Meet Dr. Josh | Veterinarian

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Josh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr., we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
For many people, risks in their paths are reasons to justify why taking an easier path is worth it, because it is a safer path. While this is true for some people, I think risks are opportunities to challenge ourselves and see how far we can go in life. But even more so, I think risks are the sparks that remind us that we are alive and that, individually, we are more than just another living organism. I like to think that I am unique and that the risks I decide to face are in pursue of a safety that can only be felt when I have proven to myself that I am capable of more. One of the two major risks I have faced in my life has been becoming a veterinarian and opening my own hospital, even though I come from a low income background with no direct family member that graduated from college and with English as a second language. The second risk was coming out to my family and friends as homosexual, especially since I come from a family where being homosexual is not accepted and considered a sin. These two risks have allowed me to become a more empathetic human being and have pushed me to see the good in others, showing me that we can achieve more in life, by being true to our goals and to who we are. What better risk to face than to challenge ourselves to be better?

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I own Isla Veterinary Boutique Hospital, a new veterinary hospital in Addison, Texas. It is the first of its kind in the area because it is focused not only on the healthcare provided to our pets, but it also focuses on the client experience. We want to make sure that people know we care about their babies as well as their concerns as parents. I am proud of having an amazing clientele, an amazing team, and a beautiful network of fans and supporters that believe in our goals. It was not easy getting to where my hospital is at. My passion has always been caring for animals and humans and I was never educated on the business side of things. Trying to open a brand new hospital with no connections and with no business knowledge sure proved to be challenging, but it was all worth it! I have learned that taking one day at a time is very helpful, instead of focusing on the end goal. I am far from where I would like to be and I certainly have so much more to learn, but it doesn’t matter how successful we may think we are, what defines us is how hard we continue to fight for what we believe in. It does not matter whether we have education or not, whether we are rich or poor, or what our background may be. In the end, we are as successful as we decide we want to be. I am proud of what I have achieved so far, but I am always looking forward to the next goal I may set for myself.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am all about the food and the outdoors!! As a Puerto Rican, of course I will take my friend to one of the Puerto Rican restaurants in DFW, like Adobo in Irving. For dessert, I would take my friend to Rum Cakes Factory in Plano. I also love the areas of Vitruvian Park and Addison Circle, which are a bit outdoorsy while still being in the city. Since I am a foodie, I would probably just want to discover new places with my friend!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Part of the reason why I am where I am is because my family believed in me as a kid and they saw in me that I was not happy with just barely making it in life. Another reason I have been able to continue moving forward in life is also because of my family not believing in me. When I came out as a gay man, my family distanced itself from me. While this devastated me, it also pushed me to continue achieving my goals. I believe that both support and rejection, especially from your loved ones, are big factors in determining your success as a person. I decided that their support and rejection at different times of my growth would push me forward, no matter what.

Website: www.islavet.com
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