Pulse - July 2022 - 11

Marissa Hake, DVM
Calf vet
L
vet.
" When I started in social
media, that was my handle, " Dr.
Hake explained.
She said she decided to go to veterinary
school when she was in elementary school, but unlike
many, perhaps most, future veterinarians, she wasn't interested
so much in cats and dogs. At first she thought she'd
pursue equine sports medicine.
But she was won over in her undergrad animal science
classes by production animal courses, and the subject became
her passion. She chose cattle partly because of where she is
located in the country - the Midwest. Today, seven years out
of vet school, she is director of animal welfare on the vet side
of Fairlife. Her husband is a farmer, and they breed British
arge animal veterinarian,
production animal veterinarian?
Both are accurate, but
Dr. Marissa Hake prefers calf
whites, a beef breed, at their northwest Ohio farm. They also
raise corn, soybeans, alfalfa and wheat.
In an interview with Savannahsevens.com, Dr. Hake said
" Cows are pretty amazing upcyclers. They can take materials
that are inedible to humans and turn it into high quality protein/milk
for humans. Besides their underestimated sustainability
story, they are really fun to work with - most days.
" Farmers are blessed to have a connection to the land, and
to cattle, that is lost on most people, " she said. " We need to
understand the circle of life. Cattle were domesticated because
of mutual benefit. They benefit from us, we from them. As a
farmer, I am obligated to take care of them. "
Dr. Hake said the best thing about her job is that she loves
working with farmers and producers. " I like being on the
farm, " she said. " I like that I'm making a difference in the
lives of animals in the supply chain. It excites me. I'm really
involved in farm sustainability, and with dairy cows and dairy. "
The worst thing about her job? " The company meetings, "
she said with a laugh.
Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT
Veterinary toxicologist
W
do more.
She started an anesthesia residency, then life intervened.
" I met my husband, and we got married and started a family, "
she said. " My husband is a large animal veterinarian, and
when we moved to rural Nebraska for his practice, I became a
largely stay at home mom. "
She did some emergency and relief work for a friend's
practice, but the commute made for 14-hour days, and that
wasn't the life she wanted. She started looking for a job she
could do remotely.
" I thought pharmacovigilance work could be a possibility
and contacted a pharmaceutical rep, who said those
jobs aren't in-house, that they contract with a company that
provides those services. So I contacted them. At the time,
they were looking only for parttime help on the pet poison
helpline side, and they required employees to work
in the
office. Not remotely.
" Finally, their desperation for help and my persistence to
be hired strictly remote paid off. " She has worked for the Pet
Poison Helpline and SafetyCall International for nine years.
PULSE
JULY 2022
11
hen Dr. Schmid graduated
from veterinary
school, she went to work for
the AAHA-accredited clinic
she had worked for throughout
high school, in every capacity
except grooming. But she wanted to
She said the job means she can continue to practice medicine
without the hands-on practice, and still use the mental
skills gained in vet practice.
She started part time, gradually moved to full time and also
moved up throughout the company. Today she is manager of
veterinary medicine and professional services for the Pet Poison
Helpline and SafetyCall International.
SafetyCall requires five weeks' training before a veterinarian
even takes a telephone call. " It's specific, intense toxicology training,
with continued training every month. " She gained general
toxicology certification through the American Board of Toxicology,
which is not limited to veterinarians; human physicians train,
too. She is also certified by the American Board of Veterinary
Toxicology, for veterinarians only. Only a couple of dozen people
are ABVT certified.
" I never thought I'd be where I am today professionally, "
Dr. Schmid said. " I thought toxicologists worked in the university
in a lab. That's diagnostic toxicology. Clinical toxicology
is working with animals exposed to toxins. Never knew I
could be eligible. I really enjoy it a lot.
" And I don't miss hands-on veterinary practice, " she added.
" When I visit my husband's mixed-animal practice, I don't get
the itch.
" The rose-colored glasses of the veterinary student come
off quickly once you get into the world, " Dr. Schmid said.
http://www.Savannahsevens.com
Pulse - July 2022

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