Driving Home Naked

Have you ever driven home from work wearing nothing but a pair of rubber boots? For Dr. Melinda McCall, a large animal veterinarian in rural Virginia, this is living the dream. Caring for cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, llamas, and the occasional alpaca, unusual mishaps and mind-blowing adventures abound. Getting caught driving home naked after a tough day at work is just another day at the office for Dr. Melinda. Ride along in the vet truck as this fearless vet confronts every obstacle that crosses her path while building a thriving veterinary practice with an all-female foundation. She prevails through a fractured skull, back surgery, rare zoonotic diseases, and other extreme challenges. With stubbornness and grit, she surpasses the expectations of adversaries, including her own father, to become the owner of a successful veterinary business and mother of an inquisitive, spirited young daughter. Offering a firsthand glimpse into the fascinating world of veterinary medicine, Driving Home Naked is a smart, riveting, and heartfelt memoir that will captivate animal lovers and inspire people to follow their dreams on any scale. Buckle up for a wild ride.

“In Driving Home Naked, we see how it was for Dr. McCall to start her food animal practice in rural Virginia and how she had to work extra hard to prove to male farmers that she was a capable veterinarian. A worthwhile read.”—Temple Grandin“Driving Home Naked is a wild ride-along with a fearless animal lover living her dream. Richly told stories of compassionate acts, close calls, and down-in-the-muck adventures, McCall spares no detail in the telling. Her life is an inspiration!”—Jennifer S. Holland, author of the New York Times best-selling Unlikely Friendships series“Whether you were raised on a farm or in the city, you’ll be amazed, entertained, and sometimes shocked by the extraordinary life of this tenacious doctor and single mother who works around the clock through injury, illness, and her own pregnancy to care for the animals she’s called to heal.”—Deborah Ann Lucas, author of Dance While the Fire Burns“You’ll need good tires on your Chevy for this rocky, scenic, and totally inspirational journey of a woman veterinarian making a name for herself—and her all-woman practice—in rural Virginia. You’ll learn about the dangerous work of large animal vets, the generosity of good southern doctors, and the intrepid spirit of the stubborn female heart. Buy a copy for everyone you love!”—Courtney Maum, author of The Year of the Horses“Driving Home Naked brings to life the unpredictable but delightful experiences of a rural veterinarian. If you love animals, this book will immerse you into the joys and heartache of the veterinary profession and the power of the human-animal bond.”—Rena Carlson, DVM, President-Elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Melinda McCall, DVM, owns a large animal mobile veterinary service in central Virginia. She and her all-female staff specialize in beef and dairy cattle herds, swine, small ruminant animals, and camelids. Dr. Melinda earned a BS in Biology from Queens University and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. A woman in a male-dominated field, she has mastered the ability to do the work she loves while educating and inspiring others through her expertise, passion, and grit. Dr. Melinda is passionate about agricultural education and loves giving back to her community. She resides in Louisa, Virginia, with her daughter, Lucy, and their beloved border collie, Cap.