Dr. Dickey grew up in Oklahoma, developing an interest in wildlife and biology at an early age. He has extensive experience as both a clinical and research veterinarian. Prior to veterinary school, he worked as a research associate at Emory University in Atlanta and at the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center. He graduated from Oklahoma State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1992, earning the ACVS and Irwin Awards for the Outstanding Surgery Student. Following graduation, he became the manager of the Laser Surgery Lab at OSU, performing both clinical and research duties.

Since moving to the Pacific Northwest in 1998, Dr. Dickey has been a small animal veterinarian, as well as a faculty member at the Oregon Health and Sciences University in both the Department of Neurology and at the Oregon Hearing Research Center. He lives in Portland with his wife Michelle Judd and two rescue dogs. He enjoys singing and playing guitar, and also working in their community garden plot.