David Levine, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, recently was appointed to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine New Bolton Center’s faculty as assistant professor of clinical large animal surgery.

Levine has been a staff surgeon since 2009, after completing his surgical residency and internship at New Bolton Center. An avid horseman and racehorse owner, his research specialty is post-operative orthopedic implant infection. He has also been instrumental in the establishment and operation of our new MRI system. Learn more about Levine in this Q&A.

Q: Why did you decide to become a veterinarian?

Levine: When I was a young, I was attacked by a Golden Retriever. After that, I was terrified of animals and wouldn’t go outside. My mother decided that, if I was scared of small animals, I should work with big animals. She took me to a local horse farm where I started riding. I became competitive in English jumpers. My favorite horse was Goliath, an 18-hand chestnut Hanoverian. I started working for vet practices during high school and in the summers during college. I did some small animal practice work, and even gained some dairy experience