VMCVM Faculty Spotlight: Jessica Gilbertie
Jessica Gilbertie
Associate Professor of Microbiology
When did you join the veterinary college?
June 2024
The best part of being a faculty is?
Getting to know the veterinary students and watch them grow over their four years. They enter this program with enthusiasm and hope, and although they will hit rough weather throughout their learning, each bumpy road adds "tools to their toolbox." That toolbox expands each year and they are able to reach for more and more information. This culminates in the "ah-ha" moments that they experience in their clinical rotations. I'm so excited to form mentorships with each class and be along for the ride as they go from student, to student-doctor, to doctor.
Best advice I've gotten...
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
- Robert Frost
Although this isn't direct advice, this poem has resonated with me throughout my career. I have had a long, zig-zag journey to where I am now and I wouldn't change one step. I don't regret the roads I didn't take and my unique path has provided me with growth at each divergence. I love speaking with students about leaning into their journey and taking positives from every dead end that you encounter. You can always turn around and something wonderful will be just around the next corner.
How would you capture the essence of your work in a newspaper headline?
"New antibiotic revolutionizes the veterinary industry!" Maybe one day...for now my main interest is connecting the clinical issues with new research ideas. Which bacteria have rising rates of resistance? What infections are clinicians finding difficult to treat? Which diseases have no therapeutic options, thus leading to high mortality rates? As we note these clinical difficulties, we take this information back to the benchtop for discovery and development, with the eventual goal to translate these new antibiotics from bench to stall-side or cage-side. Currently, we are developing a new treatment for septic arthritis in horses and exploring new options for the treatment of highly resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius infections. The hope is one day a discovery in the lab will make an impact for veterinarians, filling gaps that were causing headaches for patient care.
My hidden talent...
Cooking.I grew up learning how to cook from my grandmother and father. They gave me a foundation of traditional Italian recipes. When I got to college I wanted to expand my recipe repertoire and began watching the Food Network, especially Ina Garten. I love making dishes that simmer for hours, resulting in a comforting hug of food like bolognese or porchetta. I find cooking my refuge from the stress and anxiety of the day. I pop on a podcast or audiobook and delve into my spices and disconnect from the world. I recommend that everyone find a hobby that gives them the relaxation that cooking provides me. It is truly a refresh and wonderful way to end my day.
A person who has inspired me...
Marie Curie. She was one of the first notable female scientists of record and "broke through the glass ceiling" that was a barrier to so many women before her. Not only was she an impressive scientist – she was also kind and selfless. She gave most of the money she earned from her Nobel Prize back to the scientific community and forewent a patent allowing for free thought and experimentation in the radium field. She was also a "working mom," balancing her impressive career with raising her two daughters, one of which also received a Nobel Prize. I think for women in medicine and science, there are still invisible barriers that we must overcome almost 100 years after Marie Curie's death. I seek inspiration from figures like Marie Curie to overcome obstacles in my career but also to help me realize I can balance work and family. I also hope to be a mentor for other women in the field, who can learn from my accomplishments but also my shortcomings, so they can break down obstacles I didn't even see.
Words of encouragement to a current veterinary college student...
Live day by day, or exam by exam. The information in the veterinary curriculum can feel like "drinking from a firehose," but if you take small sips every day then it doesn't feel so overwhelming. There will always be the one fact you forgot or the one exam that wasn't amazing. But don't dwell on that, let that exam be in the past and look to the next one. Eventually all this information will build and you'll be amazed at what you remember once a patient is in front of you.
One misconception that all students seem to have is?
That the vision they have of their future selves at that moment is exactly where they will be in 10 years. I pivoted a lot in my career and the veterinarian I thought I would be in my first year of vet school is not where I ended up. At first, I was disappointed in myself since that vision of my future had been concrete for so long. But when I took a step back, I realized how happy I am with where I ended up. It is not the "James Herriot" idealistic view of veterinary medicine I had as a kid, but there are so many things you can do with a DVM. Once I realized how many doors that a DVM opened for me, I made peace with new reality and was proud that I "took the road less traveled" because that has truly made all the difference.
If I had a superpower, it would be...
Mom. "Super mom?" For context, I waited until later in life to add mom to my dossier, and it was a noun I thought may never be associated with me. First I was daughter, then student, then scientist, then professor. I had a list of nouns that I felt were important in my life and I wasn't sure I could add another. Would I have time? What if I was a bad mother? Would being a mom limit my career? There was a time while I was pregnant that I couldn't imagine fitting any more activities into my life and even after my son was born, I felt that I had to compromise and was fearful about meeting everyone's expectations. But I think what's amazing is the adaptability we have as humans. You make space, you adapt, and your priorities change. However, ultimately I found that I could fit another noun into my life and I love the addition of mom. I may not meet every grant deadline like I used to but that compromise is worth it to me. So for anyone who's thinking about taking on another noun, whether that be “parent” or not, know that you can! Your life will likely be better for it!
This excites me the most about the future of my industry...
I think what's unique about veterinary medicine, compared to other medical professions, is we are extremely innovative. As an industry, we don't shy away from the "new" or "unique” – we instead embrace it. That can be trying something new like working with a new species outside our field, finding a "zebra" case because we tried a new diagnostic, or reaching for a new therapy to help a patient that's not responding to the standard of care. I have met few, if any, veterinarians that aren't willing to try something new, albeit as long as there is good science to back it up. I have seen veterinarians being the first to adopt new ideas years before human medicine. The industry that I entered almost a decade ago has already evolved so much. I'm constantly fed new information in journal articles or at conferences. That means I can be a lifelong learner and I'll never be bored. There are not many industries that can offer that!
A cause I'm most passionate about...
Antimicrobial stewardship. That intertwines with antimicrobial resistance. A recent report has projected by the year 2050, we may no longer have working antibiotics, and death tolls from antimicrobial resistant infections may surpass cancer! And yet, a truly new antibiotic, meaning novel mechanism of action, has not come to market since 1987. This paucity of new antibiotics has been termed the "discovery void." There are a lot of theories as to why we are in this slump, but most blame it on pharmaceutical companies shutting down antibiotic R&D in favor of cancer and other more lucrative drugs. This fuels my passion for antimicrobial drug discovery. My laboratory is making strides discovering new antibiotics, with novel mechanisms of action. We hope that one day, discoveries that myself and my students make could impact not only veterinary medicine but also translate to humans.
Favorite way to end the day...
I love to read and the best way to end the day is with a good book. I read a lot for my job, mostly scientific articles, so delving into the world of science fiction or fantasy is the way I unwind. I like getting lost in new worlds, unique characters and plots that keep me guessing. I grew up devouring the works of Stephen King and Anne Rice. What's on my nightstand now you ask? I'm currently reading "A Fate Inked In Blood" by Danielle L. Jensen. I still have a lot left on my 2024 TBR ("to-be-read") list, but hopefully I'll have some time over the upcoming holidays to catch up before more fabulous reads come out in 2025.
Top of my bucket list...
Eat my way through Italy. Even though I grew up in an Italian-American home and have deep roots along the Amalfi Coast, I have actually never been to Italy. When my kids are older, my husband and I promised ourselves a getaway to Italy where we rent a car and travel around to sample the iconic dishes of different regions. Obviously pizza in Naples, but also Cacio e pepe in Rome, cannoli in Sicily, and anything seafood in Puglia. My mouth is watering just writing this! Maybe I'll have to cook some Italian food when I get home...
My favorite quote...
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou
I think we all strive to make our mark on the world. We hope that we make an impact on our patients, colleagues and the veterinary community as a whole. I hope that the strides I make in my research laboratory lead to real life solutions for veterinarians. But if I leave anything behind, I hope its kindness. That the students I teach and the colleagues I work with are reminded how empathetic and helpful I am. And that my kindness is paid forward.
How many pets/animals live at home? Can you tell us about them?
I have one dog, a rescue Greyhound. Her name is Dolly and she's our second rescue. She had an impressive career taking part in 206 races! But now at the age of 11, she's my 40mph couch potato. She spends most days either snoring or dodging my tenacious toddler. I hope to continue our tradition and get another Greyhound in years to come. They are so gentle and sweet.
Anything else to add?
Never be afraid to ask for help! I would not be where I am today without the shoulders of those around me, either to cry on or to lift me up. There are so many wonderful people around you – friends, faculty and staff. Reach out to us anytime for any reason! That's what we are here for!
