DR. JOE ON THE GO
Dr. Allison Joe
Founder and Medical Director at Harvester Veterinary Hospital of Burr Ridge and Co-Owner and Medical Director at Archer Veterinary Clinic, IL | BS (Biology), University of Wisconsin-Madison | DVM 2014, Purdue University College of Veterinary MedicineVetaHumanz Live! Podcast
Dr. Joe was featured in Episode 14 of the VetaHumanz Live! Podcast. Listen now.
My Story
I grew up in a household full of animals, including several dogs, cats and even a horse, which growing up in the suburbs of Minneapolis was a rare thing. At a very young age, I had a deep connection to these pets and the human-animal bond was an important part of my childhood. When I was in middle school, one of our family cats was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and I quickly became the caretaker for our cat, Midnight. From twice daily insulin injections, strict feeding schedules and frequent veterinary hospital visits, I quickly became enthralled with the veterinarians that worked so hard to give my cat a longer, quality life. It became a goal of mine to be able to provide to others what those veterinarians were able to provide for Midnight & my family.
My Struggles
My first year of veterinary school, I struggled a lot with doubting whether I belonged with my peers. I had been rejected admission into several other veterinary schools that I applied to and when I compared my accomplishments or previous veterinary experience on paper to those of my classmates, I frequently felt like I did not belong among this elite group of students. Throughout my first two semesters, I worked hard & quickly realized that I did belong and was truly an asset to this group of future veterinarians and that my experience was unique. My feelings of being an imposter quickly vanished.
My Heroes
My parents were my biggest role models growing up. My father always instilled in me the importance of hard work and showed me that a dedication to education can lead to success. My mother always instilled in me the importance for caring for others and treating animals like family.
My Typical Day
I work as medical director at a 7-doctor, small animal practice in the suburbs of Chicago. I work 4 days a week so my work days are longer. I wake up at 6:30 am and arrive at the clinic by 8:00 am. I typically make it back home around 7-7:30 pm.
Three of these days, I see 9-hours of appointments with an hour lunch break that I use to finish up on medical records and call clients with laboratory results. One day of the week, I am in surgery performing up to six surgeries that range from spays & neuters to more complex surgeries like cystotomies (bladder surgery), amputations and enucleations.
Any limited, down-time I have throughout these days, I spend working on various administrative duties I have as medical director, including making medical protocols, scheduling doctor hours and holding leadership meetings at our hospital.
My Stressors
Dealing with upset clients and negative reviews are my biggest stressors. Over the years, I have learned to remain patient with clients, understanding that most of them are acting out due to emotions or stress of their own, and focusing my energy on things that I can control, like providing great medical care and open communication with my clients. I can sleep well at night when I know that I’m providing the best care possible, while giving owners realistic expectations. It doesn’t mean that these situations don’t still bother me or don’t still wake me up at night, but if I know I’m offering the same care I would provide my own pets, it takes some of the weight off of my shoulders.
My Why
I love the impact I can have on a family by helping their pet. I love the connections that I have developed with my clients that have been bringing their pet to see me for years and helping them provide the best life for their loved ones. There is nothing better than helping a client & their dog reach a weight loss goal or be able to provide consistent care to a cat with a chronic illness like diabetes or thyroid disease. Having positive rechecks with owners that appreciate everything you do for them makes everything worth it for me.
