Today we’d like to introduce you to Pamelar Hale
Hi Pamelar, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My desire and dream to become a veterinarian began when I was 7 yrs old. By then, I had been able to have several pups. I determined then that if they were to get sick, if I was a ‘dog doctor’ I could save them! I declared at that age I would be a ‘dog doctor’ to my parents! Thus, my singular focus in all of my academia from secondary to high school to college was to be accepted into veterinary college. We moved a bit through out my secondary schooling as my father was a chaplin in the United States Air Force. However, I never waivered from my dream to care for animals. My parents would try to talk to me about ‘plan B’ in case I did not achieve this goal, however, there was no ‘plan B’ for me in mind. Luckily, I was able to earn the grades needed in undergraduate Animal Science program at Tuskegee University to be accepted into veterinary college after my junior year. After graduation I practiced small animal medicine in Knoxville, TN. The practice was owned by a sole owner who mentored me well for 9 years. I moved from there to Atlanta, GA and began my foray into emerging corporate multi-united veterinary practices. This allowed me to not only be a clinician but to matriculate into management roles. The muti-unit corporate structure needs veterinarians to help operate and manage groups of hospitals. I had never managed a hospital before, but started as a Chief of Staff with the corporate practice. I was then tapped to become a regional medical director and lead a group of veterinary hospitals. From there I grew into other leadership roles with responsibilities in leading over 200 veterinary hospitals, strategic planning, leading other mid-level leaders and operational roles. Over the years I have held such titles as Senior Regional Medical Director, Executive Vice President of Operations, Vice President of Medical Operations and Chief Medical Officer. Each of these roles helped prepare me for the next position that came my way. I am passionate about veterinary leadership and co-founded a company, ‘VetLeader Coaching’, dedicated to transformational coaching of veterinarians and veterinary leaders to enhance their leadership skills. I have found the best veterinary practices and organizations are the ones led by and for veterinarians. Veterinary medicine is my passion and continues to delight me each day.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Part of a well lived life is over coming obstacles, or at least figuring out a way to go around them! While there are goals and other things that come easily, most of the time we have to work toward a desired outcome. That being said, there have been times that have been very hard as I traversed my professional life. After graduation from veterinary school I was lucky to work in a small, solo owned veterinary practice with a very good mentor, a clinician who taught me how to interact with people, care for pets and enjoy what I worked so hard to achieve. Were there difficult times, sure! There isn’t a part of life that doesn’t present heart ache and set backs. However, that foundation allowed me to move on after 9 years into a large multi-unit practice and step into leadership roles that I never imagined. No one excels 100% of the time, so in the leadership roles I aspired to, there were mistakes I made, mistakes made against me and just plain ‘stuff’ that happens in life. As a minority in veterinary medicine where 2% of veterinarians are African-American, there were times in which I was not welcome or supported in my leadership roles. There were times in which I was passed over for roles that I was more than qualified to hold. There were times in which I was held to a different standard that would cause anyone to fail. Yet with those struggles, just as water ‘finds it’s level’, I learned to go around, overcome these types of practices and continue to go forward. Obstacles and struggles assists us in our resilience to overcome. My resilience is founded upon the teachings of my family who instilled in me the confidence to persist. Many of my ancestors came before me through times much harder than what I have experienced. I draw upon that spirit.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
First and foremost, I am proud to be a part of the veterinary profession. It is a highly regarded profession and one that has allowed me so much opportunity in ways that I never imagined. Since I was 7 years old this is my profession of choice! I enjoy the venues that I have worked in; from clinical work, operations, medical management, leadership and coaching. I have worked for numerous companies and each venue allowed growth, epiphanies and has help to lead me to places I never thought would manifest in veterinary medicine! An example, I have had roles in which I was responsible for nearly 200 veterinary hospitals along with the people working in those facilities. This is where I learned to get results through others. I couldn’t be in 200 hospitals at one time, right? Delegating authority to achieve the business goals is an imperative skill set for anyone in leadership. This is also where my emerging interest in helping others to become the leaders they aspire to become. I believe this desire to help others learn to lead in this profession is one that I am known for… even if from one 0n one with doctors, practice managers and all positions in the veterinary hospital. When one has the privilege of leading others, it has to be about the others and not self. The ambition has to be to help those leaders at all levels to transform into their best selves. That is my ambition. And I hope that sets me a part in any roles I have held or will hold.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Be open to different opportunities ! I tell new leaders, aspiring leaders or anyone that I work with that you can’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ if you don’t investigate an open door or wonder what is behind that closed door. Be inquisitive! Put your foot in the door and inquire. Each role that I worked in was often one I didn’t know existed, had never done before or never thought I would be a candidate. My mother has always told me, ‘if someone else can do it, you can do it’. Therefore, I move with confidence toward that new, scary thing. If most leaders are honest, they will say they are nervous when taking on something new. It’s not ‘imposter syndrome’ as I believe that is a misnomer. I believe the term ‘imposter syndrome’ was created to pertain to a community that some wish to diminish. As in, ‘you shouldn’t be here’. Thus, I encourage those starting out or those that have been at it a while, don’t be afraid to try a new role that stretches you, challenges you or makes you uncomfortable. That is like adolescence, means there is growth happening. Falling down is part of the journey and after each fall, you get up. There is a new morning, a new day to get another chance. I would also encourage people not to internalize non-constructive criticism from just anyone. There are people who will envy your path and trip you up. Find a good group of mentors who have your best interest at heart, those who do not covet what you have nor will try to strip it from you and lean on those mentors during the tough times. Don’t do it all alone. This is all part of the journey. I think the inspiration behind each door has to be discovered as we move through our career. It won’t all be great or even good, it just is. If there is anything I’d want myself to know when starting out is hone those resilience skills early. It’s not about being strong, it’s about finding your own secret power; your honest inner fortitude because it’s all in there. And the other is; ‘No one gets to define me, but me’.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vetleadercoaching.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamelarmail/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pamelar.hale
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pam-hale-dvm-mba/
Image Credits
https://www.bjthephotographer.com/
