BOARD SPOTLIGHT: DR. DEBRA SHOULDERS (CONT.)
Any advice to recent graduates who aren’t that con- fident yet? “YOU GOT THIS!!!!!!!” You were trained like the rest of us and you even have a “phone/com- puter.” JUST TRY. You will always remember what not to do when you are faced with a similar problem. It will get more comfortable with time because you can’t know everything. Find a mentor that will be a calm voice of reason for you.
Why should more people attend the KVMA con- ferences? More people should attend the Mid-Amer- ica conference because we offer exceptional speakers at a reasonable cost. It is always a good time to meet old friends and make new friends. You can also learn a lot from the combined knowledge in the meeting rooms as well as over a cocktail during the night time events.
What made you want to become a veterinarian? My Grandfather told me I needed to marry a vet so I could work when I wanted. He said there were only two women in his veterinary class and they were go- ing to be professors. Tat made me more determined to become a large animal veterinarian. My Grandfa- ther passed away when I was a senior at Auburn. Te last conversation I had with him was when I got my acceptance letter. I told him when I graduated I was going to be a large animal vet like him and he shook his head and laughed. He had Alzheimers so I’m not exactly sure he understood, but the look he gave me when he laughed told me he was lucid and knew I was obstinate enough to do it. Te man I married is not a vet (he doesn’t really like animals) but I work for myself and I can work when I want.
What did you do to prepare to be a veterinarian? I grew up on a cow/calf farm and I wasn’t very me- chanical but I could keep stuff alive. My brother and I bought 30 registered Charolais heifers when I was 12-years-old, so I understood profit, loss and inter- est. I got a job in a mixed animal practice when I was a senior in high school and worked there until I went to Auburn. I was able to work with five incredible veterinarians helping with herd work, ambulatory calls, swine medicine/surgery, embryo transfer, and small animal medicine and surgery.
What milestones in your veterinary career are you most proud of? Paying off my student loan. When I didn’t have to do emergency calls. Becoming KVMA president.
Tell us about your family, do you have any pets at home? I have been married to Mark for 28 years and have 3 children -Ellie a senior at Auburn vet school, Carly a speech pathologist, EJ radiology tech school. I have gained one wonderful son-n- law, Tyler. I live on the farm where I grew up and I have chickens, 2 quarter horses, a hateful min- iature brahman cow named Obamoo (I sold Hil- lary). I have one dog and two cats but I inherited 2 dogs and 2 cats from my children.
Favorite vacation place? Rockies, Grand Tetons A good book that you have read lately? Te Sacred Cow, Diana Rodgers A movie/TV you could watch repeatedly? Lonesome Dove and Band of Brothers A quote you try to live by? Life is too short to have a mean dog or a bad horse. Tere are plenty of good ones to pick from. By me A fact about yourself that may surprise people. When I was 18, we were working a herd of Cha- rolais/Limousin-cross cattle for an old codger.
It
was always stressful because the working facilities were terrible and the cattle were crazy. When we finished and were packing up, the old codger asked me why I wasn’t home having babies and canning beans. I was so pissed I couldn’t even talk.
It is
funny now and now I have three kids and love to garden and can beans, tomatoes, salsa, ketchup, and jelly.
A celebrity or person you admire? Mike Rowe and Marcus Luttrell. If I were not a veterinarian, I would be... I would be a reproductive physiology professor Do you have an all-time favorite animal or pet? Favorite first child, Shelby my Corgi.
6 KVMA News
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