Dr. Brent Lakia’s been all about Northwest Indiana throughout his life. He was born in Methodist Hospitals on Broadway and was in the Merrillville school district until fourth grade. His family made a move out to Chesterton around the time of his middle-school days, so the backend of his more formative years were made full in Jackson Township.
As a 1999 graduate of Chesterton High School, Lakia went to Purdue University to complete his undergraduate studies. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the institution. His master’s in physiology took place at Ball State University.
The continuation of Lakia’s education took place in the warmth of the Caribbean. He was on the island of Saint Kitts studying for his doctorate at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. His doctorate-level schooling finished up stateside at Oklahoma State University. He finally began practicing as a veterinarian in Cincinnati, Ohio, spending three years there and then moving on to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the same amount of time.
Vale Park Animal Hospital always presented itself as a home for Lakia. Since 1998, he’s been associated with the veterinary organization. He was just a senior in high school when he started, and over the years he worked his way up through the ranks. His first roles consisted of cleaning cages, walking dogs, holding cats, and watching surgical procedures. He prepared himself for what life as a veterinarian would look like.
“Every summer in between going to Purdue and Ball State, I’d come home. I gradually grew into doing all the positions that I could without a doctorate in the hospital,” Lakia said. “Once I went away to vet school, Dr. Mary Ann Sheller, my mentor growing up, called me up and said, ‘Hey, you ready to come home?’ We talked and worked it through.”
Lakia bought into the practice in 2018. He’s an owner who works as one’s regular veterinarian and goes through with standard medical appointments. His day-to-day is made up of treating injuries, administering vaccines, and sometimes having end-of-life discussions about clients’ pets. He performs surgeries every other week, providing orthopedic care and similar assistance among other treatments. Though his vocation is two-sided, he balances the ins and outs of it all.
“From the medical side, my job is wonderful. You get to meet and work with great people, both on the team and with the clients. It’s great meeting so many pets, even the ones that are a struggle,” he said. “On the other hand, running a business is a challenge. We’re a caring industry, so we have to provide everywhere we can, whether it’s for the patient, the client, or the staff.”
Lakia’s father was a software engineer. When Lakia was younger, he’d grow up watching his father take on larger-scale projects, no matter if it regarded seeing through manufacturing processes or directing different machines. Lakia himself, however, is better at focusing his attention on the immediate.
“What’s great about what I do is that it keeps me on my toes. I have to think about patients, clients, and my staff. I have to think about the business and having that multitude of interests. It’s about having that ability to really focus on things in the short term because you have to take care of what’s in front of you,” he said. “I’m so excited about going to work every day.”
Pets play important parts in the lives of many. Lakia routinely gets to see firsthand the beauty of the bonds between humans and animals. It’s his duty to strengthen those relationships, and he takes pride in the chances he has to do so.
“I think about the impact animals have on our families and ourselves. It’s a huge thing that we do to provide the care to try to help these pets live as good of lives as they can and help clients understand how to provide a good life for their animals so they can have long and fulfilling lives together,” he said. “That warm feeling that we all get when we think about our pets, that’s what drives us to help take care of them.”
Outside of caring for pets and their keepers at work, Lakia helps out with Chesterton’s Duneland Soccer Club. He’s one of the head coaches for the U10 team of young boys and is an assistant for the U12 girls. There are times he’ll do a slight bit of teaching as well, offering lectures at the Porter County Career Center and other instruction through the Valpo Parks’ Little Vet School.
Music is another endeavor of Lakia’s. He once played in a band that opened for rapper T-Pain during a 2009 festival. Even though he hasn’t performed in some time, he continues to dabble in guitar. He’s not limited to one instrument though, since he plays mandolin and bass as well. He’ll take his kids to their music lessons, furthering their passions for the art. Additionally, he keeps up with his own participation in sports. He competes in a men’s soccer league and he’s not shy on golf courses either.
As a family, Lakia, his wife, and his children will trek across the Dunes. They bought a boat, so when the weather’s nice, they’ll all go out to play on the nearby waters. The lakes, beaches, and other geographical features around them present more fun and a steady way of life.
“There’s so much to do. We’ve got so many great entrepreneurs that have built amazing businesses, restaurants, and taverns. There’s just so much in all of our towns and cities, with different flavors and different vibes from each one making them unique. Valpo is a great place, and that’s because of the people,” he said.