Dr. Lonam grew up in Otis Orchards, WA, a then somewhat rural community east of Spokane, where his family lived on a small farm with the requisite assortment of livestock, barn cats, and family dogs. He briefly entertained a career in the priesthood during high school and attended seminary for two years. Upon high school graduation, he joined the Navy and served for three years during the Vietnam War, part of that time on the aircraft carrier, Enterprise. After his Navy stint, Dr. Lonam enrolled at Washington State University and began studying to fulfill his dream of becoming a veterinarian. He received his B.S. in Bacteriology and Public Health in 1974 and his DVM degree in 1978.

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Dr. Lonam’s veterinary career was launched in the shadows of Glacier National Park as a large animal vet in NW Montana and subsequently in the Spokane and Yakima Valley areas of Washington State, where he worked as both a large and small animal veterinarian. He moved to the Washington, D.C. area in 1983 and worked as an associate for a small animal medical practice and as a relief veterinarian. He and his wife, Anne, purchased Village Veterinary Clinic in 1987 and have since nurtured it into a well-established and highly respected practice. In addition to his veterinary interests, Dr. Lonam is an avid skier. He also enjoys camping, fishing, playing guitar, attending cultural events, reading, and spending time with his large extended family. He also holds a 2nd-degree black belt in Judo.