John Heidrich PhD, DVM, spent his first 10 years after obtaining a PhD, working with radioisotopes at the University of Toronto and the University of New Mexico. That work involved studying the pathways of thyroid drugs in multiple animal species. After completing his DVM, he began clinical studies using radioisotopes to investigate pathways of cellular destruction in arthritic joints in dogs. Synovetin became available for use to treat dogs with chronic osteoarthritis in 2010. His clinic (VCA Ventana Animal Clinic) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was one of the first to be licensed to use this breakthrough treatment. His role at Sun City Veterinary Surgery Center is to help with regulatory use of the isotope as the radiation safety officer for nuclear medicine.