Welcome Jackie Lee Graber
Dr. Jackie Lee Graber (she/her) was raised on a small hobby farm in Woodstock, Connecticut. Her appointment as assistant clinical professor in Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine's Department of Ambulatory Medicine and Theriogenology has enabled her to return to her hometown, where she works at Tufts Veterinary Field Service (TVFS).
Graber comes to Cummings School from northern Vermont and New Hampshire, where she spent the last three years as a large animal veterinarian. Graber holds a D.V.M. from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and started her career at a mixed practice in Ohio.
Inspired by excellent mentors who guided her along her personal and professional path, Graber intends to pay it forward. "I am enthusiastic about promoting my passion for large animal medicine to students so that more may consider it a career option," she says. "I hope to be both a mentor and teacher to veterinary students."
She was drawn to her current position by its variety and professional opportunities. "This role as a generalist in large animal medicine and surgery was appealing to me," Graber explains. "I am fulfilled by the challenge of working with multiple species. There is so much to learn in these cases, and it's rewarding to share these experiences with students."
"The formal setting of student education and mentorship, the access to research and resources, as well as a more direct path to further my professional development, was also very appealing to me."
Professionally, she has developed her knowledge and clinical skills by completing continuing education courses and programs for early-career veterinarians while developing her interest in teaching veterinary students and clients. "I spearheaded a veterinary externship program in private practice, which offered two-week externships to veterinary students from all over the world," she says.
In addition, Graber has also developed client education programs, such as hands-on continued education wet labs for Spanish-speaking dairy farm employees and small ruminant wellness programs to encourage sheep and goat owners to learn more about the basic management of their animals.
Graber looks forward to being part of the new Doctor of Veterinary Medicine curriculum (proposed to start in August 2024) at Cummings School that fine-tunes its focus on clinical skills and day-one preparation while growing into her role at TVFS.
Personally, she and her husband, Matt, welcomed a son, Connor, in October. Connor joins their two "fur babies," dogs Ollie and Mabel.