Many veterinary students know exactly what they want to do after graduation, and intently pursue that goal. For Jacob Merryman, DVM, MPH, the future was not quite as clear. Veterinary school opened his eyes to a variety of career paths, but receiving his Master of Public Health (MPH) ultimately made him realize that it was his true passion, in all its myriad forms.

“Receiving my master’s, and veterinary public health courses really opened my eyes,” Dr. Merryman says. “Between my second and third year, I was lucky to be chosen for the Smith-Kilbourne Program in Washington, D.C., a training program for veterinary students sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), to learn about transboundary diseases. That really inspired me.”

Getting into public health

Merryman’s interest in public health received a huge boost when he was selected to be the 2022-2023 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) congressional fellow, working for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). As a former USDA extern and DVM, he brings unique experience and insight that helps inform public policy and more.

“The AVMA is thrilled about Dr. Merryman’s unique opportunity with Sen. Gillibrand’s office to help shape legislation that impacts the country,” the association’s president Lori Teller, DVM, DABVP (Canine/Feline), CVJ, says. “By extending his scientific expertise to lawmakers and their staff, a voice from our profession will influence Congress and public policy decision-makers to take an evidence-based approach to legislative problem-solving.”

Merryman’s path to Capitol Hill was pretty straight forward. He received his veterinary degree in 2019 from the Western University of Health Science in Pomona, Calif., and his MPH from the University of Minnesota a year later. From there, he took a position with a small animal and exotics practice in Santa Rosa, Calif.

“I really enjoyed the practice and the people I worked with, but ultimately my passion lied in public health,” Merryman says. “It’s a little cliché, but I wanted to help more than one animal or person at a time. That’s what drove me to apply for the AVMA fellowship. My boss knew of my passions and fully supported me. Leaving was bittersweet because I very much appreciated her mentorship, camaraderie, and friendship.”

Once in D.C., Merryman attended orientation with about 30 other congressional fellows. He was the only veterinarian and the only fellow sponsored by the AVMA. He had around 10 interviews, including with a health staffer in Sen. Gillibrand’s office. “I had hinted that I was interested in One Health, and their eyes lit up,” Merryman recalls. “They said, ‘You need to speak to our legislative director because we’re working on a One Health bill.’ One of the deciding factors for the Gillibrand office was I am learning human health policy and contributing from a veterinarian’s perspective. Working on the One Health agenda is very rewarding. I can contribute my expertise, but I’m also plugged into this fantastic network for One Health.”

Merryman’s office is in the Russell Senate Building, and he passes the Capitol Building every day as he walks to work. “I never get tired of that view,” he says. “It’s just amazing and gorgeous.”

All in a day’s work

Sen. Gillibrand’s office keeps him busy. “The two biggest portfolios I work on are human health policy and agriculture,” Merryman says. “Regarding health policy, we’re working with the Senate Special Committee on Aging, so I’m working a lot toward the reauthorization next year of the Older Americans Act. Specifically, I’m working on bills that have to do with Medicaid coverage for serious mental illnesses. There’s a bill I inherited called the Family Support Services for Addiction Act, which would provide grants for families of a loved one going through addiction recovery, so they can learn how to support their loved one. With the agriculture portfolio, I share my expertise on all things livestock and, of course, One Health.”

Merryman is also involved in the 9/11 Health Bill, which funds the World Trade Center Health Program for first responders and survivors with health problems related to 9/11. “I was lucky enough to be part of the negotiations with that as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus at the end of last year,” Merryman says. “We’re working on part two of that this year.”

Merryman’s typical day is 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., but this being appropriation season, his days tend to be much longer. “We’re working diligently to sign on letters to fund these different programs,” he notes. “My days also consist of constituent meetings to discuss advocacy for health, aging and other policy issues. We also prepare memos and Q&As for Sen. Gillibrand when she’s talking to the media about a specific topic.”

Giving expert advice

While much of his work is around human health issues, Merryman’s veterinary background has come in handy over the course of his fellowship. “I bring scientific expertise,” he says. “For example, if we’re meeting with disease advocates, I can understand the technical level so they don’t have to spend 20 minutes explaining to me what they’re actually advocating about. We can get to it and have a more meaningful conversation.”

Merryman also provides expertise to his colleagues. The legislative assistant leading the agriculture portfolio recently came to him wanting to know more about Xylazine, a powerful animal tranquilizer that is often a contaminant in illicit human drugs, with serious potential side effects.

“I got to teach her about what Xylazine is and why it is an issue,” Merryman says. “I told her that it needed to be controlled a little bit better, but if they go too far, the drug will not be available to a lot of large animal practitioners and that would severely hamper their ability to practice. I bring that kind of technical expertise. Another example is the avian influenza outbreak that is going on right now. I can share why it matters that they’re detecting this in mammals and why that may matter in people to prevent another pandemic.”

Despite the long days, Merryman is enjoying his time on Capitol Hill. “I’m getting a lot out of this personally,” he says. “My writing skills are improving far beyond what I was able to do before. And I really enjoy the stakeholder and constituent meetings. I compare it to veterinary client communication. I love interacting with the people and trying to understand their needs and how the Senator’s office can help meet those needs. I’m learning the politics of it as well.”

Would Merryman consider a career in politics? He admits it is something he has considered. “I’m not quite sure if that’s where I will end up, but I’ve definitely pondered it,” he says. “I would like to experience the programmatic side of the executive branch before making a decision.”

Whether or not politics is in his future, Merryman believes his experience as a congressional fellow has made him a better veterinarian. “This experience has broadened my ability to say, I am still a veterinarian,” he notes. “I do not introduce myself as I ‘was’ a veterinarian before this fellowship. I am and always will be a veterinarian, and I get the opportunity to express that by influencing policies so that the foundational levels of what is being done in our country are supported by evidence and a veterinarian’s perspective. I am growing professionally because I’m expanding into veterinary public health, generally One Health, so that I bring the animal health expertise to the decision-making for human health, environmental health, even agricultural health. I’m very excited to bring the technical expertise I’m learning to whatever opportunities I get at the end of this fellowship.”

Don Vaughan is an award-winning writer who frequently writes about veterinary-related topics.