Dr. Amy Piper’s love for animals can be traced back to her childhood. Growing up, Dr. Piper and her family moved a lot because her dad served in the military. Although each relocation brought considerable challenges, Dr. Piper knew that she could find refuge and emotional comfort in her pets.
“Our pets always came with us,” she says. “When we moved to a new place and I had to make new friends, I knew I would have my dog or cat for companionship during that lonely time.”
These cherished memories of her four-legged confidantes—coupled with a sincere passion for science—shaped Dr. Piper’s career path. Today, she’s an area chief of staff at Banfield Pet Hospital in Tampa, Florida.
“Veterinary medicine provided the perfect avenue to take my inherent skill set and merge it with my passions—and get to be around animals all day,” she says.
Here, Dr. Piper shares why her work provides her with a sense of purpose, how the company has supported her professional development, and her experiences giving back to local communities.
What led to your job at Banfield Pet Hospital, and how did you know the company would be a good fit?
Originally, I was interested in Banfield because of its nationwide locations. Not having a strong home base meant that I was open to moving and following my husband’s career path—and I wanted to stay with one company if we moved. During my time in veterinary school, I had an externship with Banfield and realized the company would be a good fit because of its commitment to quality and preventive care. I saw pets living happy, healthy lives more than I had ever seen before and Associates committed to upholding non-negotiable standards of quality. I felt at ease knowing that Banfield’s leaders and structures would support me if I stood up for quality in any situation, which hasn’t always been the case in previous jobs.
What are your core responsibilities as an area chief of staff? Why does this work excite or inspire you?
As an area chief of staff, I’m responsible for ensuring medical quality in four hospitals and overseeing 13 veterinarians. This work excites me for so many reasons. One is that our industry is always changing, so our standards are constantly evolving to meet those demands. This allows us to get better every year—and I love that challenge.
Another is that I get to help veterinarians grow and develop their career paths. I work with incredible individuals who truly care about pets; my goal is to make their job at Banfield as fulfilling, rewarding, and fun as possible. When they’re happy and having a good time at work, I’m filled with an amazing feeling of purpose. As an associate veterinarian, I could only impact a finite number of pets per year. As a leader at Banfield, I can help even more pets by helping grow and develop my teams.
You’ve been at Banfield Pet Hospital for almost seven years. Can you describe your career path thus far? Where did you start, and how did you ascend to your current role?
I started at Banfield in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, fresh out of veterinary school. I was onboarded with an incredible mentor and was set up in a hospital with several other veterinarians who imparted me with knowledge. Their support helped me grow, boosting my confidence. Later, I moved to Tampa to be closer to my family. Here in Tampa, I had leaders who believed in my potential. They helped me develop into a single-hospital chief of staff and then an area chief of staff.
My career path is a story of people within Banfield giving me the opportunities and support to grow, and me finding additional fulfillment and purpose with every step on that path. I’m incredibly grateful for every person who poured into me, and they’re my inspiration to pour into others in my current role.
How does Banfield Pet Hospital’s culture and leadership team empower all employees to achieve internal mobility and develop their professional skills? How have you been personally supported throughout your tenure?
Banfield puts a huge emphasis on professional growth. We create growth plans every year; our leaders check in regularly to make sure we’re able to achieve that growth. As part of the Mars Veterinary Health ecosystem, we have access to many resources and are encouraged to pursue external opportunities. For example, I participated in a year-long leadership development program offered by my state veterinary medical association. Banfield helped me modify my schedule so that I could make the most out of that opportunity.
Additionally, Banfield’s development culture goes from top to bottom. I met some of our C-level leaders at a national conference, and they all wanted to know how the resources they were creating were helping us at the hospital level.
What’s one highlight of your career thus far at Banfield Pet Hospital? What makes this achievement so memorable?
Banfield recently expanded its Banfield Gives Back program to be the largest volunteer effort in the veterinary industry. For the announcement launch of this program, I was brought on stage at our annual leadership meeting to talk about my volunteer efforts and how Banfield supports them. Their goal was to inspire more Associates to volunteer. This made me feel that Banfield cares about the impact that we make on our world and community. I felt so proud to be part of a company that aligns with my values. I also felt seen and appreciated by my company and its leaders. To be appreciated for efforts that didn’t go toward any financial metric or company-growth projection showed the true heart of this company and its people.
You’re an active community champion for the Banfield Gives Back program and have recently organized events to benefit pets, people, and the planet. What do you find most rewarding about volunteer work? How does Banfield Pet Hospital encourage a culture of giving back, and how does it impact your overall well-being?
I love the perspective shift that volunteer work gives both me and my teams. When we exist in our small corner of the world and don’t step outside of it to see people and pets from different backgrounds, experiences, and circumstances, we can get a skewed perspective on a lot of things. When we acknowledge the challenges that others must overcome—and the bigger problems that our world faces—our daily problems seem so much more surmountable.
In my daily life at Banfield, I see a lot of dearly loved pets, most with owners who have access to the necessary resources to provide for their care. When I’m able to help in communities with limited access to care, I still see a lot of dearly loved pets, but their owners have limited access to the resources they need for their pets. Banfield supports us going into these communities through our paid volunteering benefit to use our skills and resources to help these pets get the care they deserve. In my region, we walked dogs at the Humane Society, packed meals for food pantries serving hurricane victims, and gave rabies vaccines and microchips to over 890 pets in need.
Honestly, sometimes it makes me feel like a superhero for doing what I can to help pets. It fills my bucket and reconnects me to my original purpose and passion of loving animals.
You were recently selected for the Mars Ambassador Program (MAP) trip to Hawaii and Kaui sponsored by the Banfield Foundation, Banfield’s charitable arm. Can you tell us a bit more about the program and the trip? How does MAP help veterinarians build their skills while supporting animal welfare?
MAP sends Mars Associates into communities to help give back using their expertise and skills. In our Mars ecosystem, we talk a lot about how what we do today will help create a better tomorrow. MAP is one example of how we invest in a better future through our Associates. In our veterinary sphere, we look at areas that need skilled veterinary professionals and send teams to provide support—and in turn, our Associates are empowered to build their skills. I went with a team of three veterinarians and five technicians to do spay and neuter surgeries for local animal welfare organizations in Hawaii and Kauai. These organizations had incredibly long waitlists of pets in need of surgery to help prevent unplanned reproduction. Our time spent there helped immensely. Honestly, it was an unforgettable experience.
What advice do you have for women who are hoping to earn a leadership role at Banfield Pet Hospital or elsewhere? What skills do they need to succeed there and in their careers?
When I started moving toward leadership roles, I worried that my compassion would be to my detriment, but I learned that leading from the heart is what has made me successful. When we care about the people we lead, they show up for us in big ways. When we help ensure that our team’s needs are being met, they meet the needs of our patients and clients.
The advice I would give to other women is to communicate clearly and directly—and never apologize for holding your team to a high standard but never ask them for something that you can’t live up to yourself.
As someone who works in the veterinary field, you’ve seen many ways that animals can improve the overall well-being of their owners. Did you have a beloved childhood pet, or do you currently have a pet? How has your childhood or current pet helped improve your mental, emotional, and physical health?
I currently have a hobby farm with sheep, goats, donkeys, and a recently adopted mustang. One of my most beloved pets was a horse named Fancy. My grandmother bought Fancy for my sister and me in the sixth grade; Fancy passed away last year. She had an indomitable spirit while remaining gentle and kind. Having a horse to ride provided me with a source of physical activity that kept my body healthy through many years of my life, and being around Fancy gave me a place of respite and rest that benefitted my mental and emotional health. She really encompassed what I love about animals. They each have their own personalities and quirks, but they’re companions that allow us to step away from the daily hustle and bustle and be present. I’m thankful for the animals in my life and that I get to have a career dedicated to the well-being of animals.
