Finding Balance in Continuous Growth

In honor of Women’s History Month, we asked some of our highly qualified faculty to share their experiences in veterinary medicine. Dr. Mary Kay Klein, DVM, MS, DACVIM, DACVR, is a Professor of Practice at the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine and specializes in veterinary oncology. In addition to her teaching work, she owns a veterinary practice and is the author of numerous articles.  Dr. Klein’s extensive experience in veterinary medicine and business management have made her an excellent role model for veterinary students. Read her insights into her profession below.  

What do you love about being in veterinary medicine?  
 MK: My favorite thing about being in veterinary medicine is that there is always something to learn. It is a field in which continuous growth and development is necessary. I enjoy contributing to the field, too. It has been very gratifying to contribute to science by way of my publications and participation in clinical trials, and now, working at the University. I love mentoring the young veterinarians who will need to do all of these things in the future. 

Who inspired you to pursue this career path?  

 MK: My father was a physician, and my mother was a nurse. I didn’t want to do exactly what they did, but I knew I was interested in medicine. Another influence was Steve Withrow, my major professor for residency. He had an incredible vision of veterinary medicine being able to improve quality of life for both people and animals. That drive to contribute came from Steve; he was a bright, compassionate and driven person who made a difference in many lives. Henry Mencken taught limb-sparing techniques in animals and seeing these techniques making a difference in the veterinary medical field made a huge difference to me. 

What was the most important career advice you received?  

 MK: You can’t know everything. You will have to stop and look things up, you will forget things, you will have to go back to the drawing board sometimes because it may be that nobody knows the answer or there may not be a good answer. It was a relief to hear that I can’t know everything. Then the pressure is off you to know everything, and the opportunity is there to learn. Finally, know when to say no. It can be really difficult for most women to figure out when to say no, but your energy and resources are not unlimited. Understanding that I could not do everything was important because it allowed me to devote the necessary energy to the things I chose to say yes to.