Contributor

Frances O. Smith

3 published articles

Frances O. Smith, DVM, PhD, DACT became a Diplomate of the College of Theriogenology in 1986. Since that time, she has been in private practice as a small animal practitioner, specializing in canine reproduction. Dr. Smith is one of very few board certified theriogenologists in private practice in the United States. Her expertise in genetic counseling, chilled and frozen semen, and reproductive infertility of the male and female canine is known throughout the US. Dr. Smith frequently speaks to breed groups, veterinary associations and students, and the general public. Dr. Smith obtained an Associate of Arts Degree from Normandale Community College and was accepted into the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1976. She obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1978 and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree in 1980. Dr. Smith was offered a residency in Small Animal Reproduction at the University of Minnesota in 1980 where she worked with Dr. Shirley Johnston and Dr. Ray Zemjanis. She completed her residency in 1983. Her PhD was completed in 1984 with a thesis titled, “Cryopreservation of Canine Semen - Technique and Performance.” Dr. Smith grew up in a military family that bred German Shepherd Dogs. She breeds Labrador Retrievers under the registered kennel name Danikk. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Labrador Retriever Club, Inc., where she is the Health Committee Chair. She has served Minnesota as a member and President of the Board of Veterinary Medicine, and is the President of the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals—the foremost animal health database in the world. She competes in hunt tests, conformation shows, obedience trials and, occasionally, field trials. She is an approved hunt test judge, and a nationally recognized lecturer and author. For fun, Dr. Smith rides horses, gardens, volunteers, and spoils her granddaughters.