Co-Owner / Hospital Administrator
Life at an early age was centered on animals for Julia. Cats, dogs, horses, and bunnies were everyday companions and it was her love of animals that guided her educational choices. Julia received her B.S. in Animal Science from Colorado State University in 1985. Her plans to continue on to veterinary school were interrupted by a 5 year battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Knowing that veterinary medicine was her love she chose to stay in the industry and serve in a different capacity. Julia earned her certificate in Veterinary Hospital Management from Purdue University in 1996 and her Master’s degree in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa University in 2006, which included a 1-year internship as a volunteer Chaplain at Boulder Community Hospital and a certificate in meditation instruction.
Julia’s life has been shaped by integrating traditional and complementary medicine. She specializes in Medical Qigong, human-animal bond counseling, and in assisting veterinary hospital staff with the rigors of balancing clinical life and personal life. As with Dr. Brown, the opening of Harmony Veterinary Center is a lifelong dream come true. She has experienced the balance of working with both sides of medicine first hand and knows how powerful it can be to improving the quality of life for both pets and people.
Julia, who has developed multiple innovative management strategies for veterinary practices, founded the Minnesota Veterinary Practice Manager’s Network in 1996. This organization is dedicated to the personal and professional development of veterinary hospital managers. Continuing to this day, the VPMN offers a support network, mentoring, and ongoing educational opportunities for hospital managers. In 2011, after 15 years of successful operation, the VPMN membership awarded her with their Visionary Award.
Volunteerism is a vital part of Julia’s life; she enjoys helping charities that support both pets and people and has helped shape the culture of volunteerism found at Harmony Veterinary Center. Julia is also an outdoor and sports enthusiast. When not at Harmony Veterinary Center she can usually be found out on a wilderness trek, at a sporting event, playing with her three cats, or just hiking or biking on one of the many trails in our area.