Renee Riepe grew up in Western Kentucky and Southeast Tennessee.She attended undergraduate school at the University of Tennessee and received her degree in Zoology. In 1988, she entered veterinary school at the University of Tennessee where she was awarded the Merck award for outstanding performance in Small Animal Medicine. In 1992, at the University of

Tennessee, she was mentored in cardiology by Drs. Janice Bright and Rebecca Gompf . From 1992-1996 , she was a cardiology resident at the University of Illinois, where she trained with Dr. David Sisson. In 1996, she started the cardiology practice at Oakland Veterinary Referral Service in Bloomfield Hills Michigan. In Michigan, she has been working with Scottish Fold and

Sphynx breeders and collaborating with Dr. Kate Meurs at Washington State to develop an HCM DNA screening test. Dr. Riepe and her 8 year old son live on a farm with Tennessee walking

horses, a potbelly pig and several Scottish Folds, dogs, and birds. Some of her pets were rescued from Hurricane Katrina. Renee spends a lot of time in Kentucky photographing horses. She has recently taken photos of Kentucky Derby winners Smarty Jones and Big Brown, Belmont winner Rags to Riches, 2007/2008 Horse of the Year Curlin and 2009 Horse of the Year

Rachel Alexandra.