By Elisabeth Costanzo Stewart
For the past quarter century, Dr. Steve (CH ’75) and Debbie Holowinski (née Burkoski) (DH ’78) have devoted their lives to caring for the dogs, cats, and pocket pets of the Southern Tier. Thousands of the region’s beloved animals have benefited from the Holowinski family’s legacy of compassionate veterinary care. As Broome County natives, this husband-and-wife duo proudly share that their decades of collective experience in human and veterinary medicine, all began at their alma mater, SUNY Broome.
Dr. Steve and Debbie Holowinski were born and raised in Johnson City, NY. While their time as Johnson City students did not officially overlap, they would regularly bump into each other socially, thanks to mutual connections. Debbie was a clarinetist in the high school band, while Steve, three years Debbie’s senior, spent his time bouncing between JC’s tennis and golf teams.
Steve was the first of the two to graduate from Johnson City High School and attend what was then BCC. Naturally gifted in math and chemistry, Holowinski’s school counselor encouraged him to study chemistry (now Liberal Arts and Sciences: Science: A.S.) at SUNY Broome and take advantage of the College’s small class and lab sizes. While many students find academic affirmation in college, Steve quickly learned that while he enjoyed the subject of chemistry, he had no desire to work as a chemist professionally.
Like thousands of Broome alumni, Holowinski graduated and transferred to Binghamton University. Still unsure of his career goals, he remained a chemistry major. His advisor floated the suggestion of becoming a dentist, but Steve realized that if he was going to enter the world of medicine, he would much prefer to care for cats and dogs rather than teeth and gums. Interestingly, when faced with a similar crossroads of career exploration, Steve’s future wife, Debbie, gravitated towards the latter.
As Steve grappled with his future at Binghamton University, Debbie confidently began her studies in SUNY Broome’s highly competitive Dental Hygiene: A.A.S. program. Her two years of intensive study and hands-on clinical patient care flew by. Just as Debbie finished her degree and prepared for her board exams, Steve mustered up the courage to ask her out.
With his personal life at an all-time high, it was time to mirror that success academically and professionally. By then, Steve had decided to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. A lover of animals since youth, Dr. Holowinski felt called to do his part to improve the well-being and overall health of animals. But, in the early 1980s, veterinary programs in the United States were limited, with less than 13 schools in total. To further complicate the enrollment process, prospective veterinary students were limited to only applying to schools in the state in which they resided. For Holowisnki, that meant Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine – the top veterinary medicine program in the nation.
“The limited seats at Cornell allowed me to apply to veterinary programs outside of the United States,” Dr. Holowinski explained. “I ultimately attended the Ross University’s School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts in the British West Indies.”
The Holowinskis opened the Johnson City Veterinary Hospital in 1999. Their son, Josh, joined the practice in 2018 after earning his veterinary medicine degree from Cornell University.
Steve and Debbie’s long-distance relationship from Broome County to the British West Indies was substantially shortened when they married in 1983. Debbie temporarily put her career as a hygienist on hold to join Steve in St. Kitts. At the conclusion of his studies, the couple relocated to Plainville, Connecticut, to join the care team at the Old Canal Veterinary Hospital. While the Holowinskis enjoyed their time in Connecticut, they longed for the Southern Tier and hoped to raise their family surrounded by their extended family and lifelong friends in Johnson City.
Back in Broome County, Debbie began her almost two-decade career as a dental hygienist for Dr. Gary Bigsby’s Pediatric Dental practice in Endicott, NY, while Steve worked in general veterinary care. In 1999, Steve decided to open his own AAHA-certified practice, the Johnson City Veterinary Hospital (JCVet), to cater to the growing needs of the local animal community. During the early stages of the hospital, Debbie bounced between seeing patients for Dr. Bigsby and supporting JCVet’s rapidly expanding patient base.
A year later, Steve admitted to Debbie that he needed her to assume the role of practice manager full-time. While she hadn’t initially intended to leave the dental hygiene field, she was excited for a new challenge beside her life’s partner.
“SUNY Broome prepared me for two very fulfilling careers. Oral care and veterinary care overlap in many ways,” reflected Debbie. “Interestingly, some of my hygiene patients from Dr. Bigsby’s dental office now bring their pets to the Johnson City Veterinary Hospital. So, in a small way, I have continued caring for them through both of my careers.”
Soon, the Johnson City Veterinary Hospital became a full-family effort. The Holowinski’s two children, Stephanie and Joshua, grew up at the practice, spending every day after school on-site, finishing their homework and helping with the office’s daily tasks. In 2018, after graduating from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, their son Joshua joined the JCVet team as a veterinarian. Their daughter Stephanie, an occupational therapist at UHS, sends her dogs Tori and Cooper to the practice every day for doggie daycare with their “grandpawents.”
As most pet owners know all too well, the post-COVID world of animal care is bleak. Broome County is amid a veterinarian shortage due to retirements and the closure of local practices. This is why the Holowinskis are so open to sharing their story.
“We would love to see more veterinarians in our community. Students interested in veterinary medicine should strongly consider starting their education at SUNY Broome,” Dr. Holowinski explained. “It’s affordable, has small class sizes in the critical math and science courses, and is designed to help students transfer easily. Start at SUNY Broome, go on to undergraduate studies and veterinary school, and then return to the region to help care for our community’s animals.”
Interest in getting your start at SUNY Broome and transferring on to complete additional degrees? SUNY Broome maintains dozens of transfer agreements with colleges and universities across the state and the nation! See your transfer options at: www2.sunybroome.edu/transferagreements
Dr. Holowinski caring for his grand-pup, Cooper.
Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers
Tags: Alumni, Dental Hygiene AAS, Health Sciences Division, Liberal Arts and Sciences AS, Profile, STEM Division, SUNY Broome Foundation
