolina” the only person I knew. When times were rough, the professors held me accountable with love, my advisor even threatened to call my mother when I didn’t do well on a test! By the end of my four years at Xavier, I had the confidence to know that I could thrive in any environment in which I wanted to go, and the academic prowess that ensured I would succeed wherever I went.

Tuskegee University Vet school was ROUGH, but I was so excited to be learning what I loved . TU challenged me more than I’ve ever been challenged, but simultaneously cared for and supported me. Our surgical instructors made it their goal to make us the best new graduate surgeons made, and that sparked the love I have for surgery today. The professors truly wanted us to be well prepared for veterinary practice and everything that comes with it. Our success was their mission
Tuskegee was the foundation I needed to be thriving in purpose and financial well-being today

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

A lifelong animal lover, I have never waivered from my dream of becoming a veterinarian at age 3. After getting married in 2000, I started working at a large veterinary practice in Charlotte, NC, but soon moved to Houston, Texas. While in Texas, I have worked at a variety of clinical environments, general practice, emergency medicine, animal shelter, and even high volume spay/ neuter. This diversity of experiences helped me realize 1) I wanted to lead my own clinic 2) It had to to have the highest standards of medical care and 3) We had to offer clients five star customer service, every time they walked into the door

Finally, I found a partner that shared my ideals, and Neighborhood Veterinary Centers- Richmond was born. We are 2 doctor general veterinary practice, offering uncompromising high level pet care. In addition to orthopedic, emergency, and advanced soft tissue surgeries, Dr. Pope and I provide a wide range of routine elective and non-elective procedures, We also manage and treat conditions specific to your pet’s internal health as well.

We have worked to build the kind of animal hospital that pet owners deserve. Our technology is unmatched, and our staff is unparalleled. We consistently strive to offer is the level of care you would want for any member of your family.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Mostly word of mouth. Pet owners ask each other who their vet is, and if they are happy with them. Do good work, and people will follow. We also provide medical care for and partner with community animal shelters and rescues who refer fosters and adopters to us. Additionally, we have an amazing marketing team that handles social media and getting us more involved with the community as well.

Any advice for managing a team?

Happy staff, happy life is my motto. I hire employees who don’t just love animals, they are engaged in, and motivated by veterinary medicine as a career, so they aren’t fulfilled by just restraining animals. They want to actively learn why they are doing what they are doing, and so they are happier by me simply explaining my cases, why I’m treating a patient with a particular medicine and why. Additionally, I let them do their jobs. I’ve worked at practices in the past where the vet insisted on taking blood, doing lab tests, placing catheters, taking x-rays, and their techs just basically watched, in misery. When you appropriately train your staff, and can confidently let them do the things they can competently do, life is so much better, your patient is taken care of, your staff member feels valued, and maybe the doctor now has a minute or two to sit down.

Oh, and a pizza party now and then helps as well!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gonvc.com/richmond/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hey.nvc.richmond/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hey.nvc.richmond
• Twitter: https://x.com/nvcrichmond