Episode 13: The traveling veterinary neurologist

After taking a graduate course in neuroscience during his undergraduate studies at Tuskegee University, Antonio Bowens, DVM, was hooked. Well, he was hooked on human neuroscience, anyway, with a plan to go to medical school to become a neurosurgeon. Fortunately for dogs and cats, he was waitlisted at both medical schools he applied to but was accepted to Tuskegee’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Bowens decided to commit to Tuskegee with the plan to go to medical school after veterinary school—until he learned that he could specialize in veterinary neuroscience.

For the past decade, Dr. Bowens has been practicing veterinary neurology and neurosurgery, first in a solo practice and then as a co-owner. When the partnership did not work out, Dr. Bowens decided to become a locum veterinary neurologist and neurosurgeon. He is now owner and head of neurology and neurosurgery at Veterinary Referral & Emergency Hospital in Arlington, Texas.

“Basically, he tells Dr. Christman, “the way things work now I usually provide services on a mobile basis to general practitioners in the area. I also travel out of state to provide services for referral/specialty hospitals that are trying to establish a neurology/neurosurgery service or just filling in for a colleague [who] needs to take some time off.”

Dr. Bowens also shares his clinical experience with disk disease and other neurologic conditions, as well as advanced and alternative therapies.

Listen below to learn more about Dr. Bowens’ journey, the mentors and colleagues who helped him along the way, what he has learned on the road, and how he manages work-life balance with his veterinarian wife (and dvm360 Editorial Advisory Board member).