Gina Davis commented on #EverydayLeaders
posted 2020-11-29 20:45:42 -0800
Name: Ronald A. Bickley, D.V.M.
City: Decatur, GA
Links: http://www.wcanimalhospital.com/about.html
Why his leadership matters to me…
When my pup Koda was nearly disemboweled by a vicious dog in the neighborhood, Dr. Ronald A. Bickley and his staff were the heroes that saved us both.
Koda was badly injured and bleeding in my mother’s arms when we arrived at the Wesley Chapel Animal Hospital. We showed up just before the clinic opened as first time clients with no appointment. The office was closed to visitors as a COVID-19 precaution and the doctor’s schedule was completely full. The sympathetic receptionist, Kim, asked that we hold while she spoke with the doctor. Maybe he could help.
Dr. Bickley came to collect Koda then, seeing our distress, allowed my mother and I to accompany them inside of the clinic. He cleaned Koda’s visible wounds and cautioned us about what he suspected were more extensive internal injuries. He shared with compassion that Koda needed surgery and that he might not survive it. I rubbed Koda’s head while my mother sang to him. Dr. Bickley and his assistant, Stephen, gave us the space to say our tearful goodbyes and assured us that they would do their best to care for our fluffy family member.
Dr. Bickley made time in his schedule for over 3 hours of emergency surgery. Kim answered each of my numerous phone calls before/during/after surgery with patience and understanding. Stephen sang to Koda while he slept on the operating table. Then finally, when they told me that Koda had survived surgery but would need to spend the night in the hospital, Julius carefully prepared a soft bed for Koda to rest and recover.
Dr. Bickley knew that I would not sleep while anxiously awaiting news and decided to call hours before the clinic opened the next morning. He told me that Koda made it through the night, was awake and doing so well that he tried to wag his tail. He agreed to let Koda convalesce at home and made arrangements for us to pick him up as soon as the clinic opened. For the next week, Dr. Bickley called morning and night, even when he was traveling, to check on Koda’s progress. He gave us his personal mobile number and made sure we knew that he and his staff were there should we need them.
Thanks to Dr. Bickley’s kindness, leadership, and care, Koda is alive and healthy. Dr. Bickley opened the Wesley Chapel Animal Hospital 47 years ago and has been in dedicated service to his community ever since. He and his staff build lasting relationships with the people and pets they serve. They celebrate happy occasions with their clients and mourn the community’s losses as their own. Dr. Bickley shared our joy for each recovery milestone. Our gratitude was met with humility and lavish praise for his staff. Rather than accept complements himself, he chose to focus on the critical roles of Koda’s caregivers — his staff, my mother, and me.
True leadership is often quiet and humble. It inspires confidence. It gives hope. Dr. Ronald A. Bickley is an exceptional veterinary doctor. More importantly, he is an exemplary leader. His staff and his clients stay with him for decades. I know that I will do the same, owing to him both Koda’s life and my renewed faith in human kindness.
City: Decatur, GA
Links: http://www.wcanimalhospital.com/about.html
Why his leadership matters to me…
When my pup Koda was nearly disemboweled by a vicious dog in the neighborhood, Dr. Ronald A. Bickley and his staff were the heroes that saved us both.
Koda was badly injured and bleeding in my mother’s arms when we arrived at the Wesley Chapel Animal Hospital. We showed up just before the clinic opened as first time clients with no appointment. The office was closed to visitors as a COVID-19 precaution and the doctor’s schedule was completely full. The sympathetic receptionist, Kim, asked that we hold while she spoke with the doctor. Maybe he could help.
Dr. Bickley came to collect Koda then, seeing our distress, allowed my mother and I to accompany them inside of the clinic. He cleaned Koda’s visible wounds and cautioned us about what he suspected were more extensive internal injuries. He shared with compassion that Koda needed surgery and that he might not survive it. I rubbed Koda’s head while my mother sang to him. Dr. Bickley and his assistant, Stephen, gave us the space to say our tearful goodbyes and assured us that they would do their best to care for our fluffy family member.
Dr. Bickley made time in his schedule for over 3 hours of emergency surgery. Kim answered each of my numerous phone calls before/during/after surgery with patience and understanding. Stephen sang to Koda while he slept on the operating table. Then finally, when they told me that Koda had survived surgery but would need to spend the night in the hospital, Julius carefully prepared a soft bed for Koda to rest and recover.
Dr. Bickley knew that I would not sleep while anxiously awaiting news and decided to call hours before the clinic opened the next morning. He told me that Koda made it through the night, was awake and doing so well that he tried to wag his tail. He agreed to let Koda convalesce at home and made arrangements for us to pick him up as soon as the clinic opened. For the next week, Dr. Bickley called morning and night, even when he was traveling, to check on Koda’s progress. He gave us his personal mobile number and made sure we knew that he and his staff were there should we need them.
Thanks to Dr. Bickley’s kindness, leadership, and care, Koda is alive and healthy. Dr. Bickley opened the Wesley Chapel Animal Hospital 47 years ago and has been in dedicated service to his community ever since. He and his staff build lasting relationships with the people and pets they serve. They celebrate happy occasions with their clients and mourn the community’s losses as their own. Dr. Bickley shared our joy for each recovery milestone. Our gratitude was met with humility and lavish praise for his staff. Rather than accept complements himself, he chose to focus on the critical roles of Koda’s caregivers — his staff, my mother, and me.
True leadership is often quiet and humble. It inspires confidence. It gives hope. Dr. Ronald A. Bickley is an exceptional veterinary doctor. More importantly, he is an exemplary leader. His staff and his clients stay with him for decades. I know that I will do the same, owing to him both Koda’s life and my renewed faith in human kindness.