Dr. Jessica Lovegrove started relief work only eight months into her career as a small animal veterinarian in Tennessee, and what she expected to be a short term fling turned into a full blown passion for relief practice. Along the way she has covered everything from routine wellness visits to the aftermath of a colleague's sudden death, stepping in to reassure a grieving family and keep their patients cared for. She is now working with a small group of colleagues to build a Relief Veterinary Medical Association, hoping to give the profession the recognition she believes it deserves. 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, and/or exotics? ER, GP, and/or shelter?
"I currently do mostly GP small animal practice with a splattering of ER here and there. I have enjoyed doing mixed and large animal practice including swine and camelids in the past. Because I have just moved and am not a HQHVSN surgeon, I have not connected with many shelters but I haven't closed that door."
Jessica Lovegrove
Everyone has a story, what's yours? What inspired you to become a veterinarian?
"To be honest, it's the only thing I ever wanted to do. My parents told me that since I could talk and people could ask me what I wanted to be, I said veterinarian. In college I flirted with other career fields like research and biochemistry, and it only solidified what I wanted to do."
Jessica Lovegrove
You've made the switch to relief practice. Why?
"There were many factors that led to my switch. During Covid, the practice I was at lost most of their support staff, and staffing six doctors became difficult. At the same time, I began to have increased family obligations several states away. Relief was a win win for all involved. What started out as a short term fling turned into a passion. I loved being able to meet and support so many practices and veterinarians that just needed, well, relief. When we moved from Texas back to Tennessee, it really was easy to just continue my business."
Jessica Lovegrove
How do you feel that relief practice supports the veterinary profession as a whole?
"How many times have we heard of practice owners not taking a vacation for years? What about associates who feel guilty for being injured, sick, or emotionally done because their colleagues have to pick up the slack? What about the practice owner who will have to close for the day if they cannot find someone? Relief provides a solution to all of these problems. On top of this, I have been a mentor to new grads, an informal practice consultant since I see so many practice models, and I can bring in a behavioral focus that maybe wasn't present in clinics before. I have also been brought in to cover the work ins and overflow that the primary veterinarians just could not get to. Relief veterinarians provide exactly what the name implies, relief to an ailing and exhausted field."
Jessica Lovegrove
Outside of the veterinary realm, what types of positions or professions have you been involved in?
"I have been involved in event coordination, both formally and informally."
Jessica Lovegrove
What roles have you had within the veterinary profession?
"Prior to relief, I worked as a mixed animal associate, then a small animal associate veterinarian. I started relief eight months into practice."
Jessica Lovegrove
Keeping it PG, what is your most memorable relief job?
"Oh dear, I have so many. I think my most rewarding was the day I covered for a clinic whose veterinarian and owner had just passed away. I didn't know the full story until I showed up that morning. The owner's family was desperately trying to tend to clients while they arranged the funeral and tried to fathom selling the practice. I was able to review all their ongoing patients, many who needed routine follow up or daily medications. I got as many patients as I could set up with refills on medications or referred out for continued care. It was great to provide peace of mind and comfort to the family of a colleague, even though I had never met him."
Jessica Lovegrove
What are your favorite things about being a relief vet?
"I love the variety of people I get to meet and places I get to go. I love the challenge of having to be flexible in how I practice and the breadth of knowledge I gain. I love that I am giving one of my colleagues a break, all while protecting my own mental health. I love that I am able to be available for my family more completely."
Jessica Lovegrove
Have you picked up any unique practice tips while being a relief vet? These could be related to medicine, workflow, practice organization, or anything really.
"I am not sure if they are practice tips, but I think some of the biggest things I have learned are these. Support staff are so important. As a relief veterinarian I can see a big difference when I walk into a clinic with a well trained staff. Your day is so much easier and better, and I would also say we are much more profitable. Don't be afraid to refer or seek a consult. I make it my goal to practice without an ego. Being only three years out of school now, I am happy to be upfront and honest with clinics and pet owners about what I don't know. Most pet owners appreciate it more than you would think. Protect yourself emotionally and mentally. I am not a better veterinarian when I am overworked, underfed, exhausted, and emotionally spent. When I take care of myself first, I am a better doctor."
Jessica Lovegrove
How about your least favorite things about being a relief vet?
"I think my least favorite thing, and one of the things I want to try to positively change, is the judgment the relief field gets. I hear all the time that we are just a bunch of people who couldn't get a job normally, which isn't true, I have no shortage of job offers, or that we are too lazy to work a normal amount of hours. I know a lot of relief vets who work more than they did as an associate. Most of us want to help our colleagues. A lot of us have personal or family reasons that keep us in this field, reasons a lot of which we choose not to share with clinics. Every time I have thought about accepting a job offer, I think about all the other clinics I routinely work with that would have no one. That thought gives me real anxiety."
Jessica Lovegrove
What advice would you give new relief vets, or someone who is thinking about becoming one?
"This may not seem like great advice, but honestly, just do it. Take a leap of faith. Contact me or one of the many other relief vets with questions. I have felt nothing but supported by my relief colleagues. I started as a baby vet feeling like there is no way anyone would take me on as relief, and I ended up with lifelong friendships and some great mentors. If you do it for a few months and hate it, chances are you have been relief at several places trying to hire, you just had an extended working interview. Also, if you are afraid that you won't have work, contact other relief vets. I have about six practices I would be happy to refer people to. Most of us have more work than we can cover."
Jessica Lovegrove
What do you look for in a practice when deciding to cover shifts for them?
"I honestly don't have too much I look for. Distance from me, obviously also making sure I am licensed to work at that location. I also require two non surgical shifts before I agree to do surgeries, to make sure I am comfortable with the staff, equipment, and protocols. I think for me it is really after the first shift that I can identify any deal breakers on my returning. These include dangerous or severely toxic work environments, if I want to cry or am angry after leaving a shift for any reason then I won't be returning, if staff are so miserable they are routinely found crying or disappear to cry frequently throughout the day, which I have had happen, or if I am expected to uphold medical care far below the standard of care and receive flack or threats for not doing so. I also like to keep in mind that sometimes a practice and I just do not jive. They are honestly probably a great practice, but just not a good fit for me, and I am not a good fit for them. No hard feelings on that, and I don't take it personally if they don't wish me back."
Jessica Lovegrove
Pathologically prepared or minimalist, what supplies or equipment do you bring with you on the job?
"Minimalist, haha, but not entirely by choice. I have ADD and would forget my own head if it wasn't attached some days. I have one bag that I bring necessary required paperwork in, a stethoscope, I try to remember a pen, and snacks. I have learned to make do with what is present. Sometimes I bring treats or spray cheese with me if needed. I keep most of my resources on my phone, and I have a few textbooks in my truck, but I would probably forget anything beyond the necessities."
Jessica Lovegrove
The world is reopening from the pandemic. Has this shift back toward normality affected your relief practice?
"It has not yet, at least not greatly enough that I have noticed."
Jessica Lovegrove
What states are you licensed in, and or states you are working to obtain licensure within?
"Currently only Tennessee, where I currently practice, and Texas, where I used to practice."
Jessica Lovegrove
Aside from English, what language or languages do you speak?
"Mainly English. I used to be proficient in French but have lost it somewhat over the past few years. I hope to one day learn ASL."
Jessica Lovegrove
What are your hobbies or passions outside of work?
"I am currently slowly working with an excellent group of people to try to build a Relief Veterinary Medical Association. We are still in the early stages, but we are hoping to start gaining traction soon. Outside of veterinary medicine, I am a very creative person. If there is a craft out there, I have probably done it. I love writing fiction, and my husband and I enjoy flipping everything from furniture to houses and vehicles. I am also an avid martial arts practitioner and have practiced Tae Kwon Do, Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, and Krav Maga."
Jessica Lovegrove
Anything else you'd like to share?
"I really hope to one day move the relief profession from being viewed as a temporary, only because you have to, job to a complete specialization of medicine in itself. I feel the relief field has so much to offer to the welfare of the veterinary field. I want to be a part of making improvements that could drastically improve the health and wellbeing of all my colleagues."
Jessica Lovegrove