Burgess aims to build large-animal business at clinic

FRANKLIN—Courtland native Dr. April Burgess has returned home after almost three years on the West Coast to help start up a large-animal business at Southampton Veterinary Clinic.

Burgess, who specializes in sports medicine, lameness as well as basic and advanced dental in horses and livestock, started at the clinic almost a month ago after leaving a large -animal practice in Portland, Ore.

“Friends and family pulled me back,” Burgess said. “It’s nice because I can go over and see my nephews who are five minutes away. I’m spending more time with my dad and doing things on the farm.”

Burgess graduated from Southampton High School in 2000 and went to James Madison University for her undergraduate studies and then to veterinary school at Virginia Tech.

She grew up with two horses and said it was a visit to her farm from Dr. Wanda Bradshaw, owner of Southampton Veterinary Clinic, that piqued her interest in veterinary medicine.

“I remember wishing I could do that,” Burgess said.

She said the large-animal practice has been slow to get started and she has been working with both small and large animals since returning home.

Burgess is married to Trevor Ferguson, a fellow large-animal veterinarian. The couple met at Virginia Tech.