Ricki E. Brozman, DVM, CVA   

In March of this year, Doctor Brozman joined our practice and is now treating patients at Mission Road Animal Clinic, our Johnson County location on Mission Road every Thursday.  She is also a graduate of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine and met Dr. Faris in veterinary school.  Twelve years ago, she started her training in alternative medicine.  She began by integrating Chinese Herbal Medicine into her small animal and equine practice in New Mexico.  She also completed the IVAS Veterinary Acupuncture Course and a  Veterinary Chiropractic course.  In addition to the basic alternative modalities, Dr. Brozman utilizes Ozone Therapy, Cranio-sacral Therapy and Homotoxicology, a modern form of homeopathy. After moving to Kansas City in 2005, she started a house-call practice.  She also worked in Olathe, Kansas for Arbor Creek Animal Hospital where she provided alternative services.  She has decided to join our practice to better serve her present and future clients. She brings many years of experience, a wealth of healing wisdom, and specialized medical knowledge to our practice.  In her spare time, you can find Dr. Brozman riding her horses, gardening, playing with her own pets and studying more about alternative therapies.

Linda L. Faris, DVM, CVA 

I am a 1986 graduate of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine.  Early in my veterinary career, I worked as an associate veterinarian in practices around Kansas City and St. Joseph.  In 1991, I started my own practice.  For fifteen years, I owned and operated Weston Veterinary Service in Weston, Missouri.  It was a full service veterinary facility offering boarding, grooming, surgery, dentistry and hospitalization.  Weston was my home town.  I graduated from the high school there in 1978.  It was a safe, familiar place, and my clinic was just a few blocks from the grade school  where my children, Morgan and Raleigh, attended.  As the years passed and I practiced traditional veterinary medicine, I became frustrated with the limitations of surgery and medicine.  Through colleagues and peers, I learned about natural options and developed an interest in alternative medicine.  By taking the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) course in Tampa in 2000-2001, I started my training in alternative therapies.  I received IVAS certification to practice veterinary acupuncture at the end of 2001.  Learning acupuncture was just the beginning.  In 2001-2002, I took the New Mexico Basic Chinese Herbal course in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  That same year I served as a laboratory assistant for the IVAS acupuncture course in San Diego.  During an extended period from 2002 to 2004, I completed advanced herbal modules in cancer therapy, treatment of neurological disorders and geriatric herbal medicine.  In 2006 I took an advanced acupuncture course through the Chi Institute in Reddick, Florida.  In 2008, I completed the IVAS Food Therapy Course with Dr. Bruce Furguson.  I studied and practice regularly the balance techniques and acupuncture strategies of Dr. Richard Tan.  I am currently (2008-2010) enrolled in a university level Chinese Herbal course offered by IVAS through the College of Integrative Veterinary Medicine out of Sydney, Australia.  Training in alternative therapies has given me more treatment options when a case is presented to me.  Weston was far out of the way and was difficult for many people to find.  The distance from Kansas City limited how often I could treat my patients and I felt it was compromising my practice.  In September of 2004, I opened Acupuncture and Herbs For Pets, an outpatient clinic in Overland Park, Kansas.  Operating two separate hospitals was a challenge and became unmanageable before the end of the first year.  It was with some regret that I closed Weston Veterinary Service in August of 2005.  Last year, in 2009, we made another change and joined two conventional hospitals.  After experimenting with several different business models, I am most pleased with working in a conventional setting where the routine traditional veterinary services can be obtained.  The two hospitals are conveniently located in Johnson County and Platte County to better serve the people of Kansas City.

This year, I'm very happy to bring Dr. Ricki Brozman into our alternative veterinary practice.  Dr. Brozman was originally from Kansas City and we met in veterinary school in Columbia, Missouri almost 30 years ago.  We graduated together and both went on to learn alternative medicine.  Her return to the Midwest makes it possible for us to practice together again.  We have a great deal in common in our training, but we each have unique skills and knowledge.  I've always said that two brains are better than one and this is an effective combination. 

I am devoting my professional energy to the practice and continual study of alternative medicine.  Several professional organizations support veterinarians who practice alternative therapies.  One of these organizations is the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture.  In January of 2004, I was elected to be a member of the Board of Directors for the AAVA.  My three year term ended in April 2007.  I have served on the Public Relations committee, and as Chairperson for the Membership and Mentoring committee.  I am currently sitting on the Executive Committee of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society as the Treasurer.  This is a three year term that started in August of 2009.  In August of 2010, I will be forced to visit Denmark for the IVAS Congress.  IVAS is a very important organization and is a powerful resource for alternative veterinary medicine.  If you are not located in the Kansas City area and would like to find a veterinary practice offering alternative therapies, go to the IVAS website and seach for a veterinary acupuncturist near you.  Several students at veterinary colleges in the midwest have visited my clinic to observe and learn about alternative therapies.  By the end of this decade, I would like to see acupuncture, herbal medicine and other alternative treatments accepted in modern veterinary education programs and the practice of veterinary medicine.  One personal mission I have adopted is to expand awareness of alternative options to people caring for pets.  To that end, I have presented a lecture series in conjunction with the Brookside Barkery and Bath, and I accept speaking engagements whenever possible.  The Powerpoint presentations for some of these lectures are available for viewing on this website.  Just click on Educational Materials, then Powerpoint Presentations.