When Adam Denish was in elementary school, he knew he wanted to become a veterinarian. His ambitions didn’t change but, after graduating a year early from high school, he was too young to enter the University of Pennsylvania’s undergraduate veterinary program. He decided to attend Arcadia for a year, until he met the age requirement. Two weeks into his studies, he changed his mind—“I called my parents and told them I was staying at Arcadia.”

Denish says he made the right decision. “Arcadia helped me significantly,” he says.  “As an undergraduate Biology student, I got involved in everything. I knew every student and professor.” His responsibilities included supervising the snakes that were used in research studies, and he landed an internship at the Philadelphia Zoo.

Now, Denish owns two veterinary hospitals and a boarding kennel. On his day off, he serves as Director of Veterinary Medicine at Elmwood Park Zoo—a role he’s had for the last six years. He does routine checkups, preventive care and maintenance for the more than 300 animals that call Elmwood Park their home. “As an animal lover, it’s great,” says Denish. “You hope you make a difference and, when the animals are happy, the visitors are happier.”

He also gives back to his alma mater by serving as Director of Veterinary Services for Arcadia University and as Veterinarian for Arcadia’s Institutional Animal Use and Care Committee. “Over the past six years, I have been continually impressed with the quality of research, the care with animals receive, and the amazing collaboration between students and faculty. That is the Arcadia way of learning, teaching, and growing.”