Meet our Doctor!

  "My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am" ~Author Unknown             

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 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.  To start my training, I took the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) course in Tampa in 2000-2001.  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.  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.  In 2009 I 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 routine traditional veterinary services can be obtained when needed.  The two hospitals are conveniently located in Johnson County and Platte County to better serve the people of Kansas City.

I have devoted 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 AAVA,  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 served on the Public Relations committee, and as Chairperson for the Membership and Mentoring committee.  From 2009 through 2012, I served as treasurer on the Executive Committee of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS).  In August of 2010, I was fortunate 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 practice to observe and learn about alternative therapies.  I also welcome the opportunity to mentor veterinarians working toward their certification in veterinary acupuncture.  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.  Like Corey Ford, I believe that "Properly trained, a man can be dog's best friend." Part of my responsibility in my job is to educate you and help you to better understand your pet's individual needs and character.  

Lise Rovsing