Dr. Tammy Stevenson grew up on a farm north of Cedar Falls, Iowa. She received her doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from ISU in 2000, and immediately went into practice while also volunteering at the local animal shelter in Winnebago County.
But Dr. Stevenson is not only a veterinarian, but an Afghanistan combat veteran in the US Army as well. In 2003, as an officer with the 719th Medical Detachment, her unit deployed to the Middle East for Operation Enduring Freedom, where she participated in humanitarian aid missions throughout Afghanistan & neighboring countries, conducting food inspections to protect our troops, and performing needed veterinary care for the canine team.
To celebrate her eighth year as a Silkin client, we interviewed Dr. Tammy about her experiences as a practice owner and a soldier serving in one of the most dangerous combat zones of our time.
Dr. Tammy Stevenson is a US Army Veteran and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
As the owner of Advanced Pet Care Clinic in her hometown of Cedar Falls, IA, Dr. Stevenson was interviewed about her experience as a “Vet Vet” and what it has meant for her career as a practice owner to have a Silkin Consultant on speed dial.
FEATURE: DR. TAMMY STEVENSON
Silkin: Hello Dr. Tammy! Thanks for joining us. We’re very excited to talk to you about your experiences when you were deployed to Afghanistan, and the success you’ve had as the owner of Advanced Pet Care Clinic. So tell me, what does a DVM do in the US Army?
Dr. Tammy: All food coming onto base is inspected by the veterinarian team, and we also cared for the working dogs. Afghanistan is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. The mine-detection dogs worked to make the country safer for our soldiers, and also the local citizens.
I was the youngest veterinarian on the team, so I was also called upon often to jump on a plane and run humanitarian aid missions to other areas. We inspected and cared for livestock to help the locals deal with common animal health issues.
Silkin: Wow. Sounds like an incredible job.
Dr. Tammy: It was. I joined the US Army Reserve right out of veterinary school in 2000.
It was perfect timing for me. My Dad was in the military, and I’d always wanted to join. I got to see places in the world & cultures I never would have experienced otherwise.
Silkin: What was it like, being a soldier in the Middle East at that time?
Dr. Tammy: It was strange. As a woman in the US Army, I was treated as any other soldier. We were all armed, all wore pants, all treated the same way. But the women & children I encountered…
FEATURE: DR. TAMMY STEVENSON
Dr. Tammy: I could tell it was really eye-opening for them, to see me as a woman & a soldier. I think I made them think about the fact that women are not thought of as “less” in other places. I hope I did, anyway.
Silkin: What an incredible experience. So, then you returned to US soil and went into practice?
Dr. Tammy: I started out as an associate, wanting to buy the practice because the owner was planning to retire, but that didn’t work out. That’s when I decided to start from scratch. I opened Advanced Pet Care Clinic in December 2009. It was a little stressful, but every year is bigger and better.
Silkin: No kidding! Look at that graph. What would you say is the biggest take-away you’ve gotten from the Silkin program?
Dr. Tammy: Putting those systems in place so they run themselves, and making my staff run themselves because now they’re accountable for their jobs.
“I LIKE THE STATISTICS WE LEARNED – IT MAKES THINGS VERY BLACK & WHITE.”
DR. TAMMY STEVENSON
I like the statistics we learned – it makes things very black & white. I can know with certainty why our month was good or bad, instead of, “well, I think it’s because…”
Slkin: It sounds like you’ve been applying what you’ve learned! Do you have any hot tips for new Silkin clients – how to get the most bang for their buck?
Dr. Tammy: The personnel testing doesn’t lie. A couple of times early on I argued with Scott when test results didn’t match what I thought was a good fit for our practice culture, but those hires always turned sour
FEATURE: DR. TAMMY STEVENSON
Silkin: Good advice. Okay, and speaking of Scott – what’s it like working with him as your Silkin Consultant?
Dr. Tammy: Scott has just been a perfect fit for us, and a good match of personalities. I enjoy our calls, and there have been many times when we weren’t able to figure something out…he always has an answer, and always has a plan.
The thing that amazes me the most is when I ask him a question, he says, “Pick up this book and turn to page 4, paragraph three!”
I mean, how does he do it? I can’t believe he remembers so much!
Silkin: Well, I’m glad it has worked out for you so well. Thanks for taking the time to be with us here today!
“IF YOU’RE GOING TO ASK ANY EXPERT FOR ADVICE…TRUST THE HIRED GUN TO KNOW WHERE THEY’RE SHOOTING!”
SCOTT BARNARD, SILKIN CONSULTANT
Next, we asked Dr. Stevenson’s consultant at Silkin, Scott Barnard, what it’s like working with Tammy:
S: “She’s very willing. Tammy is great at taking suggestions & trusting me to lead her in the right direction. I don’t think she’s ever argued with me or failed to try something I told her to do. That’s something I could honestly say has been key to her success with Silkin: – if you’re going to ask an expert for advice, trust the hired gun to know where they’re shooting.”
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