Then, in March 2020, the U.S. Government declared a national health crisis in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic, as did countries across the world. 

“2020 was surprising in many ways. The pandemic affected so many lives across the globe. It even changed how veterinary students were educated this year,” says Price. 

Like most, 2020 saw Price transitioning to a remote education, video-conference interviews and planning a virtual graduation ceremony. Many found it difficult to adjust; however, Dr. Price pushed back. 

She became the unofficial spokesperson of the call for greater diversity within the veterinary profession following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 and the resulting impact on the Black Lives Matter movement. In addition, she founded Black DVM Network, a community for the empowerment of Black veterinary professionals. 

“The network is a resource for Black veterinarians—we offer webinars, a members-only forum, a directory, job boards, and even discounts for helpful services,” says Price. 

To top it off, Price was interviewed about diversity in the profession, and the lack thereof, by Time magazine.

After graduation, Dr. Price finds herself living her dream. She works as a high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter surgeon and provides primary care to underserved communities in Los Angeles. 

 “2020 was not going to break me,” she says. 

While the world continues to attempt to stem the tide of the pandemic, Dr. Price says that she is doing what she does best; “adapt and excel.”  For her, that means getting up at dawn and having a hot cup of coffee while she watches the sun rise. Then, Dr. Price commutes to her clinic, spends the morning performing surgery and the afternoon providing curbside care to her patients. 

“Shelter veterinary life definitely keeps me busy. But, I love it,” says Dr. Price. 

When she’s not at work, Dr. Price is busy creating programs and advertising opportunities for Black DVM Network. Somehow, she still finds the time to hike, practice yoga and meditate. She also enjoys “Zoom dates” with her love interest, who lives more than 2,000 miles away.  

What does the future hold for Dr. Price?  Anything is possible! +

For more information on Black DVM Network, visit www.blackdvmnetwork.com

The post Dr. Tierra Price: Strong, Spirited and Speaking Out! appeared first on PetVet Magazine.

When Shannon Gregoire first entered the hallowed halls of Western University in 2019, she never thought that her junior year would start off like an apocalyptic novel. With the pandemic continuing to cause uncertainty across the U.S., Shannon is only sure of one thing—this year will definitely not go as planned.  

But, that’s okay, because Shannon has got this!

Shannon grew up on a working farm in rural Massachusetts, complete with horses, farm-fresh eggs and an apiary. Life on the farm gave Shannon a different type of outlook on life. She credits this with instilling in her a habit of early rising and a love for hard work. 

Now having her new “normal” mixed with a chaotic vet school life, Shannon Gregoire makes her health and happiness a top priority. That means starting each day with meditation and making time for a visit to the gym or a hiking trail after school. 

For Shannon, she is very much looking forward to the future. She entered veterinary school with a plan to specialize in equine medicine, but now has decided to pursue other interests.

“I plan to focus my career on the business side of veterinary medicine,” says Shannon. “I want to lead the change and make a difference in our profession.”

While Shannon is considering MBA programs at this time, she does offer advice for other veterinary students; “My advice for new grads would be to apply for leadership roles, negotiate for better pay and benefits, and find a supportive mentor. It is time for us to make a change in our profession.”

Shannon will officially become “Dr. Gregoire” when she graduates from Western in 2022. She will be joining more than 1,500 new veterinary graduates from the 30 accredited U.S. schools—all of whom will be spending the semester in various stages of quarantine and isolation. +

You can follow the future “Dr.” Shannon Gregoire at www.linkedin.com/in/shannonpgregoiredvm/ 

The post Vet Student Shannon Gregoire Focuses on Her Health & Happiness appeared first on PetVet Magazine.

Jeri Chatfield, mom of super twin veterinarians, Dr. Jenifer and Dr. Jason Chatfield, tells us about their amazing journey. 

Her story starts in a college town in Texas where a twenty-something Jeri Young fell in love with her former college math professor, John Chatfield. When she first met him, she knew that he was a part of her future. 

They married right before she graduated from Texas State University, and within two years, she was pregnant. Her pregnancy seemed normal for the most part—she had her share of morning sickness, but she was enormous. Strangers would walk up to her and comment on her size. She agreed with them—she was huge, and since she didn’t have an ultrasound performed during her pregnancy, she just thought that she was pregnant with one very large baby. 

On November 17th, she found out that she was wrong. That’s when her doctor heard two heart beats during her pre-admit exam. She wasn’t pregnant with a single jumbo baby—she was pregnant with twins. She gave birth that day to a boy and a girl, Jenifer and Jason. 

“One look at those little faces and we knew that our lives were definitely never gonna be the same,” says Jeri. 

Like most young parents, Jeri and John balanced their life and career caring for the two babies. Initially, Jeri stayed with the kids during the day while John taught at Texas State University. As the twins grew older and Jeri went back to work, John would teach his classes in the morning and then he would come home to relieve Jeri, who would then leave to teach classes in the afternoon. 

Sometime during those early months, John, along with Jeri, had an idea that changed the family of four forever. John said, “Let’s get a macaw,” and soon McGuirk the macaw took up residence in the living room. 

Once the twins were tall enough to rip the papers out from under McGuirk’s open perch in the family room, it was time for either the kids or McGuirk to move outside. McGuirk was moved to an outdoor cage. John said, “McGuirk shouldn’t be out there all by himself. If we have one, we should have two…”

So, just like Noah, twos became a running theme with the Chatfields; two babies, two macaws and twos of a host of other species. The family soon filled up their farm with exotic birds, including swans, pheasants, different types of macaws and cranes. Later, the collection expanded to include soft, fuzzy creatures, including lemurs and kangaroos. 

As the twins grew, they developed incredible skills for caring for the unique animals on the farm. They would carry feed buckets and clean cages as the Chatfield farm was filled with exotic animals all needing their own type of care, and each family member had their own “bit.” John did most of the construction, maintenance and feeding of adult animals, while Jeri was in charge of feeding babies. Jason and Jenifer learned the value of teamwork in their family early on and pitched in wherever needed. 

“One of the earliest memories I have of our kids is their love for all the different kinds of animals at the farm,” says Jeri. “When Jenifer was a toddler, her best friend was a silky chicken that she would carry around all day like another child would carry a doll. They were inseparable! We would have to force her to put the chicken back in the coop at night rather than have it sleep with her.”

“Jason also found friends on the farm, although his favorite one was much taller than he was at the time. He had this connection with a crowned crane, and they had a real friendship,” says Jeri. “Jason was the only one the crane would allow to touch him and the crane would kind of stand over Jason when he was playing in the backyard. It was really sweet how they seemed to bond with each other.”

Needless to say, all of the interesting animals made the Chatfield farm a favorite among their classmates for school fieldtrips. 

“Every year, the entire school would come out to our house and see all the animals,” said Jeri. “It was an up-close learning experience that you couldn’t get elsewhere. Jason was influenced by this and throughout his career working at zoos, he’s always focused on creating programs where children can interact with endangered species to foster that understanding and love for rare animals among the next generation. There is no substitute for touching and holding these creatures when you are wanting to inspire people to support conservation.”

Even though Jenifer thought she would become a flight attendant and Jason was eyeing a career as a basketball coach, with their incredible background, it only made sense that Jason and Jenifer would become zoo veterinarians. They both attended Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating three years apart, and spent their last semester in school completing externships at several major zoos, including the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park and White Oak Conservation Center. 

“While both of my children have focused their veterinary career on conservation, Jenifer is the one more actively focused in research,” says Jeri.

“In an effort to contribute to the preservation of her favorite species, the ruffed lemur, Jenifer spent time in the rainforests of Madagascar to study lemurs and develop methods for conserving them.” 

Almost every species of lemur is at risk of extinction, making it the world’s most endangered primate, scientists have warned. As is the case with most of the world’s rare and critically endangered species, habitat destruction from illegal tree logging, charcoal production, hunting and mining is the chief threat for extinction.

In 2007, Jenifer published a peer-reviewed article that is a significant step forward for these imperiled creatures. The technique for semen collection that she and her team developed is not only safe, but can be used to augment genetic diversity among captive populations without removing lemurs from the wild. Previous attempts at establishing a protocol had been deemed too dangerous as some animals died following procedures. Jenifer never lost a single lemur during her three-year effort to perfect this assisted reproduction technique.

Jason, on the other hand, is focused on education. He is the Vice President for Zoo Operations at Jungle Island, an eco-adventure animal park in Miami. Jason is known for doing whatever it takes to make sure the animals of the park are healthy, happy and safe, while making learning fun for even the youngest visitors. 

In 2012, Jason worked with a renowned human oncologist to help treat Peanut, an eight-year-old orangutan, using a novel immunochemotherapy protocol for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Not only was her diagnosis made early in the course of disease, but the therapy was incredibly successful. Peanut is the only orangutan with this rare condition known to survive therapy. 

Jason is married to another veterinarian, Liz, and is a father of three kids, all currently under the age of ten. Having his own kids reinforced his passion for early childhood wildlife education. He believes having hands-on experiences makes the world’s animals real to kids, and gives children a desire to conserve these animals and keep them safe for future generations. During the pandemic, when schools were shut down around the globe, Jason developed a daily homeschool program for kids that focused on endangered species and brought a bit of humor and entertainment into online schooling. 

Jenifer and Jason aren’t the only Chatfields helping animals. They often pull in their mom, Jeri, as a volunteer. For the last seven years, Jeri has teamed up with Jenifer and the rest of the West Central Florida Medical Reserve Corps for their “One Health Approach to Mobile Medical Units,” a program Jenifer founded that provides zoonotic disease prevention to pets of the homeless and indigent in their county. 

The twin Chatfields’ newest adventure is teaming up to host the Vet Candy Podcast on Pet Life Radio. Although this was their first foray into the podcasting world, their show rose quickly to the number one show on Pet Life Radio with almost 600,000 downloads per month. 

What makes their podcast so special? 

“The Chatfields have the most interesting dynamic,” says Mark Winter, Executive Producer of Pet Life Radio. “Dr. Jenifer being naturally curious and serious is the voice of reason, while Dr. Jason is pure comic relief. Add in their competitive natures and sibling rivalry, plus amazing guests, and you get a unique perspective on veterinary life, their lives, and anything related to animals.”

What’s next on the horizon for these veterinary twins? 

Jeri says, “Anything is possible when you are talking about Jen and Jason Chatfield… anything! The one thing we can all count on is that they will have fun doing it!” +

Subscribe to Vet Candy Podcast for free on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, Alexa’s Tune In, and more. 

The post Spilling Tea With Jeri Chatfield appeared first on PetVet Magazine.

Through vet school, these two spent morning, noon and night together studying for class, and later, prepping for national boards. They shared their first—and Dr. Franny notes “awkward”—kiss at a party in their junior year. However, they both decided that they didn’t want to chance losing their friendship and didn’t pursue a relationship. 

After graduation, they went their separate ways—she to an internship at UGA and he to a practice in Washington DC, but pledged to keep in touch. Fortunately, things didn’t end there. Despite the miles that separated these two, they were meant to be. And three years after graduation, they tied the knot in front of friends and family. 

Today, they are a classic example of modern success, with a supportive marriage, three thriving practices, a brief stint on reality TV (Nat Geo Wild’s Love and Vets) and four beautiful children (David, 21; Tyler, 19; Gabrielle, 17 and Olivia, 15).

Why It Works

Dr. Will says, “We do have opposite personalities—I am the risk taker and she’s the voice of reason. Being friends first is our secret to our happy marriage, but making our family a priority is the secret to happiness.”

Why It Matters

Morning time is Dr. Franny’s proclaimed special time when she can show her family how much they mean to her. “Above all else, our family comes first,” she says. 

When criticized online after shown on Love & Vets, making her teenaged kids lunch for school, Dr. Franny stood her ground. “This may sound strange to some folks but I rejoice in making my kids homemade lunches. I get to put some “love” into their dishes, plus I can make sure they are eating healthy homemade treats.”+

The post Love, Veterinarian Style appeared first on PetVet Magazine.

Raystown Lake was several miles away from a hospital so the family called 911 immediately. But panic set in, and while most of the family stayed with Mrs. Severs and waited for emergency professionals, James ran through the camp frantically looking for someone with medical training. 

While he couldn’t find a single doctor or nurse in the camp, he did find Connie Thomas, a Registered Veterinary Technician and AVECCTN 2019 candidate with PET + ER, in Towson, MD. 

Why It Works

“When I heard about Mrs. Severs, my years of training kicked in and I wanted to help,” said Thomas. “I ran over to her camp and helped keep her calm while we waited for the paramedics to show up.” 

Thomas was able to check her pulse and found that it was unusually high and her skin was cool to the touch. She stayed with Mrs. Severs until the paramedics arrived about 20 minutes later.

“As a veterinary professional, we have an innate sense to help those in need, whether it is animals or people. I was happy that I could help the situation,” says Thomas. 

Mrs. Severs was taken to a hospital and treated for dehydration and recovered a few days later.

“Having someone with me at that stressful time that had medical training helped me remain calm,” said Mrs. Severs. “It also helped my family, who was very worried about Grandma.”

Thomas is a graduate of the Community College of Baltimore County, was previously a volunteer EMT, and she has also been an active member of the Chesapeake Search and Rescue Team for two years.

Why It Matters

“I want to believe that the human race has the ability to be kind and selfless”, says Thomas. “I believe that we all can be better, kinder and more giving. This is why I help and why I search for lost people. I want to be the kind of person that someone can come to in time of need. I want to be able to help them and hopefully, in turn, they help others.” +

The post Saving a Human Life appeared first on PetVet Magazine.

That morning, she was “test driving” a new horse. The horse was a Quarter Horse with a chest so wide that Dr. Kat didn’t see a sapling had slipped under the breast collar. Soon afterwards, the breast collar snapped and Dr. Kat fell off with such force that her helmet cracked on impact. She was airlifted by a Lifeforce helicopter to an emergency hospital where her family was told that she was unconscious, suffering traumatic brain injury (TBI)—and very lucky to be alive. 

After surgery for a broken jaw (where the helmet strap was) and dealing with the aftermath of TBI, she was on the road to a very slow recovery. She had to recover from surgery, relearn how to walk and deal with memory loss. She didn’t recognize her family, but for some reason, she never forgot that she was a veterinarian. After her hospital stay, she went to a physical rehabilitation center and she was able to return to work (part–time at first) after about six weeks.

PetVet catches up with Dr. Kat to chat about her life, love and plans for the future:

Why did you become a vet? I grew up spending time at my family’s farm and fell in love with animals at a very early age. I never wanted anything else. It is my destiny.

What was the best part about vet school? My vet school days at Mississippi State are full of great memories. I met my husband, Shane, while we were both students. Best day ever was when Shane found a stray kitten that I named Merlin. Merlin helped me study by keeping my textbooks nice and warm.

We’ve all heard reports of female veterinarians not wanting the responsibility of owning a clinic, so why did you? I am extremely strong–willed and independent. I have an entrepreneurial spirit and I also wanted the freedom to practice medicine the way I wanted.  

How do you balance owning a clinic with your family? I have been happily married for 22 years to my soul mate. He gives me love and space, and is always there when I need him. He also understands my practice demands, which means we don’t get to eat dinner together every night, but when we do, it is wonderful. We also have a 14–year–old son, Will, who has no interest in becoming a veterinarian. But he is a lot like me, so when he finds his passion, I know he will give it his all. 

What is the best part about being a boss? I own a two–doctor practice in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Applebrook Animal Hospital. Being a boss is a double–edged sword. The best part is also the worst part. I like being responsible and able to effect change when it is needed, but being responsible also means that my choices affect others’ livelihood.

What’s the best part about being a Veterinary mom? Because I am a practice owner, I was able to balance being a mom and being an owner in ways that associate veterinarians may not. When my son was very little, another staff member also had a small child. We set up my office like a nursery. The kids had a great time and we both had the peace of mind having our kids close. 

What’s your biggest challenge? The hardest part of owning a business is people management. Over the years, I have dealt with staff members who would steal from our inventory or drive away clients by being very rude. Now I have a carefully chosen team of individuals that share our practice’s core values. However, I always remember that no matter how great your team is, life happens and there will always be changes and turnover. I have learned to embrace each person for what they can bring to the team, but as we grow, adding new team members is scary. 

You are known to be a great client communicator, what’s your secret? I am a big believer in creative pet owner education. I use my social media sites to blend pet care advice with a touch of humor. I also host two podcast series on PetLife Radio and I published a book this year, “Pet Parent’s Guide to Infectious Diseases”. People these days have limited attention spans and even less time, so I think that by making learning fun, I am more likely to get important messages across to them…like the need to vaccinate or use heartworm prevention. 

What is next for Dr. Kat? I have recently remodeled my clinic and it has a totally new look. One of the most important parts of the new facility is our new cat-friendly exam room, which features a window kitty hammock. We have doubled our exam rooms and treatment area. I am very excited about what the future holds. +

Photos by East Ivy Photography

The post The Unsinkable Dr. Kat: Kathryn Primm’s Story appeared first on PetVet Magazine.

There was a time, not so long ago, that LGBTQ veterinary professionals had to keep their sexuality a secret from their co-workers and managers. There may be some areas that are still resistant to change, despite both federal and state laws protecting workers. 

The following are three amazing LGBTQ veterinary professionals who are helping to break down barriers with their powerful visibility, and are showing the world that they are able to be who they truly are and achieve whatever they wish to do.

Life  lessons  for  the  next generation

We spend a lot of time with our coworkers, and being part of the LGBTQ community is often a big part of who we are and how we interact with the world. Give your co–workers a chance.  If they are not part of the community, then they likely just don’t understand.  I’ve had much better experiences when I’ve been open to questions.  If we’re not willing to help educate, then people are going to go do the research themselves (and we all know the hazards of resorting to Google for info), or they are just going to not bother to try to understand and continue with their narrow–minded beliefs.

How  to  support   LGBTQ  team members

With the current state of things, we see far more negative press about our community than positive. We have to be very careful with who we come out to and who knows we are out. Please understand that we are not likely to come out to you right off the bat. We need to assess situations as our lives really do depend on who knows. Some of us may never come out.  Please be respectful of that.  

Biggest  issue  facing  those transitioning 

I started transitioning from female to male at a time when there was not a whole lot of information on being trans, and most of what I could find was not positive. I found a few things about being trans–gendered online, but what I quickly found out was that to truly succeed, you have to pass and you pretty much have to be stealth.  It’s difficult to have a mentor or be a mentor when you have to hide a big part of who you are.

What  you  need  to  know  about  me

I’m a good tech. My gender identity does not play a part in the quality of care I provide patients. I’m in this field for the same reason you are—for the love of animals and medicine.

Terminology

Ace or Asexual: The lack of a sexual attraction or desire for other people.

Bisexual:A person attracted to more than one gender.

Cisgender:A term used to describe a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex assigned to them at birth.

Gay: A person who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to members of the same gender.

Gender-fluid: A person who does not identify with a single fixed gender; of or relating to a person having or expressing a fluid or unfixed gender identity.

LGBTQ:An acronym for “lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gender and queer.”

Non-binary: An adjective describing a person who does not identify exclusively as a man or a woman.

Pansexual: Describes someone who has the potential for emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to people of any gender.

Queer:A term people often use to express fluid identities and orientations. Often used interchangeably with “LGBTQ.”

Transgender: An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth.

How the profession is working TO support LGBTQ

Over the last twenty years our profession has come a long way—from support groups to active LGBTQ communities in veterinary medicine. PRIDE VMC is doing some great things and there are also several Facebook groups. 

The biggest issue I face professionally

Working in the south; acceptance is my biggest problem.  

What you need to know about me

I am a forty–three–year–old veterinary professional who identifies as a lesbian. I have been in the field for more than 25 years. I am in a loving relationship and engaged to a wonderful woman who is a veterinarian. We have three fur babies; two dogs and a cat, and are working on starting our own family.

Life lessons

The biggest life lesson I can share for the next generation is to learn your history, and listen to those who came before you, both inside the LGBTQ community and inside our own veterinary medicine community. 

Our vet med community is blessed with being able to scribe what has happened—things we’ve learned, things that didn’t go well, and things that did go well. The LGBTQ community doesn’t have that hardly. Our history was passed down by survivors of the AIDS crisis, people who were at Stonewall, and our beloved drag queens. Listen to them and their stories, you will be able to expound upon what they’ve learned. It’ll make your life a whole lot easier if you learn where you’ve come from. 

How can the profession support LGBTQ better?

This profession, like many others, can better help and support the LGBTQ community by being more outgoing with providing health care to us. Mainly aimed at my trans brothers and sisters. Transgender people have a lot of medical issues they face. Amongst the LGBTQ community, they’re at the top of the table for suicide and mental health issues like depression. They have medical costs for their gender reassignment surgeries and hormone replacement therapies. As we all know, medicine and treatments costs money. Tools and access to more and better health care would do wonders.

The biggest issue I face

The biggest issue I face professionally is actually being a gay man. Especially working and living in Mississippi. I always have to be mindful of myself. Am I acting too gay? Am I being too flamboyant? Will a client belittle me and refuse my services because of me being gay? It’s the scariest part of my job. 

People in my state have major issues with this kind of thing. It’s the one thing I have to be mindful of no matter what I do, even out in public. I’ve even worked with people who may not be homophobic but they have said homophobic things, which then challenges my authority. If they think they are better than me because of one thing about me, then why should I be listened to about how to work a case? It’s a challenge with a really hard balance, and even bigger fear. 

What you need to know about me

I love my job with an unwavering passion. I have been a technician for eight years. I have a wonderful support system with my church family and my partner of over eight years. I love my fat cat, Ser Jorah. I have a passion for body modification, and if I could, I would tattoo myself all over.  Also, draining abscesses and pulling out cuterebra larvae are my forte. +

The post Lgbtq in the Veterinary Community appeared first on PetVet Magazine.

In the last several years, we have seen an increase in such services in the veterinary world, culminating with Banfield’s recent news that they were delving into this technology by launching “Vet Chat”. This new advancement allows members of the hospital’s Optimum Wellness Plan on-demand access to pet care advice and support from a veterinarian anytime and anywhere.

A recent Banfield survey shows that 71 percent of pet owners turn to the internet instead of their veterinarian. According to the survey, 75 percent of veterinarians agree that knowing how long to wait before consulting a veterinarian is one of the biggest challenges their clients face. Also, 90 percent of veterinarians worry that pet owners may unknowingly put their pet at higher risk by taking bad advice from the internet.

Does  the  world  need  televets?

“I don’t know if we need veterinarians who are strictly “televets” but I have found that clients really like veterinarians who effectively incorporate “tele” into their practice.  In the past, this was strictly the telephone, but now clients are communicating with veterinarians via Facebook, SMS, WhatsApp, email, etc.”  

How  can   we   use   telemedicine with   our   clients?

“Almost all veterinarians practice telemedicine already.  Clients will contact the clinic or doctor on the telephone, SMS or email with questions, and the doctor will communicate directions and/or advice remotely.  I have found the most needed “tele” communication is post diagnosis or surgery. Almost all veterinarians are televets already, but are not monetizing the process. Thankfully there is technology available now that makes the process of collecting fees for telemedicine much easier.”  

Why  did   you   become   a  televet?

“I started practice as an ambulatory equine veterinarian and got comfortable talking with clients about medical problems over the phone.  Once technology advanced and most people were communicating via text, I started looking for a way to allow my clients to text me and preserve my work/life balance.”  

What  is  the  best  part  and worst  part  of  your  job?

“The best part is helping people. We are using telemedicine to connect specialists to our clients so more people have access to the best care.  The worst part is that some problems can’t be fixed virtually.” +

The post What You Need to Know About Veterinary Tele Medicine appeared first on PetVet Magazine.

Dr. Sara tells us all about her breastfeeding journey:

What was your biggest challenge breastfeeding?

There have been so many challenges that I didn’t expect! Before we even left the hospital, my nipples were cracked and bleeding. I had mastitis three times within the first three months that required treatment with antibiotics. It has been a tough journey, but the nourishment Leah receives and the bond we share is so worth it. There is something so special about knowing that your whole body is pouring out the love for your baby that you have in your heart.

Have you experienced any bias because of breastfeeding?

I think the public is gradually becoming more accepting of breastfeeding, but there is still work that needs to be done. Breasts are so over-sexualized in our culture that many people still think of breastfeeding as something that needs to be hidden away, either under a nursing cover or in a special nursing room, like the one at church I am expected to go to every time my baby gets hungry during a church service. In many other cultures, no one looks at you twice when you use your breasts for the very purpose they were designed for—feeding babies! How great would it be if our culture could get to this point, too?

Do you have advice for those considering breastfeeding?

Read as much as you can about breastfeeding before you have the baby! I spent a lot of time learning about giving birth, but I naively thought that breastfeeding would “just come naturally,” and I was not very well informed about the problems we ended up having. Also, find a good lactation consultant! I was lucky enough to give birth at a hospital where follow–up lactation appointments were provided for free. I took full advantage of these appointments during my maternity leave, and I think they are a huge reason that I’m still successfully breastfeeding today, despite all the challenges we faced.

What surprised you most about breastfeeding?

The biggest surprise about breastfeeding for me was how much hard work it is! You have to pay constant attention to your breasts to make sure you aren’t getting any clogged ducts or mastitis. You have to pump every 3–4 hours at work when you are away from your baby, and when you have oversupply like me, sometimes you have to pump at home too! You have to keep up with storing all that expressed milk properly. We even had to buy a deep freezer because it was taking up all the space in our regular freezer. Some people want to breastfeed because they think it will be easier than formula, and in some ways, it is. But there is lots of hard work involved in feeding a baby no matter what method you choose.

What do you want others in a work environment to know about breastfeeding moms?

I encourage them to educate themselves about breastfeeding. If we miss one pumping session, our breasts can fill with milk and become extremely painful. If we regularly miss pumping breaks, we cannot maintain a good milk supply for our babies. We need our coworkers to be considerate, respectful and supportive of our pumping time. +

The post Dr. Sara Pilgrim’s Breastfeeding Journey as a Busy Veterinary Professional appeared first on PetVet Magazine.

Like most of us, Simpson grew up with an innate desire to help animals. She always planned on attending veterinary school. However, during her senior year at Rutgers University, this New Jersey native had a major change in plans.

“I was academically exhausted,” she explains, “I did not want to continue being a student for four more years.”

Simpson applied for a pharmacovigilance position at a Fortune 500 company and started immediately after graduation.

“My new plan was to begin a career in the animal health industry,” says Simpson.

Simpson worked as a Drug Safety Specialist where she reported cases of adverse reactions and product efficacy issues.

In 2014, she joined some of her colleagues on a veterinary mission in Nicaragua. During the mission, Simpson helped vaccinate thousands of animals as an effort to stop the spread of preventable diseases like rabies.

“Visiting an under–developed country changes your outlook on life,” says Simpson of her experience, “Things that we take for granted like clean water and medical care are extremely limited in those areas.”

Although Simpson enjoyed her time in the corporate world, she couldn’t stop the lingering feeling that she may have made a big mistake.

“Volunteering in Nicaragua made me realize that if I didn’t pursue my dream of attending veterinary school, I would likely spend the rest of my life feeling incomplete,” says Simpson.

Soon after, Simpson began the grueling process of applying to veterinary colleges. Much to her delight, she was accepted at her top pick, CSU. One of her best friends joined her for the road trip to Fort Collins, driving more than 2,000 miles in her red Mini–Cooper.

She entered veterinary school with a plan to specialize in equine medicine, but later decided to pursue other interests.

“In my junior year I realized that critical care was my passion,” says Simpson, “I enjoy the fast–paced, adrenaline rush of emergency medicine.”

Simpson also says that following renowned criticalists Dr. Justine Lee and Dr. Garret Pachtinger of VETgirl has further influenced her decision.

“The transparency of Dr. Lee’s and Pachtinger’s lives on social media has given me a front row seat view of emergency medicine,” says Simpson, “The good days and the bad days…and the really bad days.”

While Simpson is considering emergency medicine internships at this time, she does offer advice for those looking to hire new grads, “My advice to attract millennial vets would be to offer an inclusive culture that embraces work/life balance and provides mentorship support.”

You can follow the future “Dr.” Merrill Simpson at https://www.linkedin.com/in/merrillmsimpson/. You can also listen to her new podcast show, Vet Candy on PetLife Radio: https://www.petliferadio.com/vetcandy.html +

The post Merrill Simpson’s Brave New World appeared first on PetVet Magazine.