181. Kath Mertens, Next Chapter: Animal Behavior

Kath Mertens (Kath Ulman) reflects on her life stage, mentioning her 20-year-old son heading to college, her divorce, and her part-time work. She describes feeling on the cusp of a new life phase, similar to when she graduated from Harvard.

Becoming a Veterinarian

Kath shares her initial career aspirations of becoming a veterinarian and the challenges she faced due to the lack of a pre-vet focus at Harvard. Kath recounts her first post-Harvard job in Jackson, Wyoming, where she worked as a ski bum and later as a wrangler on a dude ranch. She rediscovered her passion for veterinary medicine while working on a dude ranch and decided to apply to veterinary school. Kath attended Purdue University for veterinary school, focusing on equine medicine. She discusses the cultural and philosophical split between large animal and small animal veterinary medicine.

Interning at an Equine-only Practice

Kath describes her first job in an equine-only practice in Portland, Oregon, where she had interned as a veterinary student. She faced challenges with her boss, who was not interested in mentoring her, leading to a difficult first year. Kath left the job and worked as a small animal vet for a year and a half, where she enjoyed surgery and surprised herself by enjoying the work. She faced further challenges with her second job due to her outspoken nature and eventually left under less than ideal terms.

Running a Practice and Economic Decisions 

Kath decided to open her own practice, despite her initial disinterest in business, due to the lack of equine job opportunities. She ran her own practice for about 22 years, which was profitable but not financially rewarding. Kath scaled back her practice four years ago to work part-time as a small animal vet for Banfield Pet Hospital. She explains the economic reasons behind her decision, including the higher efficiency and pay in small animal medicine.

Training Non-domestic Animals

Kath developed an interest in animal behavior and positive reinforcement training, which led her to attend the International Donkey Wellness Symposium. She learned about training non-domestic animals to participate in medical procedures through positive reinforcement. Kath has been dedicating time to retraining a horse using these methods and teaching others. She discusses the economic differences between equine and small animal medicine, highlighting the higher volume and efficiency in small animal practice.

Women in the Veterinarian Field

The conversation turns to the high percentage of women in veterinary school and asks Kath about the trend. Kath speculates that women might be more willing to work for less pay and that veterinary medicine might be more accommodating for women balancing work and family. She acknowledges the gender gap in pay equity and the challenges women face in various careers. Kath reflects on the importance of women entering the veterinary workforce and the positive impact it has had.

Harvard Reflections

Kath shares her fond memories of organic chemistry and her academic crush on the professor. She recalls advice from her varsity ice hockey team's athletic trainer to the team which was to surround yourself  with people who love you, which Kath dismissed at the time but has come to realise the importance of this advice and how it has helped her overcome imposter syndrome and negative self-talk. She emphasizes the value of having supportive people in one's life and how it has positively impacted her mental health and career.

Timestamps:

02:46: Early Career and Veterinary School 

07:11: First Job as a Veterinarian 

16:29: Starting Her Own Practice 

19:47: Interest in Animal Behavior and Positive Reinforcement Training

32:10: Gender Trends in Veterinary Medicine 

35:58: Reflections on Harvard and Career Advice 

Links:

Website: https://mertensmammals.com/

Instagram: @mertensmammals

*AI transcript and show notes