A REFLECTION OF 30 YEARS

​In 1983, I started a mobile veterinary practice in Hopkinton, MA. I would travel to people’s homes and treat their pets in the comfort of their own space. In 1989, I purchased a home at 72 W Main St in Hopkinton and converted it into a veterinary practice. 

I have always thought of MASH as a family, especially when all of my family has contributed in one way or another. My husband of 40 years, Jeffrey Auerhahn, has supported the business aspect of MASH, allowing me to focus on my patients. My son, Noah, oversees all of the financial and management aspects of the business, and has been helping in adding to our excellent staff and doctors. My daughters, Shira and Dalia, both have worked as techs and staff over the years, and Dalia continues helping manage our payroll. During these 3 decades, my children were born, and have grown. It is scary to see how much time has passed. ​

​I have had my struggles over the years. From 1983 to 1989, I fought to add a veterinary practice to Hopkinton. I purchased a building on South Street but was unable to get the zoning for fear of increasing traffic in the area. South Street is now home to many big business buildings including EMC. People also feared that I would sell the land to Dunkin Donuts. Now there is a Dunkin Donuts across from my previous location, and one next to my building on West Main Street. I stood up to Tufts and the Veterinary Board for my right to practice integrative medicine with an open mind. Large pharmaceutical companies and corporations donate to doctors, veterinary hospitals, and veterinary schools while encouraging them to prescribe more medications and opiates. I am proud that I have stood up to these corporations and did what I believed was the right choice for my patients.

I pause to reflect on how much my clients and patients have taught me over the years. I started as a conventional vet, and in 1993 I added acupuncture, herbs, functional nutrition and homeopathy. MASH then became the first integrative veterinary practice in New England. In 2001, I decided to add more space to the building to allow for more modalities to be added and become a leading educator in integrative medicine. In 2003, we added ozone therapy followed by hyperbaric oxygen therapy. We continued to offer conventional surgery and laboratory diagnostics. In 2012, Microbiome Restorative Therapy (MBRT), a form of fecal transplants we developed that enhances the microbiome of the GI tract. I really believe that with this cutting-edge treatment, using ozone and quality samples from cat and dog donors, along with good functional nutrition, gives major opportunity to increase to immune health.
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I want to thank my clients and staff for taking this journey with me. Some of you have been with me from the beginning and have moved from conventional medicine to integrative medicine with me. I have cared for some of you through 3 generations of family members. I have learned from you and have grown because of you. I have watched some of you change your own health care because of watching your pets’ lives improve. It has been a blessing to serve you for all these years and hope to serve you for many more. Thank you.