Before Dr. Vanessa Yeager picked up a stethoscope, she spent two summers working with seals, sea otters, and bottlenose dolphins at the Minnesota Zoo and the Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys. She found her way into relief work looking for balance rather than a fallback, and has since practiced everything from shelter medicine and emergency care to hospice house calls and telehealth. Off the clock, she runs, brews her own beer, and watches her border terriers defend the yard from the neighborhood chipmunks. 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 always had an ongoing curiosity for science growing up, and a summer job at a veterinary hospital pushed me toward considering veterinary medicine as a career. I shadowed a lot of different veterinarians before making the decision, and I liked the breadth and depth of the profession and the variety of roles you can have as a DVM. Also, after my college chemistry teacher told me I wasn't smart enough for veterinary school, that lit a fire under me and made me even more determined to do it. Funny how that works."
Dr. Vanessa Yeager
What states are you licensed in, or working to obtain licensure in?
"Illinois and Wisconsin."
Dr. Vanessa Yeager
What roles have you had within the veterinary profession, and outside of it?
"I have had a lot of different jobs. I worked at a small animal hospital for a few summers in high school. During college I was a sales associate at a clothing store and ran a small dog walking business on the side. After taking an animal behavior class in college, I thought it might be fun to consider dolphin training as a career path, and for two summers I worked with seals, sea otters, and bottlenose dolphins at the Minnesota Zoo and the Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys. During my summers in veterinary school, I worked as a farm hand on a swine operation and at the local health department on vector borne disease control, mainly West Nile Virus. In the veterinary profession, I have held roles in shelter medicine, emergency medicine, primary care, end of life and hospice house calls, telehealth, teaching, and local government."
Dr. Vanessa Yeager
What made you switch to relief practice?
"I decided to enter relief work to help me find balance between work and life. Work is part of life, but it shouldn't consume it."
Dr. Vanessa Yeager
What are your favorite things about being a relief vet?
"I love the flexibility and autonomy it provides. I enjoy meeting and learning about other people and seeing how different clinics operate. It gives me a comprehensive and global view of veterinary medicine. Ultimately, all of these varying experiences have increased my knowledge base and problem solving skills and helped me become a well adjusted veterinarian."
Dr. Vanessa Yeager
What are your least favorite things about being a relief vet?
"Dealing with the business side of relief work, such as taxes, contracts, and scheduling, can be a little time consuming. If for some reason I am unable to work due to a family emergency or illness, I am without a paycheck for that time, which can be stressful."
Dr. Vanessa Yeager
How do you feel relief practice supports the veterinary profession as a whole?
"Relief vets are truly in a unique position. We have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. I think we have seen what works, what hasn't worked, and why. We are like little data miners out there collecting all sorts of information about business models, drugs and medicines, scheduling software, equipment, and technology. All of this knowledge not only helps us become better clinicians, it provides positive feedback to the clinics we travel to. They can learn from us and we can learn from them, and that ultimately betters the profession."
Dr. Vanessa Yeager
What supplies or equipment do you bring with you on the job?
"I carry my stethoscope, a pen light, extra pairs of scrubs and shoes for all those unforeseeable spills, squirts, or spews, and my white coat if the clinic is more on the formal side. A positive attitude is also a must. No one wants to hire a grumpy relief vet."
Dr. Vanessa Yeager
What do you look for in a practice when deciding to cover shifts for them?
"Before agreeing to dates for a clinic, I do a meet and greet in person. That way I get a sense of how the clinic operates, what their goals and values are, and whether it seems like a good fit. I usually ask myself: Is the clinic clean? Do they follow current CDC and AVMA recommendations for COVID-19? Are the staff supportive and friendly? Does their workload expectation fit with what I can realistically provide?"
Dr. Vanessa Yeager
Have you picked up any unique practice tips while being a relief vet?
"The big tip I have learned is increasing transparency between vet staff and clients. The more transparent you can be, the better. I think this helps create realistic expectations and helps with client and staff communication. One clinic I worked with sends clients home with the entire doctor visit record after the appointment, plus my notes for recommendations and next steps, so nothing gets lost in translation. I have continued giving clients a short summary of recommendations after each visit to help maintain that transparency. I think people really appreciate it."
Dr. Vanessa Yeager
What is your most memorable relief job?
"I have a lot of good memories of working relief. My first relief job was in a hospital with a great team environment, and I got along very well with the staff and clients. Everything clicked, and it felt great to be part of that. I feel the best, though, when I help out clinics that are really in need of any help at all, or that are in underserved areas. Those are the clinics I enjoy helping the most, because I feel like I am bringing a lot to their table and making a difference for them and their clients."
Dr. Vanessa Yeager
What advice would you give new relief vets, or someone thinking about becoming one?
"Make sure your personality fits relief work. Relief vets need to be open minded, positive, forward thinking problem solvers, since you will be in a variety of situations with a variety of different people. I would recommend finding an accountant you get along with, and obtaining disability insurance as well as worker's compensation insurance for the unpredictable events. Providing each clinic some form of a contract for liability purposes is a solid move."
Dr. Vanessa Yeager
How has the global pandemic affected your relief practice?
"I'll be honest, it has been a rocky one. Ever since late March 2020, work has been unpredictable. I was unemployed for the entire month of April, when hospitals diverted to essential and emergency service only and their relief needs dried up. Luckily, I was able to get PPP funding for my business, which helped keep my family afloat during that time. Once the lockdowns lifted a bit, I was able to work more and finances stabilized. Because of the ongoing health concerns, I have limited where I go and am very strict about following CDC guidelines and current AVMA recommendations. Although I am currently working fewer hours than I have historically, I am actually loving that. More time for the things that bring joy to my life."
Dr. Vanessa Yeager
What are your hobbies and passions outside of work?
"I am a big runner, I love going on walks with my husband, and I love watching our border terriers defend our backyard from the villainous chipmunks. I am a voracious reader of nonfiction, and I enjoy brewing beer at home."
Dr. Vanessa Yeager
Anything else you'd like to share?
"Never give up."
Dr. Vanessa Yeager