This month, A Day in the Life travels to Victoria to catch up with Marlena Lopez, who wears not one, but two hats as a veterinarian. Firstly, Lopez is a locum who works in vet clinics all over Melbourne. Secondly, she is an award-winning social media star with her own website and over 70,000 followers on Instagram. Lopez took some time out from her busy schedule to chat with The Veterinarian about what constitutes a typical day for her, and what it is like sharing her experiences and providing educational content via her Veterinary Adventures website and on social media.
Being a locum, no two days are alike for Lopez. “I work at clinics all over the Melbourne metropolitan area, and each day involves travelling to a different clinic, meeting new teams and adapting to their specific protocols and practices,” she said. Her duties, like most veterinarians, typically include consultations, diagnostics, surgeries and follow up care – with one important difference. “Locum work is unique because it requires a high degree of flexibility and adaptability,” Lopez explained. “Unlike a permanent position, I need to quickly integrate into different environments and work seamlessly with various teams. It provides a diverse range of experiences and continuous learning opportunities.”
Lopez’s ability to adapt to constantly changing workplaces may stem in part from the fact that she was raised in a small mountain town called Big Bear Lake in California, USA and subsequently relocated to different parts of the globe while studying. “I grew up surrounded by nature’s wonders at an elevation of 2,000 metres,” she said. “This unique environment inspired by deep love for animals and the natural world, which led to me earning a bachelor’s degree in Zoology from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona.” After graduating, Lopez spent a year studying Spanish at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in Spain in 2015, and then successfully completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the University of Melbourne in 2020.
While Lopez has worked in permanent positions since finishing vet school, in October 2023 she decided to concentrate on locum work because it allows her to pursue a variety of interests and to cultivate the work-life balance that suits her best. She relishes the opportunity to work with different veterinary teams, knowing this exposes her to different styles of clinical management and practice and to learn from vets who have varying special interests, all while developing her own skills. Significantly, locum work also provides Lopez with the flexibility to pursue other passions, such as community service. “I recently returned from volunteering the Cook Islands, where I worked at Te Are Manu Community Clinic,” she said. “The clinic had a really interesting case load, including two exploratory laparotomies within my first two days. It was well-equipped, and the client interactions were very positive and rewarding.” Lopez loved being able to improve the welfare of animals and families living on the island while learning about the local history and culture. “The experience was both enriching and fulfilling, and I would highly recommend it to any veterinary professional,” she said.
Lopez loves learning new things, which is hardly surprising given her veterinary journey had its beginnings in vet nursing and ecological research. “Prior to attending veterinary school, I spent two years studying the Northern Alligator Lizard’s geographic variation of sexual dimorphism, and I also completed a research internship at La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica which focussed on the social organisation of the Proboscis Bat,” she said. Once she started vet school in Melbourne, Lopez began sharing her knowledge and experiences online via Instagram (@veterinary_adventures), her blog and her website (www.veterinaryadventures.com). “My social media journey began when I moved to Australia for vet school, initially to stay connected with friends and family in the USA and to serve as a resource for pre-veterinary students,” Lopez explained. “As a pre-vet student navigating university applications and the challenges of moving to a new country, I often wished I had someone who had been through the experience to offer advice. So, I decided to be that person for others, providing honest and helpful advice.”
By the time Lopez graduated, she had amassed more than 70,000 followers and, in 2020, she was named Veterinary Thought Leader of the Year by the Veterinary Business Group of the Australian Veterinary Association. Now, on her days off from clinical work, she often sets up her ring light and tripod and films or writes content for social media – not only for her own followers, but also as the social media manager for Australian Small Animal Veterinarians (ASAV), which she also serves as an Executive Committee Member and Recent Graduate Representative. “As a veterinarian on social media, I use my platform to bridge the gap between vets and clients, raise awareness regarding issues facing veterinarians, and provide pet owner education,” Lopez said. “My goal is to empower others to offer the best care for their beloved companions and to advocate for a better, more sustainable profession for veterinarians.”
Lopez is acutely aware of the power of social media in today’s digital age, but she is equally cognisant that there is a vast amount of misinformation circulating online. “While it’s fantastic that anyone can have a voice on social media, this can also be a double-edged sword if the information is not shared responsibly,” she said. “I frequently encounter clients who have acted on advice they found online about topics like parasite control, nutrition and medications, only to discover that the information was incorrect or even harmful to their pets.” As a result, Lopez believes it is crucial for veterinary professionals to be active on social media. “With our knowledge and expertise in animal care, we can help counteract misinformation by providing accurate, evidence-based guidance,” she explained. “Our presence on these platforms ensures that pet owners have access to credible information and can make well-informed decisions about their pets’ health and wellbeing.”
Surprisingly, for someone who works a locum and who has so many followers on social media, Lopez claims introversion as her biggest challenge while following her chosen career path. “Most people would be surprised to hear that I consider myself and introvert,” she said. “Constantly meeting new people and adjusting to new environments is challenging for me. Each clinic has its own culture and workflows, so it takes effort to quickly establish rapport and effectively communicate with both staff and clients.”
The flipside of Lopez’s current working arrangement is, of course, that she has the flexibility and time to pursue projects she finds immensely rewarding. “I am always keen to explore new endeavours,” she said. “Last year, I wrote a set of information cards covering the topics a new cat or dog owner needs to know called Coaching Cards for New Cat Parents and Coaching Cards for New Dog Parents. I want to equip pet owners with the knowledge they need to provide the best care for their companion animals.” Thanks to the power of Lopez’s social media presence, the decks are available globally and she is now working on translating the decks into a book that is due to be published next year. “I am also developing a supplement range for dogs and cats to address certain gaps in the market I’ve noted when recommending supplements to clients,” she said. “Working as a locum veterinarian provides me with room in my schedule to explore these ventures.”
And now, to conclude our Day in the Life with Dr Marlena Lopez, we finish with our ever-so-slightly-cheesy Creature Questions:
Do you currently have any pets?
Yes, I have a cat named Tricksie. He was a foster fail from my time as a shelter veterinarian. Tricksie spent seven months in the hospital prep area, and I would visit him at the end of every shift. Eventually, I was able to foster and then adopt him.
What is your favourite animal?
I am fond of both dogs and cats. I used to think I wasn’t a cat person, but now I believe that the only people who aren’t cat people are those who haven’t had a cat yet.
If you could transform into any animal, what would you be and why?
I think powered flight is the ultimate evolutionary trait. I would transform into a bird, something like a Swainson’s Hawk which migrates from North America to Argentina for winter. I would love to soar through the Americas! The ability to soar high above the ground and have a bird’s-eye view of the world would be incredible. Plus, birds represent a sense of freedom and the opportunity to explore wide-ranging environments, which aligns with my love for adventure and discovery.
JAI HUMEL