Dr. Yates is from the sub-tropical, mostly below sea-level state of Louisiana, where even the threat of snow closes roads, schools, grocery stores, etc. He was brought up on a pig farm in Pearl River, Louisiana, which has instilled not only a rigorous work ethic, and compassion for animals, but also an incredibly appreciated dull sense of smell.
His undergraduate studies in Animal, Dairy, and Poultry Sciences were completed at Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge; Geaux Tigers!! Dr. Yates, moved to Grenada to attend St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine, and it was then that he discovered his true passion for Neurology and Neurosurgery. In 2008, he returned to Louisiana to complete a one-year Small Animal Rotating Internship at Louisiana Veterinary Referral Center-now MedVet Medical and Cancer Center for Pets, and remained as an Emergency Clinician in the multi-specialty referral and Critical Care hospital. Concurrent to working as an Emergency Clinician, Dr. Yates also obtained a position as a research Veterinarian at the Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species (ACRES) in New Orleans where he performed laparoscopic reproductive procedures such as oocyte retrieval from super-ovulated domestic and exotic feline species. Dr. Yates had the opportunity to work with endangered avian and bovine species also.
In 2010, Dr. Yates moved to Ohio to complete a Neurology and Neurosurgery residency at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital. His research interests are meningitis of unknown etiology, chiari-like malformations and intracranial neoplasia.
Dr. Yates is married to Dr. Jill Yates – VREC Internal Medicine. After more than 10-years together, with some durations living over 3,000 miles apart, the city girl meets country boy relationship is still thriving. The Yates’ family includes a daughter, and three furry kids – Nemo an orange tabby cat, Nugget a Dachshund, and Noggin a cat who has cerebellar hypoplasia.
Dr. Yates enjoys his work so much that he hasn’t actually acquired hobbies…yet, but he is progressing toward obtaining several. Most of his time away from the hospital involves his family which includes treasured time at Disney World.