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How long have you been an AAVN member?
I became an AAVN member in 2015 when I started my clinical nutrition residency at the University of Missouri.
What company or organization do you work at right now? I am celebrating my 1-year work anniversary with BSM Partners.
Area(s) of interest in animal nutrition:
My initial interest in animal nutrition was working in zoo and conservation. My veterinary nutrition connections reach very far back. Not long ago, I was going through a trunk of memories and found handwritten pages from when I was an undergraduate, where I had written down the name Martha Cline. I also remember talking on the phone with Dr. Amanda Ardente while I was in veterinary school, as I tried to understand unique career paths in this profession.
I completed a small animal clinical nutrition residency and went on to explore opportunities in industry.
What has been your biggest professional achievement? What a question! I am proud to be a part of many things, it has always been a team effort. While my residency advisor attributes the large growth of the nutrition service at Mizzou to me, it was definitely not me alone. I found nutrition-believing-allies in the internal medicine residents who helped funnel patients in our direction and it grew from there. Dr. Backus is also an amazing mentor and a patient teacher who entertained my crazy ideas. One of my ideas even turned out to be right, when we found a previously undescribed metabolite of vitamin D in cats. I hope our research sparked new ideas and possibilities for projects. While those examples are wonderful, I hope my biggest professional achievement is yet to come. I hope to support my veterinary colleagues in new ways like with my podcast, Vet Life Reimagined, and I hope to also impact the large world of animals and people who care about them.
So far in your career, what has been the best animal nutrition-related experience? My trip to Zambia to work with the Elephant Orphanage Project, where I made a special formula for the very young elephants every day. The entire two months was full of constant awe, and it showed me how much more we have to learn about animal nutrition.
Who has made the biggest impact on your career in animal nutrition?When it comes to veterinary nutrition, Dr. Bob Backus – 100%
What do you hope to see as part of the future for animal nutrition? Growth and curiosity! I hope to see more conversations and collaboration with experts of different backgrounds: veterinarians, veterinary technicians, PhDs, Master's students, food scientists, and those specialized in all species. It is when we work together that we find the most profound solutions. We need to think outside the box and get outside our comfort zones! I hope we constantly build and grow trust in one another and extend support outside the profession to animal owners. Nutrition is tied into everything with animals. We can make a huge impact in the world.
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be and why? I have struggled with this question. I’m at a point in my life and career where I have a lot of ideas and drive to help veterinary medicine in unique ways. I also need a lot of help to accomplish big dreams. I have interviewed so many professionals on Vet Life Reimagined who are doing amazing things. I don’t know the exact collaborator yet, but if you feel the same way, give me a call.
Fun/interesting fact that people probably don't know about you! I have a Great Dane named, Eva (after the Eva from Wall-E). See her photo above and check out a cute video here
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