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Dr. Franklin has been involved with the OVMA on animal welfare issues and has been instrumental in getting legislation passed, like the mandatory reporting of animal abuse by veterinarians and veterinary technicians. He continues to be an advocate for the Delta Society promoting the health benefits of animals to human health. He is a diehard baseball fan and lives and breathes with the New York Mets. One of his goals is to visit every Major League Baseball stadium in the U.S. He was a swimmer at Washington State University, along with a university Senator.
1988 – Present: Specialty practice in Veterinary Internal Medicine
1988 – 1992: Chief of Staff at Dove Lewis Memorial Emergency Veterinary Hospital
1988: Board Certification in Small Animal Veterinary Internal Medicine, Diplomate ACVIM
1986 – 1988: Small Animal Practice, Marina Del Rey, CA
1984 – 1986: Assistant Professor – Western College of Veterinary Medicine – Saskatchewan, Canada
1982 – 1984: Small Animal Internal Medicine Residency, University of Missouri
1980 – 1982: Private Practice Monrovia, CA
1979 – 1980: Small Animal Internship at Animal Med Center, NY, NY
1979: Graduated Cum Laude from Washington State University
2013: OVMA Meritorious Service Award
2012: Distinguished Veterinary Alumus Award for Excellence in Practice
2003: OVMA Animal Welfare Award
1995: Outstanding Service Award AAHA NW Region
2009 – 2011: AAHA Committee for Canine Vaccine Guidelines
2010 – Present: Chair for Committee for the OVMA forEstablishing Hospice Guidelines for the State of Oregon
1998 – 2007: Delta Society Board of Directors
2003 – 2005: Chairperson of Delta Society
1992 – 1995: Portland Veterinary Med Association
1993 – 1994: President PVMA
1995 – 1999: Oregon Veterinary Medical Association Board
1997 – 1998: President OVMA
1989 – 1995: Oregon Humane Society Board of Directors
Dr. Diane Decker was raised with 4 older brothers by animal-loving parents in rural upstate New York. They had many cats and dogs who were her best friends. She saw from a young age the power of a good veterinarian to help the lives of pets and their families. She was the first person to go to college in her family, graduating summa cum laude from Colby College in Maine. She graduated from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002 where she was the leader of the Cornell Pet Loss Support Team for 3 years. She then completed a small animal internship at the Regional Veterinary Referral Center in Alexandria, Virginia.
Dr. Decker worked first as a staff veterinarian at VCA 12 Mile Animal Hospital then was offered the role of Medical Director. She held this position for 8 years, establishingand modeling standards for the highest level of care for her clients and patients. She transferred to VCA Raleigh Hills in 2019 to work closer to home and to join the I-131 team. She became director of the program in the fall of 2020. She is excited to continue this life-saving work at Oregon Veterinary Specialty Hospital.
Dr. Decker has had a special interest in hyperthyroidism since veterinary school. It’s a debilitating disease but happily one that we have so much power to help control and even cure. She has gone through radioiodine as a loving pet owner with two of her personal cats and brings this sensitivity to her practice. She has found her life’s passion in offering this amazing treatment to her feline patients and supporting the people who love them and the referring vets who take such good care of them. Her love for these special patients drives her dedication to the radioiodine program. Dr. Decker’s goal is to make the OVSH radioiodine program a premiere I-131 facility with expanded capacity and a focus on patient comfort and safety.
Dr. Decker lives in SW Portland with her husband and 5 cats. She enjoys anything sparkly, being warm, reading, hiking, college basketball (go Heels!), and cuddling with cats in the sun.