I wasn’t an outspoken veterinary student. I didn’t hold every leadership title or dominate every conversation. Throughout veterinary school, I worked as a credentialed veterinary technician and kept my head down. I cared deeply — about the animals, the people, and the profession — and I wanted to grow into a leader who could make a difference. I wasn’t sure how, but I knew I wanted to contribute in a meaningful way.
What helped me learn to contribute was community. I credit the Veterinary Leadership Experience (VLE) with inviting me to join a community and develop the skills to grow my community beyond the nurturing environment of Post Falls, Idaho.
I initially attended the VLE just prior to graduation from veterinary school. I was starting my first veterinarian job in a practice that I already worked with. I needed to show up differently — not as “Technician Jen,” but as “Dr. Jen Quammen.” I knew I wanted to lead with intention. I wrote about that in my VLE application essay, and somehow, the stars aligned and I was selected to attend.
VLE gave me the space to reflect, build self-awareness, and gain practical tools I could use right away. But more than that, it helped me see that leadership wasn’t about being the loudest — it was about showing up with clarity, empathy, and the courage to take the first step. I still know that to be true and am grateful for the jump start that VLE played in my own journey.
From there, I got involved with the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association (KVMA), then the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) on councils and committees, and next served as AVMA Vice President. Now, I’m a candidate for AVMA President-Elect. And I carry those early lessons — and that community — with me in every room I show up in.
Through the Veterinary Leadership Institute, the AVMA Future Leader Program, and the Uncharted Veterinary Community, I’ve found people who challenge me, remind me of my values, and walk beside me in both celebration and uncertainty. Learning about myself, how I show up as an individual and how I impact those around me is critical to my continued development.
If you’re on the edge of stepping into leadership, my suggestion is simple: start small. Say yes to one opportunity. Join one committee. Show up to one event — even if you’re unsure. You never know where it might lead.
It might lead to new clarity. To new people. And to a future you never expected — but were always meant to grow into.
