Veterinary Sector Spotlight: Rural veterinary medicine

Dr. Tera Rooney Barnhardt is a private practice owner in southwest Kansas, specializing in the care of beef, dairy, and calf clients.

Growing up on her family’s farm and ranch in that region, Dr. Barnhardt was immersed in production agriculture from an early age. With that, she was taught about being a good steward of the land and cattle.

“I was able to work with our family's veterinarian very closely, and that was an opportunity to learn from him without reservation. I wanted to be able to solve problems for people like he had for my family,” Dr. Barnhardt said.

She attended Kansas State University (KSU), where its College of Veterinary Medicine “made it an easy decision to stay in state and close to home,” she said.

While at Kansas State, Dr. Barnhardt was involved in research initiatives with the university’s Beef Cattle Institute. She also had mentors who helped her become who she is today.

“It lit a fire in my belly. I was hooked and I wanted to be involved in anything and everything beef-industry related,” Dr. Barnhardt said. “I knew I wanted to serve a rural area when I left school.”

She tried mixed animal practice for a few years. A few different career decisions led her to where she is today—consulting and working closely with beef and dairy cattle operations.

“It's work that fills my week with hard days at times, but it is fulfilling and meaningful work,” Dr. Barnhardt added.

Challenging work is made easier as part of a cohesive team.

“There are a lot of industries that feel like a man's world, and I am often the only woman in the room, but it's space that needs taking up,” she said. “I think that it’s valuable to have a diverse group of people looking at and attacking problems for an operation, and my point of view helps lead the team to success.”

Large animal work can be difficult, Dr. Barnhardt said, adding “We have to remain grounded and realistic on what it is we can get done in a day.”

For those interested in rural medicine, she advises, “It's helpful to understand the culture and lifestyle that you would be immersed in if you were working in large animal medicine in a specific area.”

While many veterinarians can do the work and be the solution, “not many veterinarians want to live where we live or thrive in this type of practice,” Dr. Barnhardt said.

The main trade-off she experiences is taking time off.

“I will have some documentation work to do on most days, regardless of what I would like to be doing that day,” Dr. Barnhardt said. “Most of the time, it's only mentally difficult, and the actual time or work is not that hard or long. I try to have a good attitude about how my clients take care of me every month, so the least I can do is be available even for a few minutes on a Sunday.”