Dr. Kelly Zier practices veterinary medicine out of an RV, driving across the country and picking up shifts wherever she parks, currently licensed to work in seven states. She grew up riding along on farm calls with her grandfather, a mixed animal practitioner, and did not find her true calling until a trip to South Africa during vet school sparked a lasting passion for wildlife medicine. Running her own full time relief practice lets her chase both, seeing patients and new places at the same time. This profile first ran on Relief Rover, the relief-vet community platform that joined Hound in 2023.
In Her Own Words
What inspired you to become a veterinarian?
"I started riding around with my grandfather, who was a mixed animal practitioner, when I was 5 years old. When my parents couldn't find a babysitter or summer camp was full, I spent days going on calls and holding barn kittens, instrument trays, and helping to the best of my ability, up until he passed away from cancer in 2005. I think being immersed in the field from a very young age really primed me for a career as a veterinarian. I found my real passion in veterinary medicine during my third year of vet school, when I went on a trip to South Africa. It was that trip that ignited my passion for wildlife medicine and really inspired me in my work."
Dr. Kelly Zier
What states are you licensed in, and which states are you working to obtain licensure within?
"I am currently licensed in Maryland, New York, Vermont, Texas, Oregon, California, and Colorado. The next licenses I plan to obtain are Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, and Washington. I was licensed in Virginia but need to renew it, which I plan to do once I know I will be working there. I am also willing to get licensed in any state where I have potential work available."
Dr. Kelly Zier
What made you switch to relief practice?
"I grew up in a family where traveling was the norm. My parents took my sister and me overseas and to several countries from a very young age. I love traveling, and I also love Africa and wildlife medicine. I worked in private practice for three years after graduation, honing my skills in emergency medicine, surgery, dentistry, and exotic and mixed animal medicine, and I realized I was working so hard just so I could have extra time off to work in Africa or travel the world. It was brutal, working seven day stints for three weeks straight to build up some extra time off so I could travel, and then I realized I could travel and work at the same time. I also felt comfortable enough to set off on my own at that point. I did things a little differently than most, and bought an RV, then set up a full time travel relief company. I strongly believe in work life balance, and that the key to loving your role as a veterinarian is having ample time away from the job to relax and enjoy your life outside of veterinary medicine. This philosophy hasn't steered me wrong yet, and I'm still excited to go to work every day, feeling recharged and healthy."
Dr. Kelly Zier
What are your favorite things about being a relief vet?
"The freedom to make my own schedule. I can work a ton and then take a month off if I want to. I can also make it to all those important life events, like weddings, birthdays, and holidays. I also really enjoy practicing in different hospitals and states, not only to experience different regional diseases but also different hospital environments and clients and patients. I love getting to know new people, and it's fun to visit new places."
Dr. Kelly Zier
What are your least favorite things about being a relief vet?
"I think the cost of everything is tough. I'm currently licensed in seven states, and getting all of those licenses, keeping them up, and paying for health care and liability is a strain on the bank account. Luckily, I'm very busy and working a lot, which helps offset those costs."
Dr. Kelly Zier
What supplies or equipment do you bring with you on the job?
"I always bring exotic animal textbooks, since these are usually not updated at a lot of practices. I bring notebooks with my go-to drug doses, anesthesia protocols, and procedure notes to refer to quickly if needed. I also bring pens, highlighters, and the normal office supplies for a typical day. I bring my own sympathy cards, because I like to write my own to the clients of the patients I euthanize. I have a pair of shield glasses with lights on them that I use for dentals, as well as a dremel for exotics cases."
Dr. Kelly Zier
What do you look for in a practice when deciding to cover shifts for them?
"I look for a practice with a good reputation for practicing quality medicine. If they provide care to exotics and perform dentistry and surgery, those are pros for me. I also try to see how many RVTs are working there, to get an idea of the support team they have in place. Since my situation is a little different and I move around a lot, I'm usually only working in a given hospital for a month or two at a time. If I don't enjoy working there, which hasn't happened yet, I won't continue to agree to coverage."
Dr. Kelly Zier
Have you picked up any unique practice tips while being a relief vet?
"I've learned to be as flexible as possible when getting used to the workflow at a hospital. Everything is usually a little out of whack the first day, while you're learning how to use their computer systems and what the expectations are from clients and colleagues. I've learned the hard way not to over schedule myself to the detriment of my own health and sanity, even if a hospital is desperate and will pay well. I've also learned that a smile, some confidence, and some friendly words go a long way toward winning over the techs and earning their trust in your medical knowledge, since they are often wary of you at first, especially if you look young."
Dr. Kelly Zier
What is your most memorable relief job?
"I really loved an ER job I took in Berkeley, California one summer. The staff was so welcoming, encouraging, and frankly fun to be around. The clients were mostly great, and I had access to an amazing ophthalmologist, oncologist, surgeon, and radiologist for consults and referrals. I was welcomed as one of their own, and I felt like I was. I absolutely loved my time there, and I can't wait to go back."
Dr. Kelly Zier
What advice would you give new relief vets?
"Don't over schedule yourself."
Dr. Kelly Zier
What are your hobbies and passions outside of work?
"I love to travel. I'm lucky, because my home is on wheels, and I can park pretty much anywhere I want to live. I also enjoy swimming, boating, kayaking, reading, going to concerts, and hiking with my dogs. I'm a very social person and love going out with friends or going to Virginia Tech football games. I've been to more than 30 countries, and I'm already planning more overseas adventures for the near future."
Dr. Kelly Zier