Veterinary Heroes: Meghan Solc, DVM, DACVD

Meghan Solc, DVM, DACVD, a practitioner at Dermatology for Animals-Catonsville, a Thrive Pet Healthcare facility in Maryland, has a passion for inclusion and mentorship. Her service in those areas as well as her work as a practitioner earned her recognition in dvm360's 2024 Veterinary Heroes program as the honoree for dermatology.

The program recognizes those professionals who have positively impacted animal care, demonstrating leadership, expertise, and a commitment to improving the health and well-being of animals. These recognized individuals have excelled in their professional roles and influenced the broader veterinary community, setting new standards and inspiring others.

In an interview with dvm360, Solc expressed surprise and gratitude for the award. “So many people have had such a positive impact on me, and to reflect on that and this period of time and where I am in my career, it's just amazing to see all that support that I've always had throughout that whole period of time,” Solc said. “The career itself is great. I love veterinarian medicine. I love dermatology. It really has grown me as a person, and there's so many people that I would thank [for the support].”

Photos courtesy of Meghan Solc, DVM, DACVD

Conversely, 5 colleagues nominated Solc for the Veterinary Heroes award. “She is a strong supporter of the LGBTQIA community and has worked to translate discharges and information sheets into other languages, to make it easier for our non–English-speaking clients,” one nominator wrote.

Furthermore, the nominator said, “Dr Solc is a compassionate and engaged veterinarian and constantly shows up for her clients, patients, and colleagues. She truly has an unmatched passion for dermatology. She is community minded and always an advocate for those in need.”

A second nominator highlighted Solc’s work in local communities, which extends to career fairs and talking with middle school-age children about future opportunities in veterinary dermatology. Additionally, Solc has spoken with local journalists about when dermatologic care for pets should be sought, and frequently works directly with clients to diagnose and treat their animals.

“Her focus is educating these owners on how to best care for their pets to improve their quality of life.She is always seeking the best evidence based treatment options for her patients,” the second nominator added.

In the interview, Solc was quick to express additional appreciation for her colleagues. “There are a lot of client-pet parent interactions that just go unseen from day to day. A lot of our veterinary technicians are so, so important on that front,” Solc said. “It’s not necessarily their technical ability, but their big hearts and how much they care for their doctor, and also for the pet parents and how much they do [for them] on a day to day basis. It's a hard job, and sometimes it's thankless, but I don't know where I would be without them.”

An active member of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD), Solc is also cochair of the organization’s annual resident education forum. The event provides in-depth seminars for ACVD members. “More and more veterinarians are becoming dermatologists.… It’s just amazing to see the interest and the commitment to that specialty, which is [something] we need more and more,” Solc said.

A graduate of Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada, Solc has directly mentored several doctors through their residencies and supported their board studies, according to her nominator. This year, she has also assumed the role of mentor for her first specialty dermatology intern. “I just want to give back, and I want to make sure that everybody has the same opportunities [I have had] if they can,” she said.

Solc will receive her Veterinary Heroes award alongside 11 other distinguished program inductees during a luncheon celebration at the Long Beach Convention Center. The special event will take place during the Fetch dvm360 conference on December 8, 2024, at 11:30 AM PST. All conference attendees are invited to attend.

The 2024 Veterinary Heroes program is supported by corporate sponsor Schwarzman Animal Medical Center.