Gary J. Spodnick

Spod has always been the innovator of the can-do mentality. Specifically, I appreciate his dedication to the US Army and associated military working dogs.

- Danielle Diamond, DVM

Spod is a calm and easy voice in the back of my head reminding me how surgery is an art. He has so much skill and experience but also much love for our specialty and that makes him truly unique. I am honored to have been taught by him.

- Emily Hartman, DVM, DACVS (Small Animal)

Working with Gary Sponick has been truly an honor. Early in my career, he created space for me to learn, have a voice, and to contribute. He always made me feel valued despite the depth of his experience. As I have grown and developed, he continues to be my north star. He leads with compassion, intelligence, and a sense of humor that makes even the hardest situations more manageable. Simply put, Spod was the mentor I needed at a pivotal moment in my career. His impact on who I am today is lasting and I am deeply grateful.

- Elaine Holmes, DVM, DACVS

Dr. Spodnick (Spod) was only present in my early residency since he moved to private practice shortly after I started. He was officially my first ACVS supervisor, but sadly this was short-lived. I was impressed with his immense natural ability for surgery, his effortless approach to cases...I wanted to be like him! He bonhomie left an indelible mark on me, also, proving how down to earth a great surgeon can, and should, be!

- Juan M. Marti, LV, Cert SAO, MVM, DACVS, DECVS, MRCVS, EBVS, RCVS

Gary was one of my primary reasons for ranking NCSU CVM at the top of my residency list. As a resident, I was honored to learn through is dedication to teaching not only the mechanics and theory, but the art of surgery. I am proud to honor him now as my colleague and dear friend.

- Bruce S. Nwadike, DVM, DACVS (Small Animal)

Spod made me think about what was being done and how to troubleshoot if things were going wonky. He was always so pleasant to be around and to learn from.

- Eric Rowe, DVM, DACVS (Small Animal)

Dr. Spodnick was an incredible mentor because he has truly mastered both the art and science of surgery. His desire to teach and mentor, combined with his gregarious personality, created an incredible learning environment for residents.

- Todd M. Thomas, DVM, MSpVM, DACVS (Small Animal)

Dr. Spodnick was a patient, kind, and innovative mentor that taught me to think outside the box.

- Elizabeth Thompson, DVM, DACVS (Small Animal)

I feel fortunate to have learned from and worked alongside Gary Spodnick as a residency mentor, a colleague, and friend for the past 20 years. In addition to being a strong technical surgeon, Gary is a creative problem-solver and patient teacher – traits that undoubtedly have influenced all those he has worked with. As residents, we learned that most problems have solutions, even if that meant making things up along the way. Gary is a lot of things – an arborist, a woodworker, a cyclist, a cat-lover, and a Francophile, but the title that I think suits him best is “mentor.”

- Brian Trumpatori, DVM, DACVS (Small Animal)