Leeches, Lakes and Leadership: Dr. Jen Quammen’s Story

Leeches, Lakes and Leadership:
Dr. Jen Quammen’s Story

 

This is strange and awkward. Does anyone find that talking about themselves is fun or something they look forward to? I certainly don’t. And despite that discomfort, I’m leaning in. And I’m inviting you to join me.

 

I have been part of the veterinary profession since the 90s and like many in the profession my love for animals started well before then. My early years included multiple moves throughout the US, having lived in Kentucky, Florida or California throughout much of my childhood and frequently spending summers with Grandpa Q in Minnesota. Summer time meant fishing and spending time on Lake Bemidji. Despite not being a natural born angler, I did enjoy spending time outdoors looking for shoreline fish and insects and listening to the eerie call of loons. My family will tell tales of me collecting buckets of leeches to keep as pets and show off to the rest of the family; my mom apparently was not impressed by this collection and made me return them to the lake.

 

My path toward a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree was less than direct. Initially I worked as a credentialed veterinary technician. During those years, I had the opportunity to work in small animal general practice, mixed animal general practice, and small animal specialty practice (surgery and emergency). I really enjoyed work as a technician and often found myself predicting what the doctors would choose as medical, diagnostic or surgical therapy for any specific patient. At that time I did not know nearly as much as I do now, but I do specifically remember thinking “I can be a veterinarian; I know and understand the job of clinical practice and think I’d be good at that” (and my ego added “maybe even be as good or better than the doctors I’ve worked with”). That was the spark that drove me to go and complete an undergraduate degree, and as a classic underachieving (😉wink, wink) pre-veterinary student I finished by earning 2 Bachelor’s degrees, one B.S. in Biological Sciences and another B.S. in Mathematics (2004). I always found mathematics to be clear, logical, and learnable. If you do the (home)work, learn from mistakes, and practice, you get better at the skill of math. Little did I realize then that those principles from mathematics training would be the framework for the rest of my formal education and many of the approaches I take to life even now.

 

During my undergraduate time I was involved in research in both of my primary areas of study; I worked in the Mathematics Department as a statistical consultant for graduate and undergraduate students working on their own projects/theses and had my own project using geospatial modeling to predict rabies disease spread in racoons in the northeast US. I also did field and laboratory research through the Biological Sciences Department, focusing on the digestive physiology of several tadpole species. I learned skills including bomb calorimetry, digestive enzyme assays, and identification of many freshwater microscopic insects and phytoplankton. I gained experience in scientific grant and abstract writing, as well as oral and poster presentations of my work. Domestic and international travel to present this research and learn skills from other laboratories and researchers was also something I was privileged to do. As my time in undergrad was coming to an end, I was torn between pursuing veterinary medicine or an advanced degree in ecology or organismal biology. I initially started in a graduate program in organismal biology but found myself constantly pulled back into veterinary medicine. I won’t drone on about the details, but I ended up going to veterinary school and graduating with my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University CVM (2011) and simultaneously completing a Masters in Public Health (2010). I was fortunate enough to be selected by Ohio State to attend the Veterinary Leadership Experience in 2011 (immediately before commencement) with the intention to learn how to better lead myself and others (as well as many other skills).

 

My first job as a veterinarian was at a practice where I had worked for several years prior to and during veterinary school as a credentialed veterinary technician. Those of you who have gone back to the same practice you “grew up in” understand the interesting social and professional conundrums that can create. Reintroducing myself to the clients and staff as Doctor Jennifer Quammen felt strange at first; I needed to learn how to focus my attention on the skills and responsibilities of a veterinarian, not falling back into my role as a technician. I am really happy and proud to say this practice taught me many things and helped to solidify my confidence in surgical cases and time management skills in a high paced environment. During my time at this practice I served as the Medical Director and Social Media Manager and continued to develop my skills as a clinician, an individual practice leader and as a leader for this profession. My first volunteer roles with the Kentucky VMA and with the AVMA were during my time at this practice; I developed and opened a small business focused on wellbeing in veterinary medicine while I was there; and I eventually chose to leave this practice. In 2014 I left. And it was hard. And I’m glad I left, not because of anything about the practice itself, but for me. I needed to get out of that safe, cozy and predictable nest, and find my next challenge.

 

Transitioning from an associate veterinarian to relief veterinarian was initially frightening and exhilarating. Yes, there is freedom of choice and independence, but there is also vast open time  and responsibilities to figure out how to manage. I work in a niche place as a relief veterinarian; I focus predominantly on surgery and dentistry and am frequently booked out for at least 6 months. I enjoy practice and I have other interests including veterinary team wellbeing and digital transformation and use of technology. I have found my time volunteering with the Kentucky VMA and American VMA (AVMA) rewarding and a place of connection and collaboration with others I may never have crossed paths with outside of organized medicine. You will often find me sitting down at a table or couch during a conference to talk with someone new, especially if that individual seems to be alone or looking unsure or uncomfortable. My natural tendency is to meet and connect with people and when I spot someone sitting alone I will walk right up and introduce myself and be eager to learn more about them and their journey. I’d love to know more about you and your path in this profession too, was it as windy as mine? Or were you the person who had it all calculated and figured out from the get go?