Lou and Georgia Sobh Turn Personal Gratitude into Enduring Support for Veterinary Medicine
Lou and Georgia Sobh have a long-standing relationship with the University of Georgia’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) — one built not only on the expert care their beloved pets have received, but also on a shared commitment to compassion and excellence in veterinary medicine.
Their journey began with their cherished Pomeranian, Nikita, who was treated for cancer by Dr. Nicole Northrup, now the director of the VTH. The bond forged between them during those critical treatments left a lasting impression.
“She saved him twice,” Georgia Sobh recalls of Northrup and Nikita. The Sobhs repaid the feat by donating generously to the construction of the oncology service suite constructed in 2015 in the “new” teaching hospital on College Station Road.
But their appreciation didn’t stop there. Wanting to create a lasting tribute to Dr. Northrup and the care their pets received, the Sobhs donated a life-sized statue of a female veterinarian — modeled after Northrup — surrounded by their first three Pomeranians: Nikita, Hollywood, and Gizmo. The sculpture stands in the Butler Memorial Garden on the hospital grounds, a peaceful space honoring the deep bonds between people and their companion animals.
“We had the statues built for Dr. Northrup. Lou insisted that it be her,” Georgia says.
Although Nikita, Hollywood, and Gizmo have since passed on, the Sobhs have welcomed a new trio of Pomeranians — Chubb, Chewy, and Maggie — into their lives. Chubb, who deals with alopecia and anxiety, is now under the expert care of the dermatology, neurology, and behavioral medicine teams at the VTH, continuing the family’s long relationship with the hospital.
The Sobhs continue to give generously to the College of Veterinary Medicine and the teaching hospital. Most recently they pledged to establish the Lou and Georgia Sobh Veterinary Medicine Scholarship Fund. In addition, the Lou and Georgia Sobh Professorship in Teaching Excellence Fund was created to recognize and honor outstanding faculty who exemplify excellence in the teaching aspect of their position.
Their enduring generosity has not only honored those who helped them, but also created new opportunities for the future of veterinary medicine. Through their contributions, the Sobhs continue to touch countless lives — both human and animal — leaving a legacy rooted in love, loyalty, and the power of giving back.
