Urbanek joins AWS from the state of Washington, where he served as director of Shelter Medicine for the Seattle Animal Shelter.
He is originally from Pennsylvania, and earned a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences from Penn State University. Urbanek then completed veterinary school at the University of Glasgow in Scotland and there he obtained a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degree, which is the United Kingdom’s equivalent to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree awarded here in the United States.
“Nick comes to us with vast experience including many years in shelter medicine, high volume spay/neuter, small animal medicine and diagnostic imaging,” said Abigail Smith, AWS executive director. “As construction concludes this winter on our full-service Community Veterinary Clinic, Nick will be a tremendous asset to our animals — and our community’s animals — as we increase our capacity to help pets in need.”
At AWS, Urbanek will practice alongside Dr. Lindsay Church, Staff Veterinarian, in the AWS Community Veterinary Clinic.
He said he’s excited about his new job at AWS and the opportunity to live and work in Maine.
“I fell in love with Maine after visiting relatives earlier this year,” Urbanek said. “I am excited to step in as chief veterinarian at AWS at this time of growth and expansion. The public clinic will be a great resource to the community, and I am proud to be a part of it.”
Life-long animal lovers, Dr. Urbanek and his husband, Matt Lemon, who is also a veterinarian, have two dogs, Spencer, a Jack Russell Terrier, and Bruno, a Rottweiler/Lab mix, and two cats, Mac and Mitch.
Located in West Kennebunk and serving York County, the Animal Welfare Society is a nonprofit organization and provides humane shelter and care to companion animals temporarily in need of housing, assists in disaster response and furthers the cause of responsible animal adoption and ownership through education and public awareness.
AWS actively promotes kindness, the elimination of cruelty and neglect to all animals, and the lifelong commitment of people to their pets.
— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at editor@journaltribune.com.
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