8 | 2021 Medical & Dental Directory
D
ave Barkman could always hold his own with
the younger guys. Even in his 70s, he'd kept
his weight within a healthy range and his wiry
strength solid. It was a benefit that came in handy while
standing at the net on a tennis court or while tending to
the hurt paw of someone's furry best friend.
That's why the longtime Fayetteville veterinarian was
in denial just after Christmas two years ago when he
couldn't seem to shake a bout of the flu.
"I remember him saying that even his hair hurt," said
his son Japheth. Both Japheth and brother Josh are
veterinarians at Highland Animal Hospital, the practice
their father and Berry Bostic purchased in 1976 after
founder Charles Speegle retired. Bostic has since retired,
but Dave Barkman still works part-time in the clinic off
S. McPherson Church Road.
Family friend Brian Rose, a physician
assistant with Valley Cardiology & Vascular
Clinics advised Barkman to get to the
emergency room right away for a chest
X-Ray. Barkman wound up being admitted
to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in
cardiac distress from the effects of flu and
subsequent pneumonia.
Cardioversion restores
heart rhythm for patients
with arrhythmias
By Kim Hasty
Veterinarian Dave
Barkman was admitted
to Cape Fear Valley
Medical Center in
cardiac distress. Luckily
doctors were able to
perform a cardioversion
to stabilize his
heart rhythm.
Photo
by
Melissa
Nel
son
Photo by Tony Wooten
Veterinarian
Barkman's
Happy Tale
CARDIOLOGY
