Dr. Debbie Reed: Director of Breathitt Veterinary Center

Dr. Debbie Reed
Director of the Breathitt Veterinary Center
Murray State University

Dr. Debbie Reed chose to work in agriculture/veterinary medicine because she felt very strongly about working in the agricultural industry. 

“I have a very deep agriculture background in McLean County, KY,” Reed said. “ I really wanted to be a row crop farmer, but I couldn’t drive a tractor in a straight line. I chose veterinary medicine as a career because of my interest in livestock and the opportunity to work daily with people who felt as I did.  I spent 18 years as a private practitioner in eastern Kentucky, working with all species.  In 2006 I took a position with Breathitt Veterinary Center, a state veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Hopkinsville, KY.”

She is now the Director of Breathitt Veterinary Center. In this position, her overarching responsibility is to ensure that the most modern equipment and the best staff are on hand to diagnose disease. 

“It is critical to Kentucky Agriculture that veterinary diagnostic labs are equipped and ready to conduct testing on foreign animal diseases and emerging animal diseases.  High Pathogenic Avian Influenza is a prime example of the kind of disease we must be ready to diagnose due to the significant economic impact on our Commonwealth.  African Swine Fever, Foot and Mouth Disease, and Zika virus are others that are high impact, foreign animal diseases.”

• How did your college/work experiences shape the job you have today? What was your path?

“My college jobs centered around agriculture/veterinary medicine.  I worked at home feeding and caring for hogs and all the other associated tasks farmer parents find for their kids.  I learned from my parents that every job is essential and none are too menial for attention.” 

“I worked in a veterinary clinic while in college and learned about tailoring how you approach people to their situation.  OK, I probably am still not the greatest, but I am aware there are differences.  My boss, Dr. Don Denton, would shake his head and tell me I hadn’t been off the farm long enough.  Then he would laugh at me.” 

“After veterinary school, I opened a practice in an area that would now be described as a designated shortage area for veterinarians.  I spent 18 years in Jackson County, Kentucky, working on every kind of animal.  When I moved there, I had enough money to stay for three months if no one ever darkened the door.  I don’t remember a single day that I didn’t have work to do.  It was a wonderful place to live and raise children, but not huge amounts of money.”

“When I became Case Coordinator at BVC, I was interacting with veterinarians and owners of livestock, pets, and poultry managers.  This position combined veterinary skills with increasing amounts of interviewing skills and administration.  I believe the practice was a good place to learn these skills.”

• Explain your job and the skills (learned or soft) you need to accomplish your job.

 “As Director of Breathitt Veterinary Center, my duties are centered around administration and human resources.  I am fortunate enough to have a great Associate Director, Mr. Bill Lawrence.  I also have a fantastic, simply wonderful staff of veterinarians, laboratory technicians, and administrative staff that get the testing results out the door no matter what.” 

“One of the skills that are necessary is managing people.  Learning to assess how to handle different personalities is very important.  Having good organizational skills is very important.  Mine are adequate at best.  Delegation is very important, and I have had to change my thought process.  I am a very hands-on person, and I’d rather be in the midst of the action than on the sidelines directing traffic.”

“For veterinary medicine, in general, I believe that you need skills in handling animals calmly, firmly, and safely.  I also believe you need to have good people skills—who is going to answer questions and administer meds and pay bills?  Owners, trainers, and managers are all important in any facet of veterinary medicine.” 

“As I commented before, I believe my primary responsibility is to ensure that the most modern equipment and best-trained staff are available to test for the veterinary disease.  The best equipment and staff are, in a word, expensive.  Another skill that I am learning is reaching out to legislators, both state and federal, to lobby for funds to purchase and maintain high-level analytic equipment.  This is a skill set that includes being able to succinctly state what the equipment is needed for and how it will benefit the taxpayer.”

• If you knew you would end up in this career, what would you have done/studied differently?  

“No matter what aspect of veterinary medicine is studied, I believe at least some training in running a business would be helpful.  Basic bookkeeping and some training in cost analysis and HR would have been helpful for me.  Back in the dark ages, it wasn’t considered necessary for students headed to vet school to get training on these subjects.” 

“The same sorts of business skills are also necessary for my position as Director.  While I don’t have to complete the budget alone, understanding how money flows through a business and the kinds of data necessary to analyze pricing and costs is very valuable.”

“If I had it to do again, I would also have worked for another veterinarian for a longer period of time before becoming a practice owner.”

“I believe a good mentor could have helped me learn to be a more successful veterinarian.” 

• What is your favorite part about your job? Most interesting?

“There are some tough days where the best part of my job is that I can choose which kind of ink pens I want, and they are ordered by the boxful.”

“I would have to say, really, my favorite part is working with the outstanding people in the lab.  Our staff is made up of diverse and engaging people with great and varied talents.  They work hard to get accurate results out the door in a timely manner.  I cannot think of a single one who would not do what it takes to complete testing on a case.  As a group, they are hardworking, talented, innovative, and full of unique ideas, and I cannot give them enough credit for the running of the laboratory.”

“The most interesting part of my job has been traveling to meetings and conferences across the country meeting laboratory professionals from every state.  I’ve had the opportunity to visit labs in several other states as well as Homeland Security’s Plum Island National Animal Disease Center off the coast of New York.” 

• What advice would you give a young person looking at this career?

“Grit, Grace, and Determination. When someone tells you that you cannot do something, don't waste time arguing. Grit your teeth, smile with grace, and determine that you are going to go ahead. Become active in agriculture organizations and learn how other farmers get things done.”

“Agriculture/veterinary medicine is wide open right now for career building.  The more technology changes, the more agriculture will utilize it and will need people who understand the industry first and can make technology adapt to agriculture second.   Technology does not make up for hard work, intense concentration on solving a problem, and sometimes simply being too stubborn to give up; most of us in agriculture have that in abundance.  Veterinary medicine is an incredibly difficult path, and education is expensive.  However, I don’t know of any career path that has greater options available, and I cannot imagine any other path for me.”

“The training one receives as a veterinary student is adaptable to many, many career paths, and at the outset of my education, I had no idea how many options were actually out in the world.  I would recommend any student look hard at all the different areas of veterinary medicine and ask lots of questions of every veterinarian they meet.  Even if they already know what path they want—look at everything because life can change.”