On June 1st a new doctor entered the practice of Howard County Veterinary Service. We are all glad to welcome Dr. Ben Potter, and I thought I should share this on my blog and introduce him to anyone who hasn’t met him yet. A lot of you already have met Dr. Potter. He’s been at the clinic helping out for a while, getting his feet wet before he took the final plunge and stuck with us. It’s been a couple of weeks since he started. I wanted to give him some time to make sure he really wanted to stick around with all the crazies in the office (Why the accusing stare? I didn’t mean me?). I also needed to approach him with a little care, to ask him gently if he’d be willing to answer some questions for my blog, where I will forever and always come out smelling roses, while I might poke some fun at him (my husband doesn’t seem to mind much). He was gracious enough to do it. Thank you, Dr. Potter! Where are you from and what is your background? I am from the small rural town of Clarksburg, Missouri, population 317. I grew up on a mid-sized farm where we raised beef cattle, were contract turkey growers for Cargill Meat Solutions, and row cropped corn and soybeans. I had an active role in the farm and was able to establish my own cow herd as well as build up a custom harvesting business throughout high school and college. I attended the University of Missouri- Columbia for both undergraduate and veterinary school and graduated in May 2016. The first year of practice can be overwhelming. What have you gathered from your first few weeks of practicing veterinary medicine? Is it what you expected? I have learned that veterinary medicine is extremely fast-paced and rewarding at the same time. In veterinary school each student is responsible for only a few patients over the course of the day, and I can spend ample time studying about the case, but in practice that is not the case. The next emergency dystocia is just around the corner and you have to drop everything at a moment's notice. Then, when you get back to the clinic, you have to catch up on the small animal work as fast as you can and be ready for that next call. Veterinary school definitely introduces you to the fundamental medicine but does not prepare you for the fast-paced atmosphere of private practice. So far in practice, every day has flown by, and that is not something I expected. I guess that means I am having fun! What excites you the most about practicing at Howard County Veterinary Service in Fayette? I love the small town atmosphere and the friendly people in Howard County and the surrounding communities. Everyone has made me feel so welcome so far, and I know I am in the right place. My background and passion for cattle production medicine led me to Fayette because of the potential to work with some of the most progressive cattle producers in the state. I want to be able to help them take their operations to the next level and hopefully improve their bottom line at the same time. What are your hobbies/interests/activities you enjoy when you’re not working? One of my favorite hobbies is deer and turkey hunting in the spring and fall each year. The last week of April and the middle of November, I will be hunting by myself or taking my little brother out in the woods. I used to spend several weeks each year hunting, but now it is a little tougher to find time to hunt. I also enjoy spending time with my wife Leslie and traveling to her students’ sports activities. We both enjoy spending time in the outdoors, whether it is bike riding the Katy Trail or playing sand volleyball in a competitive league. What do you think a veterinarian’s role is in the community? I believe a veterinarian is to be a leader in the community. A veterinarian is looked at by others as a professional in the medical profession as well as someone who has a relationship with many people in the community. Whether it be on the school board, fair board, cattlemen’s board, or whatever other organizations are out there, vets should be involved. Veterinary medicine is a profession that many young people want to become involved in for many reasons. I believe it is partly because of the active role that vets have in the community with several events. At least I feel it is that way in the Howard County Community. The office is full of women. What experience do you have with chocolate and toilet lids? Ha. Stay away from both…
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Jessica Stroupe, DVM
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August 2017
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