Pulse - May 2024 - 7

JIM BELL
JIM BELL
SCVMA PROFILE
SCVMA PROFILE
Maria Morgan, New Trustee,
Excited About 'Giving Back'
M
aria Morgan, co-owner and hospital
administrator of Quail Animal Hospital
in Irvine, was pleasantly surprised
when she was chosen this year to join the
SCVMA Board of Trustees as its veterinary
team member. " This is an exciting opportunity
for me to give back, " she said.
Melissa Tompkins-Lewis, her predecessor on the board, is
a valued friend, Maria said. " She knows that I am particularly
keen on being a champion for my veterinary team members.
They need to be recognized by doctors and leadership, " she
said. " Our operations would be greatly hindered without the
support of professionals like our registered veterinary technicians,
veterinary assistants and client service representatives. "
Maria has worked in several practices and has developed
strong opinions on how leadership, including doctors, should
engage with team members. " I have a lot of opinions about
those things. I am happy to represent the point of view and the
interests of team members. "
The new SCVMA trustee has a degree in business administration
from Cal Poly Pomona and an MBA from Chapman
University. She earned her Certified Veterinary Practice Manager
credentials in November, 2020, from the Veterinary
Hospital Managers Association.
" My story can't be told without including my husband's story, "
Maria said. Dr. Mike Morgan, co-owner and medical director
at Quail, earned an electrical engineering degree and also studied
biology at UC Irvine. In 2007, a consulting project took the
young engineer into veterinary practices.
" One day, he came home and said: 'I want to apply to vet
school.' He had seen how veterinarians could directly help
people and the positive influence they had on their clients'
lives, " Maria said. " OK, if that's what you want to do, we can
do that, " she responded.
Mike went back to UCI and took the two courses he
needed to complete a biology degree. And he spent his free
time volunteering at practices so he could get experience with
animals. " His passion for helping others grew, " Maria said.
But his first round of applications and interviews in 2007
did not lead to admission to any veterinary program. In 2008,
after he was laid off from his engineering job, he applied again.
" This time, St. Mathew's University in Grand Cayman in
the Caribbean responded, saying he could come in December.
In a couple of weeks, he was on a plane, " Maria said.
Maria did not go with him. " I needed a work permit so I
could get a job to help pay the bills there, " she said. She did
not go to the Caribbean until March. " As stressful as it was, it
PULSE
MAY 2024
Maria Morgan, co-owner and administrator of Quail Animal Hospital,
with her husband, Dr. Mike Morgan.
was a very special time in our lives, " she said.
Mike was accepted at North Carolina State for his clinical -
and final - year of veterinary school. The family moved back to
Southern California in May 2012 - but no practices in Orange
County were hiring, Maria said, because of the lingering effects
of the 2008 recession. The former engineer and newly minted
DVM finally found an associate position at Yucaipa Animal
Hospital that August with the support of Dr. George Makar.
In September, 2013, the couple learned that Quail Animal
Hospital was for sale. As she looked back, Maria said, she
recalled the risk of potential ownership palpably.
" No one would give us a loan, given our debt, " she said.
" The practice was new and not well established. " With the
support and backing of family, however, she and Dr. Morgan
were able to move forward with the purchase. " We had always
intended to own our own practice. We knew how we wanted
to practice and owning our practice was the only way to do
it, " Maria said.
" We took ownership on April 1, 2014, " she remembered.
" We had one full-time assistant and a part-time client service
7
Pulse - May 2024

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