Dr. Bailee Bortz (’26)
There was always a plan for Bailee Bortz. That plan was to become a veterinarian. “Frankly as far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a vet,” Bortz said. “I went to second grade career day dressed in scrubs with animals’ safety pinned to them to show I wanted to be an animal doctor, not a human doctor.” Growing up, one of Bortz’ neighbors was a veterinarian at the nearby Osage Veterinary Clinic. The aspiring veterinarian spent hours shadowing her neighbor at the clinic and riding around in her vet truck. That experience solidified Bortz’ desire and after graduating this past May, the newly-minted veterinarian returned to her hometown to work at Osage Veterinary Clinic, a mixed animal practice with a focus on large animals.