Originally published in the Spring 2025 issue of Land, Life & Science
After a few videos went viral, Brinkmann found herself in the unexpected position of being an influencer.
“Dr. Molly? I just wanted to say ‘Hi’ and tell you how much I love your videos!”
This has become an everyday occurrence for veterinarian Molly Brinkmann (BS animal science ’10, DVM ’15), who currently serves as medical director of Beauchamp Animal Hospital in Franklin, Tennessee. A few years ago, with a bit too much spare time on her hands, Brinkmann decided to exercise her creative muscles by jumping into social media, with the goal of sharing science-based information about animal care.
“I have a background in theater. Shocking, right?” she says, laughing. “People are going to consume information on the internet about their pets anyway. I thought I could be a good source.”
After a few videos went viral, Brinkmann found herself in the unexpected position of being an influencer. Hence her brief encounter with the fourth-year vet student who just wanted to say “Hi” during Brinkmann’s recent visit to the UT College of Veterinary Medicine. At veterinary conferences, she’s practically a celebrity.
As her follower count has grown, @drmollysays has begun to tackle other topics, including the emotional toll of a career in veterinary medicine, the challenges of being a working mother, and Brinkmann’s personal experiences with tragedy and grief. She addresses every subject in the first person, speaking directly into the camera with a wink and a magnetic smile.
Never one to sit still, Brinkmann partnered recently with her social media manager, Ashley Koll, in founding The Companion Project, a nonprofit that provides support to rescues, shelters, and welfare organizations nationwide dedicated to keeping animals happy, healthy, and out of harm’s way. In June 2024, they teamed up with Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley for their first official event at The Store in Nashville, where they cared for nearly one hundred dogs and cats.
“We want to help facilitate the human-animal bond for people who are having a hard time in life so that they don’t have to give that up.”
Find @drmollysays on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and other platforms.