We invite you to take a peek into part of what makes the Uncharted Veterinary Community so unique: our members! We sat down to interview some of the amazing people who have joined us on our amazing journey since the first conference in 2017. This week's interview is with Dr. Charlotte Lucas, a veterinarian from Michigan! Enjoy!
For anyone who doesn’t know you, could you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m a small-town girl from Northern Michigan who always wanted to be a vet. After vet school I moved back “home” and after 5 years of practicing, I opened my own practice.
I have been married for 10 years to Josh and we have two amazing girls (Marlee, 6 and Lila, 3). I’m really holding back from going on and on about how hilarious and sweet and smart and sassy they are…
I love fresh air, horses, laughing and eating good food. There probably isn’t anything I won’t try at least once! Seriously, try me. 🙂 I believe in The Golden Rule and the motto “Work Hard, Play Hard” and I try really hard to prove it every day. I find joy in being a veterinarian and a boss – both were dreams at one time!
What is one thing you never thought you could do (or were afraid to try) that you’ve done since joining Uncharted?
Be 100% myself as a veterinarian. I really believed I had to be all things to all people, and refrain from showing clients certain parts of myself. That began to change during my first conference. I was almost in tears, listening to Dr. Jessica Vogelsang say the exact opposite. And then I heard it again from Dr. Dave Nicol, and then again from Danielle Lambert… I heard it so many times that by the end of the weekend I actually believed it! It still takes practice to do it, but the UVC community is full of reminders about why it’s crucial to be our authentic selves in order to be successful professionally and personally.
What were you looking for when you joined Uncharted?
I was looking for people who could help me bring my vision I had for my new practice to life. I was looking for people who would bring out the best in me, teach me and encourage me. I was looking for people who are able to love veterinary medicine, even when it is hard.
Tell us a story of how another Uncharted Member has helped you.
Do I have to pick one!?!?! Cuz I’m picking two. A few months after my first UVC I was struggling with how to handle a situation and I reached out to Bruce Francke and Lee Allen. I knew they would give me honest but compassionate and kind advice. They both called me back within minutes and talked me through it. They gave me some reality checks but assured me that I could handle it with kindness so I could sleep peacefully at night. Then they checked up on me afterward as well. There have been multiple phone calls with multiple other people (Stephanie, Saye, Tracy, Lisa, Alan…) that have been so incredibly helpful to me. But if it wasn’t for those first two calls with Bruce and Lee, I’m not sure I would have been brave enough to continue to reach out to others.
What are your 2 favorite groups in the Uncharted Workplace community and why?
Practice Owners and Wellness. Whenever I have an ownership question pop into my head, no matter how silly or trivial it may seem, I know I can ask the other practice owners and receive constructive, positive, and motivational advice. I have so much admiration and respect for so many people in that group and the thoughtful advice I have received is always incredibly helpful.
The Wellness Group is such a safe environment. People are truly able to share whatever is weighing on their hearts and the tribe is there to give them whatever they need. I also find motivation there at least weekly, whether it’s in a GIF or a quote or reading advice from someone else in the community. That group really helps make my life better.
What is your favorite hobby and how did you discover it? Would you recommend it to others?
Riding horses. Grooming horses. Smelling horses. Talking to horses. Cleaning up horse poop. Basically anything horse-related… except being their doctor! I have always been drawn to horses, for as long as I can remember. Which is odd, because no one in my immediate family ever really looked twice at a horse! I remember my mom picked me up from school one day, I was in 3rd grade, and said, “I have a surprise for you. I’m taking you to a horseback riding lesson.” And it was one of the best days of my life! Horses are challenging and rewarding, they give you what you put into them, and they fill my cup in a way that nothing else does. I would definitely recommend everyone finds something that does that for them.
What is your current work-related goal?
I have two! To hire another veterinarian and also bring in Josh Lucas full time. 🙂
Is there anything we haven’t asked you about that you would like to talk about?
I need to talk about Josh and the role he plays in all of this! When I came home from my first UVC, and basically had a whole new “family” he was like, “Waaaaittt a minute, what the heck happened in 4 days and what the heck is goat fudge??” It was obvious what a profound impact the weekend had on me and would continue to have on my career. So we decided that I wasn’t going back to Greenville without him and he tagged along at GSD. After that weekend he knew he also wanted more, so he joined the community and came to the next conference as an attendee. And he nailed it. There he was, an elementary school teacher/football coach, totally out of his element, but he dove in headfirst. He didn’t hold back. His goal was to soak it all in so he could support me to the best of his ability, whether at home or at the office. And he has done that and so much more. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us and for our business. We know that together we can achieve whatever we want to, and when we lose sight of that, the tribe is there to remind us.
Do you have a dream for your career? What is it?
I want everyone who has a career in veterinary medicine to feel like I do about my career. The majority of the time I am positive and feel fulfilled. I know I have options to make my career whatever I want it to be. I especially want to help young veterinarians learn how to make decisions and set boundaries so they can feel empowered and satisfied throughout their careers. I have created a positive environment that we work hard to maintain. We treat each other, our clients and patients with the care and respect everyone deserves. I have started with my own practice in my own community with my own team. But my dream is that all practices everywhere have a positive culture, which would allow the people who work in this field –no matter what they do – to feel the same way I do. To be reminded every day about WHY they are there…. That would be amazing.
You can join the Uncharted community and meet people like Charlotte by visiting www.UnchartedVet.com and registering to become a member!
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