We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amanda Zoerner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Amanda, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Even as a little girl, I knew I wanted to be an “animal doctor”. At the time, I didn’t really know what that looked like apart from giving cats and dogs TLC. While tender loving care is a fundamental part of my day, that little girl could never have dreamed of what my life turned out to be.
Fast forwarding many years, I’ve gone through Veterinary School in the Caribbean and all the challenges that come with that. I’m about to graduate but the pain in my neck and shoulder is at the worst it’s ever been. None of the specialists are able to figure it out, until the Veterinary Orthopedic Surgeon hears me talking about it. He’s seen it before and knows where I need to go to have it taken care of. I have an intense surgery and hope is restored…until the pain comes back worse than before. Three years into my dream job, I have another surgery which then makes it impossible for me to stay at my dream job. I bounce around to a couple of different practices over the next few years including private and corporate owned. Nothing feels like a good fit.
Then Covid hit. The world changed overnight. I missed interacting with Pet owners and building a relationship of trust. So, I started my own practice, a mobile clinic that could do at home euthanasias as well as exams, vaccines, bloodwork, the works. When I found an overwhelming need for stray cat Spay and Neuter, I started doing them low cost. When I found a shelter with a surgery suite but not Veterinarian to do their general surgeries, I cleared a day a week to help them out. It didn’t matter that they were over an hour away. They needed help and I was able to provide.
I’ve now been practicing 10 years. I have worked for private and corporate owned. I am currently a woman owned small business in a rural town of Northern Michigan. I have overcome major health issues that came close to costing me my career twice. I have the pleasure to work with an End of Life Doula in my practice. The little girl who thought TLC was as good as magic could have never dreamed of all this.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I started Pet Well Mobile Vet, a woman owned mobile veterinary service in Northern Michigan in 2021. I’m happy to bring pet wellness, such as exams, vaccines, bloodwork and euthanasia right to the home.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Through grade school, I was always a top student. The concepts came easily to me so I didn’t really develop great studying habits. This was a rude awakening when I was accepted into Vet School. I had to learn how to learn. I develop a systematic way to learn and remember muscles and bones, then medications and their mechanism of action. Developing one’s own best learning style while the learning is easy would be preferable to the route I took.
Taking breaks for self care are essential. They don’t have to be long but they do need to be meaningful.
Take the other elective. It’s always a great idea to diversify. I’ve met so many people who are sure of their plan only to have stumbling blocks of life change things. You never know what tomorrow will bring.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
My friends have been my rock through everything life throws at me with my health, relationships, starting my business, celebrations and losses. I only hope I’m there for each of them as much or more than they were for me. Many of my clients have become friends. Many of my friends have become family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.petwellmobilevet.com
Image Credits
Amanda Zoerner
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
