First veterinary class: Class of 1984 alum Mary Jean Gorse journeys from childhood dreams to pioneering success

Mary Jean Gorse's journey in veterinary medicine began long before she stepped foot into a classroom.

"I wanted to be a veterinarian since I was a little girl, like 5 or 6,” Gorse said. “My first-grade essay was about how I wanted to be a farmer, only because I couldn't spell ‘veterinarian’ at 6."

This early passion would set the stage for a remarkable career that would fulfill her childhood dreams and help reshape veterinary care in the Midwest.

A pioneering group of students

Gorse was part of a pioneering group of students — the inaugural class of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM) in 1984. Like many of her classmates, she remembers the challenges of her early days in veterinary education. 

"For the first year, we were in a little office building where we had classes and a library, and labs were in the old animal science sheep building," she said.

Despite the humble beginnings, being part of the first class fostered a unique student bond.

"We made a lot of long-term friendships,” Gorse said. “That very first class, there was no one really to guide us. So, we made a lot of very close class friendships, friendships with the faculty as well. We were all very cohesive and close.”

After graduating from the veterinary college, Gorse's path took her through various experiences, including an internship at Oklahoma State University ‘s College of Veterinary Medicine and a residency and master's degree at the University of Georgia, honing her surgical skills and broadening her perspective on veterinary medicine.

St. Louis calls

After a brief period at a private emergency practice just outside of Detroit, Michigan, a pivotal moment came when an opportunity arose in St. Louis.

"A friend of one of my mentors from Georgia was looking for a second surgeon in St. Louis,” Gorse said. This move would set the stage for Gorse's most significant professional achievement.

After a couple of years of working and managing the practice in 1994, Gorse took a leap of faith and founded Veterinary Specialty Services (VSS). Two years later, she was joined by Mark Anderson, who shared her vision of a multi-specialty referral practice. Together, they aimed to create a center where specialists would collaborate with primary care veterinarians to tackle complex and challenging pet health problems.

Building a multi-specialty referral practice came with its own challenges.

"We had just moved across the river into a rented space, as we were moving out of an emergency clinic on the Illinois side, and experienced delays in construction in the new space; Mark had a baby on the way and I had just bought a house,” Gorse said. “So, we did everything we could to make sure we didn’t let employees go, but I was really close to not making a house payment before that time was over. I never wanted to repeat that again."   

Despite these hardships, Gorse's determination never wavered. "We pulled through, but owning your own business is not for the faint of heart," she said. 

Their perseverance paid off. Over the years, VSS became one of the Midwest's largest veterinary referral and emergency centers. The practice expanded to offer various specialties, including cardiology, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, radiology, and surgery. In 2008, the center added an after-hours emergency practice, further expanding their services and then a second location in 2017. 

Becoming an essential resource in the community

Gorse's vision for VSS was clear: "Just to be able to provide easily accessible specialty care here, here in St. Louis, and just to do as close to academic-level medicine as was possible."

As a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, Gorse's surgical expertise spans a wide range, including thoracic, aural, abdominal, orthopedic surgeries. She also has interests in orthopedic and emergency/trauma surgery. Her skills and the comprehensive services offered at VSS have made it an essential resource for pets in the community.  

The growth of VSS has been remarkable. "We're probably at about 45 or 46 doctors,” Gorse said. “Half of those have a specialty, and half do ER to cover both locations. It is a talented team. I am very proud of them, and many have been with us for years and years."

Throughout her career, Gorse has witnessed and adapted to significant changes in veterinary medicine. 

"The first five years in practice, nobody had CTs or MRIs,” Gorse said. “We've got both and are trying to find enough space for a second CT. We also have a full fluoroscopy suite for the cardiologists to do interventional procedures."

From a young girl who dreamed of being a veterinarian to a pioneer in veterinary specialty care, Gorse has not only fulfilled her dreams but has also paved the way for countless others in the field of veterinary medicine. Her legacy continues to shape the landscape of veterinary care in the Midwest and beyond.

"Veterinary medicine has been very good to me,” Gorse said. “You can be anything you want to be. It has such variety that you can find something you truly believe fits you. And probably advice for everybody is: If you get knocked down, you’ve just got to stand back up.”