CAPTAIN COURAGE
Dr. Kate KuKanich
Professor of Internal Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS | DVM 2002, University of Minnesota | PhD 2008, University of Tennessee | Diplomate American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine) 2006
My Story
I have always loved animals, science, and medicine. My mom is a nurse and introduced me to healthcare and hospitals, but I always knew that becoming a veterinarian was the right path for me. As I worked with my local small animal veterinarian during high school and then volunteered with a mixed animal veterinarian and zoo veterinarian in college, my interest kept growing stronger, and I couldn’t imagine any other career.
My Struggles
I remember a lot of doubters. People would say “You’ll change your mind, everyone wants to be a vet when they are young, it’s just a phase.” Those negative comments were always so frustrating, especially when they came from a trusted and respected adult. Since then, I vowed to be fully supportive and encouraging of whatever career each kid is fascinated by, but I love it when I can light a spark towards veterinary medicine!
My Heroes
My parents and family gave me the strength and encouragement to follow my dream of becoming a veterinarian and to get through the tough schooling, and they were there to help me celebrate the proud accomplishment when walking across the stage at graduation. I also have worked with so many wonderful veterinary mentors along the way who took me under their wing, gave me amazing experience, and supported my career, and I am so grateful for all of their support.
My Typical Day
I don’t have a typical day! I spent the first 17 years of my career caring for really sick dogs and cats in the veterinary teaching hospital. Now my job is mostly teaching veterinary and public health students, investigating clinically applied research questions, and engaging with pet owners and healthcare professionals in our local community. Some days I am teaching in a big lecture hall with about 100 veterinary students, some days I am guiding students on how to perform skills like drawing blood from dogs, and other days I’m meeting with leaders from our state to discuss how we can use antibiotics most wisely in pets and people.
My Stressors
As a mom with a very busy career, I always feel like there is not enough time! My best strategy to manage stress is to wake up early and enjoy the peace and quiet of the morning. I am often very productive before the rest of our house wakes up and gets ready for school, and this starts my day off calm and great.
My Why
I love working with animals and people who love animals, and I love how a veterinary degree prepares our graduates for so many awesome career opportunities (clinical medicine, public health, research, etc.).
