Dr. Jana Van Stee grew up in her father's small animal practice in New Jersey, scooping kennels during snowstorms when the full time staff could not make it in, so becoming a veterinarian herself was never really in question. Two weeks after graduating, she took on a 48 hour solo ER shift with the surgery textbook open next to the table and performed her first C section that way, a trial by fire that made every job since feel a little easier by comparison. Her career has since taken her from Washington to Alaska to South Dakota, chasing her spouse's mobile work while building a full time relief practice around it. This profile first ran on Relief Rover, the relief-vet community platform that joined Hound in 2023.

In Her Own Words

Name your niche: large animal, small animal, pocket pets, or exotics? ER, GP, or shelter?

"I practice small animal medicine exclusively, with a special interest in emergency medicine. Before transitioning to relief work, most of my experience was in the emergency and critical care setting. I also dabble in small exotic mammal medicine, I've had guinea pigs in the past and enjoy working with pocket pets."
Dr. Jana Van Stee

Everyone has a story, what's yours? What inspired you to become a veterinarian?

"I suppose I'm not unique in that my interest in vet medicine began at a very young age. My father is a small animal veterinarian and was a practice owner in New Jersey. I grew up fascinated by his clinic and inspired by his willingness to treat any species that walked, flew, or slithered through the door. Veterinary medicine was really the only career I ever seriously considered. Emergency work was a bit more unexpected. My first full time job as a vet was at an ER, and I took it mainly because of the location. I got hooked on the adrenaline and intensity of emergency work, though I also enjoy the more thorough client education that general practice allows."
Dr. Jana Van Stee

Outside of the veterinary realm, what types of positions or professions have you been involved in?

"I've pretty much been all vet med."
Dr. Jana Van Stee

What roles have you had within the veterinary profession?

"As I mentioned, my father was a practice owner. I grew up working in the kennels, and later as an assistant. I have some vivid memories of scooping dog poop at the clinic during various snowstorms, whenever a full time employee couldn't make it in. After my first emergency veterinary job in Washington state, I moved to Alaska and worked at an emergency only clinic there. My spouse is very mobile, and his work took us from there to South Dakota, which is where I started my relief work."
Dr. Jana Van Stee

What states are you licensed in, or working toward licensure in?

"Currently South Dakota, Alaska, and Oregon. I'd like to add Michigan too, since I have several family members there."
Dr. Jana Van Stee

You made the switch to relief practice. Why?

"I had a few friends who worked relief and was intrigued by the scheduling flexibility they had. When my husband and I moved to South Dakota, it felt like the perfect time to take the leap into full time relief. His work is seasonal, so relief work lets me work hard most of the year, then have time for road tripping during his off season."
Dr. Jana Van Stee

Keeping it PG, what is your most memorable relief job?

"As a brand new grad, I actually did a few months of relief before starting my first full time job. I knew I'd be moving out of state within three months and figured no one would hire a new grad for that short a stretch. The area I was in was severely undersupplied with relief vets, so I filled up my schedule pretty quickly. I was maybe a little overconfident and booked a few shifts at an ER clinic in an isolated area. Two weeks after I graduated, I worked a forty eight hour emergency shift as the solo vet, with one technician to help. I did my first C section with the surgery textbook laid out right next to the table. Needless to say, I was pretty delirious by the time the weekend ended. I can't say I'd recommend that approach to new grads, but the trial by fire did make every other job feel a little easier by comparison."
Dr. Jana Van Stee

How do you feel that relief practice supports the veterinary profession as a whole?

"Relief medicine is such an asset to the profession. Many veterinarians are overworked and burned out, and having relief vets available allows better work life balance for full time veterinarians. Many practices aren't staffed well enough to cover a vacation or a maternity leave, and without relief vets, everyone suffers when one person is out."
Dr. Jana Van Stee

Aside from watching six week old kittens ricochet sideways during pouncing lessons, what are your favorite things about being a relief vet?

"I love learning new techniques or approaches from other vets. Interacting with a variety of different teams helps keep my medicine sharper and encourages me to keep learning and growing professionally. Plus, I get to meet new people and hear their stories."
Dr. Jana Van Stee

What are your least favorite things about being a relief vet? (You can't say nail trims, those are satisfying.)

"It can sometimes be frustrating not being able to follow up on all my cases, or find out how they resolved. I enjoy building relationships with clients, and relief work can make that harder. That said, if I come back to the same practice a few times, I can build lasting connections with the staff and other doctors, which is just as valuable."
Dr. Jana Van Stee

What do you look for in a practice when deciding whether to cover shifts there?

"Geographic location is a big part of my decision making. Beyond that, I'm looking for a positive team environment, a dedication to practicing quality medicine, and a real commitment to patient safety and welfare."
Dr. Jana Van Stee

Pathologically prepared or minimalist: what supplies or equipment do you bring with you on the job?

"I travel pretty light. My main supplies are food, I'll never show up to a shift without a packed lunch and a backpack full of snacks. Beyond that, my stethoscope and my phone (with my Plumb's app) are really the only requirements. I've also started bringing my own can of squeeze cheese for patients, which helps with making new fur friends."
Dr. Jana Van Stee

Have you picked up any unique practice tips while being a relief vet?

"Good vets can't be efficient without sufficient, well trained staff. I've watched talented vets struggle to keep up with half the caseload of similarly competent colleagues, simply because they aren't able or willing to delegate tasks. If you let your fantastic techs work to their full potential, you can treat more patients and practice better medicine while you're at it."
Dr. Jana Van Stee

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about becoming a relief vet?

"Being personable and positive matters more than almost anything else you can do. People will forgive accidental mistakes, or even real ones, far more readily than they'll overlook a bad attitude. And if you're generally cheerful, the team you're working with will be much happier to help you."
Dr. Jana Van Stee

The world is reopening from the pandemic. How has this shift back toward normality affected your relief practice?

"Practices are slowly moving away from curbside and back into a more traditional model of care. That said, owners do seem more comfortable with drop off appointments now, which can make prolonged workups or add on procedures go much more smoothly."
Dr. Jana Van Stee

Aside from English, what languages do you speak?

"Just English, sadly."
Dr. Jana Van Stee

What are your hobbies and passions outside of work?

"I'm an avid long distance runner and have been since middle school. Marathons are my favorite race, but after a string of injuries, I've also learned to appreciate just being able to get outside and run a few miles. Running keeps me sane, and anyone who knows me can attest that I'm a happier person when I'm able to get out and run regularly. Over the past few years I've also come to appreciate hiking and mountaineering, living in Alaska made that almost a necessity. One interest that pairs really well with relief work is traveling. My husband and I love exploring new places. One of the best feelings in the world is hitting the road with him, not knowing exactly where we'll end up that night, or what adventures we'll have during the day."
Dr. Jana Van Stee

Anything else you'd like to share?

"Thanks for providing a platform and a community for relief veterinarians. What a much needed service."
Dr. Jana Van Stee