Ep 119: Alternative Pathways In Veterinary Medicine With Dr. Marie Bucko

In today’s episode of That Vet Life Podcast, Dr. Moriah interviews Dr. Marie Bucko, veterinarian and the Chief of Staff for the U.S. Chief Veterinary Officer at USDA in Washington D.C. Marie has over a decade of experience working in food and agriculture issues and working at the intersection of animal health, public health, and communicating science. Before qualifying as a veterinarian, Meria worked as a Science Policy Analyst at the US Food and Drug Administration’s Foods and Veterinary Medicine Program. It wasn’t until 2021, that Maria gained her Doctor in veterinary medicine from the University of Wisconsin-Madison after gaining her Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Science and Nutrition from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 2012, and her Masters in Science in Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University in 2015. As a veterinary student, Dr. Marie was elected as the student president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, before graduating and working as a Science and Technology Advisor. In her current role, Dr. Marie works as the Chief of Staff for the U.S. Chief Veterinary Officer at USDA in Washington D.C. In this episode, Dr. Marie openly recalls her journey into veterinary medicine and how it differed to most, she also talks about the effects the global pandemic had on her final year of veterinary school, and how there should be a push for alternative opportunities for veterinarians.