VMCVM Faculty Spotlight: Sheryl Coutermarsh-Ott
Sheryl Coutermarsh-Ott DVM '11, PhD '17
Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology
When did you join the veterinary college?
I FIRST joined the college way back in 2004 when I started as a large animal husbandry technician prior to vet school. Since then I have joined and rejoined the college in multiple capacities including, most recently, as an associate clinical professor in February 2025.
The best part of being a faculty is?
I get to learn something new every day! Whether it be a new manifestation of a disease I have seen many times before, a new disease that I haven't EVER seen before, a research question I have never thought of before, or a question from a student that requires me to challenge what I thought I knew, I literally learn at least one new thing (if not many new things) each and every day. I can't imagine anyone having a cooler job.
Best advice I've gotten...
There are no mistakes, only learning opportunities. Never miss an opportunity.
How would you capture the essence of your work in a newspaper headline?
Dr. Doolittle meets Dexter.
A person who has inspired me...
I have been blessed to have a number of intelligent, resilient, kind, and inspiring people come in and out of my life. One of them that comes to mind is my residency advisor, Dr. Buffy Howerth. I can't imagine a better advisor, mentor, friend, and just all around super human being to look up to.
Words of encouragement to a current veterinary college student...
Be fully present in at least one grateful moment, no matter how small, each day. Whether it’s getting a good grade on a test, surviving an all nighter, enjoying your favorite coffee between classes, getting to bed fight minutes early, sleeping in five minutes late, taking a walk, hearing your favorite song on the radio ….. whatever. Try to find these small moments and be as fully mentally and physically present in them as possible.
One misconception that all students seem to have is?
One misconception I suspect some students have is that faculty members know everything. It's kind of like when you are a kid and you feel like the adults have everything all figured out. And then you grow up into an adult and are like, wait, aren't I supposed to know it all by now? Faculty members have a passion for learning and teaching. We hope to use this to help support you on your journey to a DVM and beyond, but, we do make mistakes. It is OK to make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. We are all human. (Refer to best advice I have gotten above ....)
If I had a superpower, it would be...
To be able to keep my body at a comfortably warm temperature no matter what environment or time of year. I am always so cold and I really, really dislike being cold.
This excites me the most about the future of my industry...
How much more there is to learn!
A cause I'm most passionate about...
Kindness. Just be kind.
Favorite way to end the day...
In the fall and winter, I like to end my day on the couch, in my PJs, sipping a cup of coffee, entrenched between my two sons and our two couch potato dogs. In the spring and summer, I like to end my day on the hammock listening to the wind through the trees.
Top of my bucket list...
See the aurora borealis in person.
My favorite quote...
Treat others as you would like to be treated.
How many pets/animals live at home? Can you tell us about them?
In the house we have a white Pittie named Jasper (a former employee here at the VTH), and a chocolate lab/Pit mix named Charlie. My husband jokes that they share exactly one brain cell between the two of them, and I think that's pretty accurate. Outside we have a smattering of chickens, 20ish myotonic goats, and three livestock guardian dogs who oversee them all. The guardian dogs include two Karakachans named Rosie and Gypsy, and a super special Anatolian/Great Pyrenees mix named Sue.
