08/14/2025
Dr. Folger's Last Padawan
“Sometimes we have to travel full circle to find the truth.”
From 1976-1978, Dr. James Hubert “Jimmy” Alexander DVM, ACT (Member) served as my mentor. In Star Wars parlance, I was his padawan and he was the Jedi. During those two years Jimmy helped change my life in many ways, and if not for his help, it is very likely I would never have made it into veterinary school. I would not have traveled this path and be writing this post. I would have ended up elsewhere. Jimmy and I have been best friends for 47 years.
I want to introduce my first and last padawan. On my right is my first padawan, now Master Jedi veterinarian Dr. Ginger Haug DVM. For over 20 years, through undergraduate school, veterinary school, in the first stages of her career, and as the owner of a remarkable veterinary hospital in Hockley, I continue to mentor her. We are great friends. True friends.
There was a moment in her life where she did not want to go forward with her application to veterinary school. One hot day on a veterinary mission trip in Honduras, she was complaining to Dr. Alexander that she was tired of trying to get into veterinary school and it did not seem likely that was going to happen. Jimmy turned to her, gave a 1 sentence reply which sent Ginger into orbit. That fall she re-applied and got admitted to Texas A&M Veterinary School. I attended her graduation 11 years ago. After Dr. Haug, I mentored dozens of young people, some from high school, then college, and vet school and beyond. I am so proud of all of them.
On my left is my final padawan Anais Jayr, whom I have mentored since high school. Now, she is a sophomore pre-veterinary student at the University of California-Davis. She is special. I have pledged to guide her until at least January 1, 2036. We are friends as well.
In our Honduras mission trip this year, I deliberately placed her on Dr. Alexander’s large animal veterinary team for him to evaluate her, which he did. When I asked, he said, “she is ready to go.” I attended her high school graduation and will attend both her undergraduate graduation and her veterinary school graduation. She is going to be a phenomenal veterinarian, and I hope we will be friends for life.
This is how it came full circle. This is who we are.
