Dr. Kristina Baltutis grew up in Orlando, FL and moved to North Carolina in 2006 to attend college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After graduating in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Minors in Chemistry and Marine Science, she accepted a position in Greensboro, NC teaching high school science. While teaching, she completed a Master of Animal Science through distance education at North Carolina State University. It was during this program that she fully embraced her interest in reproductive medicine and assisted reproductive technology and decided to return to school to complete her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine.
While in veterinary school, Dr. Baltutis documented her experience on her blog, The Other Side of the Desk. She feels that she was a much better student for having been a teacher, and feels she has an unusual perspective for having crossed from one side to the other and back again. She continues to enjoy teaching in her current role as an associate veterinarian and believes that establishing a positive learning environment is important for developing trust and promoting happiness.
Dr. Baltutis served as president of the NCSU Student Chapter of the Society for Theriogenology (reproductive medicine) for two years, and the group was named Student Chapter of the Year at the 2016 Conference of the Society for Theriogenology. She now serves on the Board of Directors for the Society for Theriogenology with a particular interest in promoting initiatives to support students and recent graduates. She is also a member of the AVMA’S Early Career Development Committee. She has reproductive medical experience with a wide range of species, including several zoo and wildlife species!
More details on Dr. Baltutis’ experience and background can be found on her LinkedIn page.