UTCVM alum (’01) protects Tennessee animals as the state veterinarian and assistant commissioner for animal health
Where are you from and when did you graduate from the UT College of Veterinary Medicine?
I grew up on the plateau in Jamestown, TN. I graduated in 2001.
What is your current job, and can you describe some of your responsibilities?
I am the state veterinarian and assistant commissioner for animal health in Tennessee. I’m responsible for protecting and monitoring animal health throughout the state. My primary focus is preventing the spread of foreign animal diseases such as a highly pathogenic avian influenza, foot and mouth disease, and African swine fever in the state because of the potential negative impacts on the economy and the food supply. Avian influenza has been a priority since February 2022. With multiple detections in Tennessee in 2022, many nations disallowed imports from Tennessee. Getting people back into commerce is a big deal. Part of our emergency response preparedness is to try to keep agriculture moving to protect the food supply, jobs, and animals.
How did you decide to become a veterinarian and why did you choose to attend UTCVM?
I was drawn to dogs and horses. Growing up on a small farm in a community without a veterinarian, I witnessed my father pulling calves and trying to help a mare foal. It’s a helpless feeling knowing there’s no immediate access to veterinary care. I was six or seven years old when I decided to be a veterinarian. (My 3rd grade teacher still remembers this as my career goal in 1983.) So, I pursued my doctor of veterinary medicine degree at the University of Tennessee.
What do you enjoy most about the work you do?
Seeing the big picture is what I consider the best aspect of my job. I enjoy helping to protect animal agriculture from disease and helping animals through livestock welfare. I geek out about foreign animal diseases—I don’t want any of them in the state—but I love learning about them! TDA [Tennessee Department of Agriculture] does a great job of surveillance and prevention in Tennessee.
I also really enjoy the service aspect; many people don’t see that in a regulatory agency, but I do feel strongly this job is a service position. I want to serve the people of Tennessee and the state’s livestock producers. As a producer myself, I want to see a thriving animal population and industry.
How did your time at the UT College of Veterinary Medicine impact your life and your career?
I am biased, but think I graduated with the best group of classmates ever. The friendships that I developed are the very best thing that I gained. I may only see people every couple of years, but it seems we pick up right where we left off when we visit. There is no way to spend that much time with other people through good and bad and not develop a bond. No one outside our class will ever know what that experience was like. I also learned the value of collaboration. While I did my share of studying alone, I spent many, many hours with classmates, sharing notes, ideas, trying to understand pathology of disease, developing treatment plans. Learning from another person’s perspective is invaluable.
How did your career prepare you to take on your current role?
I believe my experiences as a veterinarian prepared me to take on this important role. I’ve worked in large animal, mixed animal, and small animal practices. I also volunteered with the Maun Animal Welfare Society in Botswana, an agency that works to protect the country’s wildlife through domestic animal care. I wanted to get back to my animal agriculture background and got the chance in 2016 when I was named a staff veterinarian with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, where I oversaw and helped develop the livestock welfare program. The dedicated field staff and Extension specialists are responsible for the program’s continued success.
The experience and growth during my career in private practice prepared me to be a communicator and problem solver. I think many veterinarians can find a way when it seems there is not path forward. Animals and people don’t always read the textbook and regulatory disease situations pose some unique challenges. Using my veterinary skills to practice in a non-traditional way has been very rewarding.
What is your proudest professional (or personal – or both!) accomplishment?
Personally, my child and husband are the biggest gifts in my life. I am not sure I can take credit for them, but I have certainly been blessed. Professionally, highlights of my career are being named as State Veterinarian and being able to train as a Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician. I truly enjoy getting to work with and serving the people of Tennessee in this role.
What do you like to do outside of work and/or what is a fun fact about yourself?
I love to read, listen to True Crime podcasts, garden and spend time with my family on our farm where we have cows and dogs.
