Dr. Petra Pál | ElfVet

Basic Information

I believe that growing up in an animal-loving family is a huge advantage in adult life: it teaches stress management, responsibility, the importance of daily routine, and contributes to the love of movement and nature. I am fortunate that my family allowed me to grow up surrounded by animals. My first own dog, Chaos, a golden retriever, accompanied me throughout high school and university. Rafferty, my Maine Coon cat, could almost have earned a degree for all the time he spent lying across my textbooks. During high school, I volunteered at a veterinary clinic to gain experience, and after admission to university, I gradually became a valuable assistant. From my family I also inherited the love of travel, which was further reinforced by the international, multicultural environment of veterinary school. After graduation, I was able to work for a few months as an intern at the surgical clinic of the University of Lisbon Veterinary Faculty. Afterwards, I traveled to Thailand, where I volunteered at the Wildlife Friends Foundation, working with elephants and other exotic animals. For the past seven years I have been working as a soft tissue surgeon and in outpatient care during the week, while taking part in city emergency duty on weekends. In 2021 I obtained a specialist diploma from the Hungarian Veterinary Chamber, which allowed me to work with an even wider range of animals. Throughout my career I have worked with zoo animals, cared for small ruminants, and in 2023 I spent a month in Indonesia studying the local terrestrial and marine wildlife. The experiences I have gained with many different species and the cultural diversity of the people I have met worldwide inspired me to further expand veterinary services in Miskolc. Veterinary medicine is a challenging and demanding profession that requires a lot of dedication. Unfortunately, fewer and fewer graduates remain in the profession, as the emotional and physical demands pose serious long-term challenges. However, I believe that the honest, trust-based relationship built with owners is the foundation of long-term successful cooperation that benefits both animals and their families.