Local vet receives Donald E. Bailey Practitioner of the Year award

CENTRE WELLINGTON – Dr. Emily zur Linden has received the Donald E. Bailey Practitioner of the Year award from the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners.

A veterinarian with Upper Grand Veterinary Services, zur Linden works predominantly with small ruminants, or small farm animals like goats and sheep.

It’s interesting work, she said, one that finds her being a family doctor, OBGYN, a genetic counsellor and a behaviourist – all for animals.

Although humans play into her practice too, she said.

She’s often counselling her clients as they face an animal being euthanized or an ailment that could spread to the rest of their herd.

“There’s a human attached to every animal we see,” she said. “Veterinarians wear a lot of hats.”

Zur Linden grew up in Ohio and graduated from the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts in 2012. She moved to Centre Wellington in 2013.

At her previous job she found herself working 60- to 120-hour weeks.

After 11 years, “It was too much,” she said. “I was pushed well beyond what was healthy.”

She found herself hating her field and eventually left the practice, not knowing what she’d do next.

“I actually thought I’d left it for good,” she said.

But she met some of the veterinarians at Upper Grand and they hired her for two days a week.

With a schedule she could manage and colleagues who were supportive, “I liked being a vet again,” she said incredulously. “It felt good to be useful again.”

But her burnout led her to understand she was suffering from depression, and her personal focus now, as well as her professional one, is not just on the animals anymore, but on the physical and mental well-being of the doctors who treat them.

The day of the interview, zur Linden was heading to the University of Guelph to give a talk to veterinary students about the importance of monitoring their own mental health.

“I know it’s hard to believe I have depression,” she said. “I have a smile on my face all the time.”

It took hard work, counselling and medication to fight her depression. 

She now advises veterinarians to make physical fitness part of their daily routine, to take the time to de-stress after a difficult day, and to talk about how they’re feeling.

“It’s okay to get help, it’s okay to step back, and it’s okay to set boundaries,” she said.

In 2023 she gave a talk to the American Association of Bovine Practitioners about mental health and being physically prepared for working with large animals.

It was revelatory to some of the vets in the room, she said.

“The reception is often, ‘Oh my god I’m glad you said something. I’ve been medicating with alcohol.’”

There are more resources for those in the medical field about handling the stresses of the job and there are even mental health first aid courses so vets can help colleagues who are struggling.

“The old messaging – suck it up – is falling out of favour, and that’s a good thing,” zur Linden said.

According to the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners, “Dr. Don Bailey set the standard for small ruminant practitioners. He loved being a veterinarian, servant of the community, teacher of youth and of colleagues, giver of time, talents and laughter, and above all a wise parent and loving spouse.”

The award is given to a small ruminant practitioner who displays those qualities in their day-to-day practice, chosen from among the 1,000 members from 13 different countries.

“It’s an honour to be recognized as somebody who fills those roles,” zur Linden said. “It’s pretty fabulous that I was nominated by a student and colleagues.

“My goal now is to save my sanity, to show up for my clients, and to live up to the title.”