Meet Beth Fields, one of Epicur’s newest veterinary specialty representatives. Fueled by her desire to connect and serve the communities she’s a part of, Beth is passionate about building strong relationships and positively impacting the lives of veterinary professionals, pets, and pet owners. Get to know more about Beth and all that she brings to the Epicur team.
We’re excited to have you join our team, Beth! Can you tell everyone a little about yourself and your role at Epicur?
I’ve been in the animal health industry for about 20 years. I started on the marketing side and then moved into sales three or four years after that. I grew up on a ranch in North Texas, so animal health has always been very close to me. I’ve seen all the ways it works, from animal companionship to how it feeds us, and I’ve always felt it was a community. I personally feel like I have never actually sold anything because I was helping my community in some way. It doesn’t feel like a job to me, but more of a way of giving back.
It’s really great being at Epicur. It’s been a long time since I worked for a company where I walk in the door and people want to talk to you. Veterinary practices are excited to see us! My official title is Veterinary Specialty Representative, and I cover Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, and Colorado.
Were you familiar with Epicur and 503B before joining the team?
I was not! Actually, every morning, I go over the cliff notes on my computer to help me learn. It’s complex, but I think something that has helped me the last couple of months is that I’m still learning a lot, and our customers are still learning, too. That helps build the connection between us right away.
Why did you choose to join Epicur?
I want to join Epicur for two reasons. First, it is a privately owned company, and that really resonates with me. My father owns his own company, and I knew I wanted to be a part of something similar. I was in corporate America for a very long time, so when I had the opportunity to join Epicur and learned about their values, I knew the role aligned with my goals for my community.
The second reason is their priority to continue contributing positively to the animal health industry. They see it as a whole; they don’t see it as just a transactional sale. They see and understand how we benefit the veterinarian, the veterinarian benefits the patient, and the patient benefits the community. It’s an entire ecosystem, not just one piece they’re trying to get.
What’s your favorite aspect of your job so far?
Well, I think it’s fun to be the cool kid! What I mean by that is that we at Epicur have this shiny “toy” that people don’t know about, so it’s exciting to bring that to veterinarians and show them how we are going to help them; we are the solution. I get to be someone who adds value to their daily lives, which is so fun and rewarding.
How do you describe the benefits or value of 503B and outsourcing facilities like Epicur to customers?
When I introduce myself to a new customer, I tell them I am your new team member—I am here to help, so tell me what you need. I’ll do my little elevator speech, but then I just want to know what keeps them up at night.
If it’s a cardiologist and they are trying to give a Chihuahua a Vetmedin ® Chewable Tablet, but it is so big they are wondering what else they can do, I can share with them Epicur has Pimobendan Mini-Meds® and they are the size of a Tic Tac, and the chihuahua is not going to bite your face off while you try to give it to them! They can still provide the medication the patient needs but also practice better medicine through a different mode of transmission. It benefits them, their patients, and the pet owner.
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How have you overcome the learning curve that many people face when trying to understand the ins and outs of 503B and all that Epicur does?
The learning curve for the first couple of months was steep. Even though I have been in pharmaceuticals for a very long time, Epicur was the type of company I was selling against while working in big pharma. So, I had to change that mindset. With 503B, there are always changes because it is such a niche in the animal health industry. I guess that is what is so exciting about it because I can wake up and say, “ok, this is what I need to address with certain customers today,” based on the changes and helping them.
Another aspect of a privately owned business, though, is that everyone wants to help you be successful—not just so that the company’s successful but to make the industry successful too. All of the training and education we go through comes from a place of helping us so we can go out and help somebody else.
I think fully understanding the work Epicur does and its impact on veterinary medicine comes from seeing the facility and how unbelievable it is. Seeing it and then being able to go out into the field and confidently share that more than six people had a part in the manufacturing of the Tacrolimus eyedrops that they are holding—the cap has personally been tightened by one person, it’s been wiped off by another, and hand inspected—gives a personal ownership of the product. That detail also helps when you’re talking about the cost of the medication. Once you actually see the team suited up and being in the facility, you fully understand how different the quality really is.
What are some of the ways you like to build relationships with your customers?
Whether in my personal or professional life, I’ve always been drawn to concentric circles and feel like community is a concentric circle. So, when I talk with a customer, I ask them what they are doing in the community. Whether they are getting donations or supporting a cause, I like to know so that I can integrate myself with them and what they are doing. I make myself accessible to them and their needs outside of ordering medications.
On my weekends, I stay involved – participating in a 5k or some kind of animal rescue. Since I am already participating in my community I want to help my customers in that same way. Again, it’s not selling anything, it’s just living my life in a meaningful way.
You’ve been at Epicur for a few months now. Any takeaways so far?
It’s a daily thing that I walk into a veterinary practice and they are so happy that Epicur is there and available. They always tell me that what I have is just what they have been needing or looking for. I’ve never experienced that in other jobs. Other jobs felt like golf – I’m not very good at golf, but I had a good shot every once in a while. But here in my role at Epicur, I feel like I am making the fairway every single day.
We know Epicur keeps you busy with shows, where can people find you next?
I’ll be attending:
- VETgirl in New Orleans in June
- IVECCS in St. Louis in September
- Southwest Vet in Fort Worth in September
I’m pretty active on LinkedIn too, so I welcome anyone to connect with me there!
Welcome to the team, Beth!
Meet more of the Epicur team!
- Meet Nick Cagliostro, Epicur Pharma’s New National Sales Manager
- Meet the Team: Taylor Odrzywolski Brings An Interesting Animal Health Background to the Team
- Meet the Team: Branson Bruce Talks Veterinary Compounding Education and Building Relationships
- Meet Sam Newton: Epicur Pharma Veterinary Specialty Sales Rep & All-Around Animal Enthusiast
