Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Shermaine Wilson Cox
Hi Dr. Shermaine, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always loved animals! I grew up with several in my house. However, I didn’t always know I wanted to be a vet. It wasn’t until I was about 25 that I realized what my passion truly was. I had a cat named Merlot that I adopted from my sister. I had Merlot for about five years before she became very ill. After several trips to the vet for diagnostics such as bloodwork, cytology, and ultrasound, Merlot was sadly diagnosed with Lymphoma, which is cancer. Following her diagnosis, I had to take her to the vet on many different occasions. During these exams, I was very intrigued and inquisitive about learning about how the animal body works, ways disease in pets can be treated, and what I needed to do at home to prolong Merlot’s life. After Merlot’s diagnosis, I gave her medications at home and spoiled her until her final days. The exposure I received from frequently going to the vet hospital and interacting with the doctors sparked my interest in veterinary medicine. I really wanted to be able to help other pets that were sick and also educate owners on how to properly care for their pet. Following Merlot’s death, I did some research and figured out what the requirements were to attend vet school, and that is how my path to becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine began!
After visiting and researching several veterinary schools, I had found the perfect one for me. I applied and got accepted into Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine in Tuskegee, Alabama. I started my vet school journey in the fall of 2010 and graduated in May of 2014.
After vet school, I went on to do a two-year laboratory animal medicine residency at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Then I needed a change of pace and decided to practice small animal medicine. I worked for a small animal corporate hospital, mainly treating cats and dogs for about 1.5 years before my entrepreneurial side started to kick in.
In December of 2019, Royal Paws & Purrs Mobile Veterinary Services was launched. It is a luxury mobile veterinary clinic that services Atlanta, GA, and surrounding areas. We service the Atlanta area that includes Dekalb, Rockdale, Gwinnett, Fulton, & Clayton counties. Working at a small animal hospital, I would often see many pets that would get anxious and become very fearful as soon as they step foot into the hospital or when their owners even turn into the parking lot. Several owners would complain about their pet getting car sick or how difficult it is to catch their cat and put it into the cat carrier without getting scratched or bitten. Some dogs may be too aggressive towards other dogs or cats, and owners have to struggle and try to hold their pets back from attacking other pets. Also, some owners are just not physically capable of taking their pets to the vet. A mobile veterinary practice is a luxury, convenient service that allows the veterinarian to come to the house of the pet. This service helps alleviate the anxiety and fearfulness of going to vet hospitals, decreases negative interactions with other pets, and is much less stressful for the owner. They don’t have to deal with struggling to put the pets in the car, driving across town and fighting with traffic, then sitting in a hospital waiting to be seen. It is a win-win for both the pet and the owner. Our goal is to bring affordable and quality veterinary care to your pet!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
According to 2018 data, African Americans make up only about 2.1% of Veterinarians. Growing up, I had never met or seen a black veterinarian. When I decided to become a veterinarian, I mentally struggled with self-doubt and not knowing IF this career was truly for me or if I was good enough. I didn’t have anyone who looked like me in a position that I wanted to be in to tell me that it was possible and that I could become a veterinarian despite my skin color. I remember going to vet school open houses and being the only one or one of very few African Americans. My mind shifted when I was an undergrad, and a classmate mentioned that there was a veterinary school at an HBCU. I immediately researched this school, finding out the name, location, and requirements for entry. I applied to this school without even taking a visit, without speaking to previous graduates about their experience, or the type of town it was in. Several weeks later, surprisingly, I received an invitation for a campus tour and interview! I was so ecstatic! I drove down to my interview, sweaty and nervous. When I arrived, I was in awe. I was interviewed by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and one of the Assistant Professors, who both looked like me! Walking through the school for the first time, I was able to see many students who also looked like me. From that moment, I knew this career was for me, that Tuskegee University was for me, and that if they could do it, I could too!
I think representation matters! The younger generation needs to have role models or mentors in the career they are interested in to let them know that anything is possible. When given a chance, I always try to speak to and am completely gone just by having someone to look up to and by being in the presence of educated, black doctors.
Another obstacle that I am still learning to deal with is how to be a business owner. This is not something that is taught in veterinary school. I also wasn’t taught scrub design in vet school, but I was able to launch an entire line of medical scrubs that people love! I am constantly educating myself on marketing, the importance of networking, and using a business coach or mentor that can guide me in the right direction. This process has taught me that many skills can be learned. You shouldn’t give up on your goals or dreams just because you don’t know how to do something. There is always someone or something you can tap into in order to receive the knowledge or experience you need to get to the next level.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Royal Paws and Purrs Mobile Veterinary Services?
Royal Paws and Purrs is a mobile veterinary service. Our focus is on keeping pets healthy in a stress-free manner. We have a 24-feet mobile veterinary unit that we drive to our patient’s homes and provide top-of-the-line veterinary care. We offer vaccinations for dogs and cats of all ages, diagnostic testing such as bloodwork, fecal tests to check for intestinal parasites, heartworm testing, microchips, and deworming. We can treat minor sick cases such as ear and skin infections, wound care, vomiting, diarrhea, UTI, etc. We also have an online pharmacy that can deliver medications, prescription diets, as well as monthly flea and removals, and dental procedures in the near future. We also offer compassionate in-home euthanasia. We also offer pet bathing services that we offer on selected days of the week as of to date. I am most proud of the fact that we are able to cater to individuals such as the elderly, blind, or wheelchair-bound who are not easily able to take their pets to the vet. Therefore, we can treat pets that may otherwise go without the necessary medical care. We are also able to keep veterinary medicine stress-free for the pets. What sets us apart from other mobile vets is that we truly “treat your pets like royalty. We are gentle, loving, and kind, and we treat your pets as if they are our own. After each visit, we love to don a crown take a candid snapshot of your furbaby, and showcase them on our social media pages and website.
My affinity for headwraps and headbands spurred the creation of Sankofa Medical Scrubs. As a naturalista, I love my head wraps, and I always tried to wear one to add spice to what I wear to work, to add more life to my hairstyles, or to cover up “bad hair days”, and more importantly to express my culture. For this reason, whenever I went shopping for head wraps or headbands, I also considered my scrubs. I always tried to get head wraps that would match my blue scrubs and my white coat. However, at one point, the search for head wraps to match my scrubs became exhausting, and I decided to seek the help of the “worldwide web” to save me the stress. I went on Google and searched for “African print scrubs with matching head wraps,” but surprisingly, not many options were found. There were hundreds of various other prints and patterns, but none were African prints. I figured I had to do something to change that. After my little encounter with Google, I conceived the idea of removals and dental procedures in the near future. We also offer compassionate in-home euthanasia. I am most proud of the fact that we are able to cater to individuals such as the elderly, blind, or wheelchair-bound who are not easily able to take their pets to the vet. Therefore, we can treat pets that may otherwise go without the necessary medical care. We are also able to keep veterinary medicine stress-free for the pets. What sets us apart from other mobile vets is that we truly “treat your pets like royalty. We are gentle, loving, and kind, and we treat your pets as if they are our own. After each visit, we love to don a crown, take a candid snapshot of your furbaby, and showcase it on our social media pages and website.
My affinity for headwraps and headbands spurred the creation of Sankofa Medical Scrubs. As a naturalista, I love my head wraps, and I always tried to wear one to add spice to what I wear to work, to add more life to my hairstyles, or to cover up “bad hair days”, and more importantly to express my culture. For this reason, whenever I went shopping for head wraps or headbands, I also considered my scrubs. I always tried to get head wraps that would match my blue scrubs and my white coat. However, at one point, the search for head wraps to match my scrubs became exhausting, and I decided to seek the help of the “worldwide web” to save me the stress. I went on Google and searched for “African print scrubs with matching head wraps,” but surprisingly, not many options were found. There were hundreds of various other prints and patterns, but none were African prints. I figured I had to do something to change that. After my little encounter with google, I conceived the idea to start Sankofa Medical Scrubs.
At Sankofa Medical Scrubs, our goal is to become the purveyor of a wide variety of attires for black healthcare professionals made from African prints and patterns. Thus far, in line with our vision, our works have inspired health professionals to be more fashionable, to be more confident about what they wear, and to express culture through their profession.
What are your plans for the future?
At Royal Paws and Purrs, we’re always looking for ways to provide even better care for your beloved pets! As we continue to grow, we hope to expand our services by introducing pet surgery services to bring essential procedures directly to your doorstep. Additionally, we’ll be expanding our grooming services, ensuring your pets stay healthy, clean, and well-groomed—all from the comfort of home.
To make your experience even more seamless, we’re working on a more streamlined approach for booking and scheduling appointments, making it easier than ever to get the care your pet needs when you need it. We also plan to collaborate with trusted industry partners to expand our reach and provide even more comprehensive pet care solutions to our community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.royalpawsandpurrs.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/royalpawsandpurrsdoc
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/Royalpawsandpurrsdoc
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/royalpawsandpurrs
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/royalpawspurrs
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@royalpawsandpurrs
- Other: https://tiktok.com/@royalpawsandpurrs
