“The Veterinary Scene Needs Some Fresh Voices” – Dr. Jill Lopez on Modern Education

Dr. Jill Lopez entered Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine with a clear plan: return to West Virginia, work as an associate veterinarian, and eventually take over the clinic — maybe even buy another practice down the road. 

Little did she know that a student internship at an animal health company would reshape her career path, opening up a myriad of other possibilities in veterinary medicine. In the years to come, Jill would be a small animal veterinarian, a researcher, a pharmaceutical marketer, and more — she eagerly explored every opportunity the field had to offer. Dr. Lopez expanded her horizons even further by earning an MBA from Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business, proving she could wrangle both animals and financial statements with equal finesse.

However, a career in veterinary medicine might have remained just a childhood dream for Jill. The intense competition and a culture of perfectionism at veterinary school led her to depression and mental health struggles in her first year, making her question whether she could continue.

This challenging experience inspired Dr. Lopez to launch Vet Candy, a resource to support early-career veterinarians and make learning fun. Today, Vet Candy has grown into a veterinary lifestyle platform, offering veterinary education, the latest clinical updates, and expert advice — and putting the next generation of veterinary professionals in the spotlight.

We sat down with Dr. Lopez to learn about her diverse career path, the impact of a top-tier MBA, and why she believes new voices are vital for the mental health of the young generation of veterinary professionals. We are sharing the conversation in her own words.

“An MBA degree would give me an edge in the male-dominated business world”

Try out as many jobs as you can early in your career. If one doesn’t work out, you can always move on — or you might find you really enjoy it. Veterinary school is a golden opportunity to explore the many possibilities in the veterinary world.

I’ve always had a passion for marketing, so right after veterinary school I jumped into an MBA program. I felt that this degree would give me an edge in the competitive, male-dominated business world.

Even if you’re an associate vet planning to stay in that role for your entire career, having a bit of business knowledge is very important. Everyone should learn the basics, like understanding your 401(k), how to manage pre-tax and post-tax money, and how to invest. The more you know about finance, the easier it will be. Learning about it in my twenties changed my life.

You don’t necessarily need extensive business experience to start an MBA program. These programs often cater to professionals from diverse backgrounds and provide foundational business knowledge.

“You’ll make mistakes regardless of whether you have an MBA”

If MBAs weren’t so expensive, I’d recommend it to everyone because it really provides a solid understanding of business. If you are looking to build a career in the pharmaceutical industry or move into corporate roles and advance beyond just being a practitioner, having an MBA can really legitimize you.

It’s also valuable for those who want to drive innovation and change within the profession. I’m encouraging one of my mentees to pursue an MBA right now. She graduated in 2022 and is opening her own multi-doctor practice in a few years. I think that an MBA would help her become a credentialed thought leader in practice management.  

Getting an MBA might be overkill if you’re just running your own practice. It could be more useful if you plan to open multiple locations. Note that many of the people behind big successful practices didn’t have an MBA.

As an owner, you’ll learn a lot on your own. You’ll make mistakes regardless of whether you have an MBA. However, an MBA can push you to dive deep into accounting processes, marketing principles, and effective hiring and delegation techniques.

“Whatever you paid for your MBA, multiply it by a thousand”

Balancing an MBA program with a veterinary career is challenging but possible. You need good time management and support from colleagues and family. While I was completing my MBA I had three children; I graduated in 2016 pregnant with twins. I couldn’t have done it without the support from my husband. 

If you’re considering an MBA, choose a big, reputable school like Wharton, Harvard, MIT, or Duke. They are extremely hard to get into but a top-tier program opens doors that are otherwise inaccessible. The networking and being surrounded by brilliant, business-minded individuals provide incredible opportunities.

The connections you make and the deals that happen with your MBA cohort can be worth a thousand times what you paid for the degree. It’s always great to attend an in-person MBA program rather than doing it online. Being on campus allows you to truly connect with people and build relationships that can last a lifetime.

Mini-MBA programs can be a good option for veterinarians looking to gain business knowledge quickly without committing to a full MBA program. But in the business world they don’t really make a difference. Just like certificate courses, they aren’t an MBA and without an MBA, you won’t be seen as a business expert. 

“I wanted to create a resource that would have helped a younger me”

Studies show that a shockingly high percentage of veterinary students struggle with depression. Looking back, I realize that I was in that group. I came close to dropping out after my first year.

Perfectionism is deeply ingrained in veterinarians, but striving for constant perfection is mentally draining. When you’re ashamed to ask for help or admit you don’t know something, you end up suffering in silence.

I can’t change my past experiences in vet school when I really needed support. But I can offer that support now. That’s why I created Vet Candy — imagining what would have helped me in those early days and trying to provide that for others. I want to shine a light on topics that might be too embarrassing to discuss otherwise.

We discuss problems like alcoholism, depression, anxiety, and self-harm. Our goal is to normalize these conversations, show people they’re not alone, and let them know that help is available.

“Young professionals need to shine more”

Sadly, a significant number of veterinarians regret their career choice. They wouldn’t encourage their children to follow in their footsteps. I’m here to bring pride back to the veterinary community and highlight the amazing aspects of our profession.  

With Vet Candy, I’m introducing some fresh voices to the media scene. There are so many talented young professionals with incredible stories who haven’t had their chance to shine. We need a new generation of young voices stepping up to talk about business in veterinary medicine.