We were lucky to catch up with Hannah Mckee recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Hannah, thanks for joining us today. Over the course of your career, have you seen or experienced your field completely flip-flop or change course on something?
This may not be a U-turn I have experienced, but rather a U-turn that the veterinary industry needs to take sooner rather than later. Horses have always been my greatest passion and with that I believe that the biggest problem currently facing the veterinary industry is the lack of students pursuing large animal medicine. AAEP data states that only about 5% of new graduates go into equine medicine, and after 5 years 50% of them will either switch to small animal medicine or leave the veterinary field entirely. Horse owners are already starting to feel the burden of this decreased availability of care, and if we don’t act soon it is only going to get worse. I believe there are three tiers of problems that need to be addressed within this issue: the first tier is students who have a background in horses and want to go to veterinary school but are financially unable to do so. The second tier is veterinary students who enter veterinary school aspiring to work with horses, but then are discouraged by mentors or negative experiences that they have during veterinary school. The third tier consists of veterinary graduates who start their career within equine medicine, but then get burnt out by the rigorous demands of the field and negative industry culture. This slowly wears on not only their ability to perform but also their mental health, pressuring them into leaving the field. In order to make this industry sustainable I believe we need to address each of these tiers before we are able to encourage more students to pursue careers within equine medicine.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a rural, mixed animal veterinarian with equine focus located in the rocky mountains of Colorado. I am originally from Connecticut and spent all 8 years of my college education at Colorado State University where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Equine Science as well as a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. I have always wanted to be a veterinarian and my love of horses stems from the time I spent riding and showing in local hunter jumper shows during my childhood. Undergoing multiple orthopedic surgeries as a child is what initially drove me to want to become an equine orthopedic surgeon, however experiences during my 4th year of veterinary school led me down the path I am on today. Outside of work I own a business called ‘the equinnection’ which aims to promote equine exposure and education as well as encourage students of all backgrounds to pursue careers within equine medicine. I have a deep rooted passion for photography and videography which is what led me to creating various social media profiles for both my professional interests as well as my businesses.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
If there is anything I’ve learned in my short time as an adult, it’s that life experience is far more valuable than anything you could ever learn in a classroom. In the classroom, they teach theory; things that are supposed to be true. But what happens when you are out in the real world and you aren’t presented with the same options that were listed on your multiple choice exam? Life experience is what teaches you to be able to act on your toes and come up with creative solutions in the spur of the moment.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I have built a small following on social media and I often get feedback that what people love most about my posts is how real I am. I think the best way to build your reputation within a market is honestly to be vulnerable with people; to let your audience know that you are a real person too. I often share the ups and the downs of my day, and am very up front and honest with when I am struggling, what I am struggling with, and how I plan to get through it. I think social media often leads to people being ingenuine as it often comes with people only showing off the highs and never the lows. But I encourage anyone who is interested in content creation or even when managing a team of others to try being vulnerable and see where it gets you. Being open and honest can earn more trust from clients than you would expect.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hannahmmckee.wixsite.com/theequinnection
- Instagram: dr.hannahmae
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556094669476
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahmaemckee/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.hannahmae
- Other: TikToks: @dr.hannahmae | @theequinnection | @dyingbreedvets | @creationsbyhannahmae
Instagrams: @dr.hannahmae | @theequinnection | @dyingbreedvets | @creationsbyhannahmae
YouTubes: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.hannahmae | https://www.youtube.com/@theequinnection | https://www.youtube.com/@dyingbreedvets
Facebooks: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556094669476 & https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551923064521
Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QxEs9LjucC7hsoDvEq3RU?si=35bf49651b414ee3 | https://open.spotify.com/show/0L7RcJQvZWOstxBloOoegK?si=7172a7371a1d4fd5
