Dr. Merrijean Becker
Veterinarian
Dr. Becker is a lifelong Bartlesville girl. Though her father worked in the International division of Phillips Petroleum Company, and she spent many of her early years in São Paulo, Brazil, and Caracas, Venezuela, her family moved back to Bartlesville when she was in 9th grade and she has always considered Bartlesville her home.
When Merrijean turned 16 she joined the Bartlesville Animal Hospital staff, working after school, summers and holidays, as a veterinary assistant for Dr. Grogan. After graduating from Bartlesville High School in 1988, Dr. Becker attended Oklahoma State University where she completed her degree in Biomedical Science in 1992. With glowing recommendations from both Dr. Grogan and Dr. Johnson, Dr. Becker continued her education with OSU, earning a coveted spot in their School of Veterinary Medicine. In 1996, she graduated in the top 10% of her class earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Throughout all her years at college, she made the commute back to Bartlesville to work summers and weekends at Bartlesville Animal Hospital.
After graduation, Dr. Becker married a fellow classmate and began her career in Tulsa. In conjunction with practicing medicine, she took on the role of Channel 8 Veterinarian for KTUL and was the “on air” veterinary expert in TV segments with Teri Bowers and Frank Mitchell. In 2005, she was named “Young Veterinarian of the Year” by the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association. While working full time and raising two small children, Dr. Becker pursued 10 years of additional study and in 2007 attained Board Certification with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. She is currently working on recertification. Additionally, she was an active member of the Tulsa SE Rotary Club and dedicated to giving back to her community.
After inheriting her childhood home, Dr. Becker returned to Bartlesville and assumed the role of Manager for the Bartlesville Boarding Kennel. She waited a year and a half for a position as a Veterinarian to become available here at Bartlesville Animal Hospital, and on January 1, 2018 Dr. Becker’s career came full circle back to where her dreams began…at her “Home”.
Dr. Becker has a passion for difficult medical cases, especially in geriatric pets and we could not be happier that she has joined our outstanding team of Veterinarians.