Before Rod Hartwick entered into the teaching profession, he enjoyed a fifty year career in clinical Veterinary Medicine. Practicing for 38 years in Equine practice on major thourobred Race Track around the US, then Opened a Companion Animal practice in Chesapeake,Virginia for the next twelve years. At this site he developed the procedures for the Co2 Laser and is considered the father of Veterinary Laser Surgery. Injured in an accident in 2002 he was forced to retire. Now he is hoping to return to the workplace as a Teacher of Science.