Expanding Girl’s Horizons in Science and Engineering Month

Dr. Sara Blasdell – Associate Veterinarian, Devonshire Animal Clinic

Education:  Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine 2014
Purdue University BA/BS 2010
Occupation:  Associate Veterinarian/Small Animal
Years in Occupation:  2 years

When did you know that you wanted to study Veterinary Medicine?
I always wanted to study a medical field.  I was interested in marine life, equine, farm animal and ended up in small animal.

What made you decide to go the career path that you chose in Veterinary Medicine?
I was lucky to meet my boss while in school and he talked me into trying something unexpected.

Was there any teacher, mentor, professor that influenced you along the way?
My boss is a great mentor and has helped me in my early career.  I had a few high quality professors in school that provided positive reinforcement.

What was your favorite science class and why?
I like biology and Zoology.  I liked learning about the animals and how they’re different and ways we can help them.

What would you recommend to young girls interested in Veterinary Medicine?
Dedicate your time to the field that most interests you and don’t give up!

Dr. Maria Cooper / Director of Bio-Defense, Food Protection and High Consequence Disease Preparedness

Education:  Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine 2011
Occupation:  Director of Bio-Defense, Food Protection, High Consequence Disease Preparedness
Years in Occupation:  5 years

When did you know that you wanted to study Veterinary Medicine?
As a little kid I thought about all kinds of animal related careers including being a zoo keeper and a dog walker.  It wasn’t until high school when I worked in a mixed animal clinic that I realized Veterinary Medicine was for me.

What made you decide to go the career path that you chose in Veterinary Medicine?
One can do so many things with a DVM degree, and when I entered veterinary school, I had no idea I would end up in public health and regulatory medicine.  Despite a great love for large and small animal internal medicine, I ultimately realized my passion for serving a wider audience of constituents, protecting the animal and agriculture industries in the state of Indiana and nationwide and influencing policy as it relates to preventing disease outbreaks and food security threats.

Was there any teacher, mentor, professor that influenced you along the way?
Absolutely, so many!  High school teachers that introduced me to the profession, a private practicing veterinarian that showed me I loved it, and professors in veterinary school that shared with me so many different facets of veterinary medicine including academia, research, and veterinary homeland security.  Without each of these mentors, it’s hard to say what career path I would have taken.

What was your favorite science class and why?
General and Organic Chemistry class were my favorite – the rules of chemistry are finite and I loved taking what I learned and solving a puzzle.

What would you recommend to young girls interested in Veterinary Medicine?
Study hard, keep an open mind, and explore all options in this great profession!

Dr. Julie Davis – Mobile Large Animal Veterinarian

Education:  Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine 2005
Indiana University MBA 1993, Indiana University BS 1990
Occupation:  Mobile Large Animal Veterinarian and Practice Owner
Years in Occupation:  11 years

When did you know that you wanted to study Veterinary Medicine?
From 6 years to 16 years old and then 27 years to now.

What made you decide to go the career path that you chose in Veterinary Medicine?
I wanted to relocate to Randolph County Indiana.

Was there any teacher, mentor, professor that influenced you along the way?
Bruce Sickels DVM and John Overlease DVM

What was your favorite science class and why?
Anything chemistry – combines science and math and explains how the world works!

What would you recommend to young girls interested in Veterinary Medicine?
If you have a love of math and science to solve problems…Veterinary Medicine is for you.

Dr. Marybeth Feutz – Online Communications Manager Princeton Veterinary Hospital

Education:  Masters and PHD Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine, Residency  at Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary School at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute undergraduate.
Occupation:  Online Communications Manager at Princeton Veterinary Hospital, Owner and Content Creator at AlarmClockWars.com and AgriCultured.org
Years in Occupation:  6 years

When did you know that you wanted to study Veterinary Medicine?
Like many girls, I was horse crazy growing up.  As long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a veterinarian.  I went through school sure that I would be an equine surgeon, but it turns out I didn’t have much of a talent for surgery.  Luckily, I did have a talent for medicine!  I went on to become a Board Certified Large Animal Internal Medicine Specialist.

What made you decide to go the career path that you chose in Veterinary Medicine?
I certainly didn’t end up where I thought I would!  I met John Feutz at Purdue in 2004.  He convinced me to stay in Indiana – and to marry him.  John and his dad own a mixed animal practice in Princeton, Indiana.  Because of  geographical limitations, I don’t have much of a chance to use my Specialty Certificate.  Instead, I use my medical knowledge and communications training to manage the website, write weekly articles for our blog, and handle the social media and email communications for our family’s practice.

I felt like I needed to do something else, in addition to managing the online presence for Princeton Veterinary Hospital.  In 2010, I started blogging.  I now run two blogs, AlarmClockWars.com and AgriCultured.org.  I share recipes, stories about our farm, how we (and other farmers) take care of our animals, how food is raised,, and kitchen tips.

Was there any teacher, mentor, professor that influenced you along the way?
I was highly influenced by Dr. Andy Hoffman at Tufts and Dr. Laurent Couteil at Purdue.  As I began my blogging career, I have been honored to have Cris Goode (of RecipesThatCrock.com) as my mentor, and been able to attend many workshops sponsored by Indiana’s Family of Farmers.

What was your favorite science class and why?
Biology and Anatomy.  I loved learning how things worked, and how they all fit together.

What would you recommend to young girls interested in Veterinary Medicine?
Spend time with veterinarians who are in areas of practice you might not have considered before.  Find a small animal  veterinarian and a large animal veterinarian to talk with.  Talk to veterinarians who work in research and public health.  Don’t limit yourself on your practice area.  There are so many more options available as a career in Veterinary Medicine than the traditional private practice.

Dr. Tracey Gillespie / Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist

Education:  Delaware Valley College BS 1994, Purdue University DVM 1997,
Occupation:  Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist
Years in Occupation:  18 years

When did you know that you wanted to study Veterinary Medicine?
I knew as a young child from 7 to 8 years that I wanted to work with animals.  Then I worked with a vet in high school and I was hooked.

What made you decide to go the career path that you chose in Veterinary Medicine?
After my internship, I knew I wanted to specialize because I felt like every day was different and exciting.

Was there any teacher, mentor, professor that influenced you along the way?
So many along the way.

What was your favorite science class and why?
Biology – learning how things work and why.

What would you recommend to young girls interested in Veterinary Medicine?
Study hard and learn as much as you can about veterinary medicine.

Dr. Kristi Graham / Small Animal Internal Medicine Speicalist

Education:  BS, MS, DVM, DACVIM, Purdue University DVM 1995, Atlantic Veterinary College MS 1999
Occupation:  Veterinarian – Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist
Years in Occupation:  21 years

When did you know that you wanted to study Veterinary Medicine?
I wanted to be a veterinarian from 6th grade on!

What made you decide to go the career path that you chose in Veterinary Medicine?
I discovered in Vet School and during my internships how much I enjoyed medical cases and how I was not very good in surgery.  I’ve never regretted my decision to specialize even though it was a lot more work to get there.

Was there any teacher, mentor, professor that influenced you along the way?
Oh so many!  My middle school teacher Joe Huber was a great inspiration to me.  All along the way my veterinarian instructors, especially in my practical medicine classes and clinic rotations as well as during my residency were amazing mentors.

What was your favorite science class and why?
I loved biology in high school – it was so cool to learn how things work in animals/people.  Once in veterinary school, I loved endocrinology studying hormonal diseases like diabetes.

What would you recommend to young girls interested in Veterinary Medicine?
Be open to all sorts of experiences – focus on all your classes – English & Math are as important as Science!

Dr. Tricia Keffer / Mixed Animal Veterinarian

Education:  Purdue University BS 2008, MS 2010, DVM 2014
Occupation:  Mixed Animal Veterinarian
Years in Occupation:  2 years

When did you know that you wanted to study Veterinary Medicine?
I wanted to be an animal doctor since I was 4.  It wasn’t until 3rd grade when my own dogs was sick at the vet, that I started to plan my study of veterinary medicine.

What made you decide to go the career path that you chose in Veterinary Medicine?
The love of understanding how animals that I love work& if something bad happens (disease, injury) that I can help the animal and the people that are attached to those animals.

Was there any teacher, mentor, professor that influenced you along the way?
Yes, 2 people.  My 6th grade English teacher, Mrs. Oxley.  She also trained dogs with me.  My Grandfather, Bob Tandy, he was also the Superintendent. He showed me I could do ANYTHING and taught me how to treat people.

What was your favorite science class and why?
Biology  – it was about life and organisms around me and how it all works.

What would you recommend to young girls interested in Veterinary Medicine?
Get involved and learn as much as you can about the profession.  Boiler Vet Camp, 4H, FFA, other local vets…