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You think you want to be a veterinarian: what you wish
you had known then that you know now.
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| Article Type: | Discussion |
| Subject: |
Veterinarians
(Practice) Cage birds (Care and treatment) Career development (Analysis) |
| Pub Date: | 06/01/2012 |
| Publication: | Name: Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery Publisher: Association of Avian Veterinarians Audience: Academic Format: Magazine/Journal Subject: Health Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2012 Association of Avian Veterinarians ISSN: 1082-6742 |
| Issue: | Date: June, 2012 Source Volume: 26 Source Issue: 2 |
| Topic: | Event Code: 200 Management dynamics |
| Product: | Product Code: 8044000 Veterinarians; 9918560 Career Planning NAICS Code: 54194 Veterinary Services SIC Code: 0741 Veterinary services for livestock; 0742 Veterinary services, specialties |
| Geographic: | Geographic Scope: United States Geographic Code: 1USA United States |
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| Accession Number: | 298292709 |
| Full Text: |
Graduating from veterinary school and entering the "real
world" has always been daunting for veterinary students. Finding a
job and a place to live, as well as starting to pay back what can often
amount to a mountain of debt, has in recent years been a challenge that
most veterinary students have come to expect. These days, however, the
downturn in the economy has added a new level of stress to what these
students face upon graduation. According to Veterinary Practice News,
veterinary school tuition has been steadily rising over the past decade,
with the median state resident tuition increasing from $9134 in 2001 to
$18 316 in 2011, and the median nonresident tuition increasing from $21
100 to $38 788 over this same period. (1) While tuitions have been
rising, financial assistance has been declining, particularly over the
past 2 years. As it stands now, the cost of going to veterinary school
is about $41000/y, which puts a new graduate in debt for $140 000 upon
graduation. To make matters worse, the number of students receiving job
offers before graduation has declined, and it's getting harder and
harder for students to find jobs once they're out in the workforce. With all these economic pressures in place, you have to wonder, would these new graduates do it all over if they had the choice? What would they have done differently? How are they coping now? To address these issues, I have invited 6 new graduates from different geographic locations to let us know how they feel. They are Katherine Baine, DVM, resident, Avian and Exotic Companion Mammal, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN, USA; Cynthia Chan, DVM, intern, Gulf Coast Avian & Exotics, Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists, Houston, TX, USA; Julie DeCubellis, DVM, MS, resident, Avian & Small Mammal, Ocean State Veterinary Specialists, East Greenwich, RI, USA; Brynn McCleery, DVM, intern, Gulf Coast Avian & Exotics, Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists, Houston, TX, USA; Alicia McLaughlin, DVM, intern, Center for Bird and Exotic Animal Medicine, Bothell, WA, USA; and Michelle Ravich, DVM, intern, Avian/Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics, Bedford Hills, NY, USA. I think their responses will make even us older, more seasoned practitioners think twice. Laurie Hess, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian) Associate Editor Question: What is the single biggest pressure you feel in your career now? Dr Baine: The single biggest pressure at this point in my career is to find time to publish on top of my busy clinical schedule. Dr Chan: Financial stability. I graduated with a 6-figure educational debt, and, as an intern, I am barely able to make ends meet, let alone make repayments on my student loans. Dr DeCubellis: At this point, my single greatest pressure is my massive student loan debt accrued during graduate and veterinary school. Balancing my career goals with my financial limitations is a major concern. It is challenging enough to live on an intern or resident salary, much less repay student loans. Dr McLaughlin: The biggest pressure is the need to finish/ publish my first research paper. I love doing research, but I hate scientific writing! Dr Ravich: There is so much information to learn that I feel like it's hard to have time to read/research everything I'd like to. Veterinary medicine, especially exotic animal medicine, is rapidly evolving, with new procedures, diagnostics, and treatments described almost on a daily basis. It's a steep enough learning curve for new graduates who are going into small animal medicine; however, treating exotics also involves multiple species, each with different husbandry/diet needs and different diseases. Question: Do you feel that veterinary school adequately prepared you for your career? Dr Baine: Yes! The combination of fantastic teachers and many externship experiences certainly prepared me as much as possible before starting my internship and residency. The best advice I got when I was a first-year student was how important attendance at conferences and doing a variety of externships can be for your career. Dr Chan: Yes and no. Veterinary school certainly gave me a good background to practice medicine, in general, but education regarding exotics medicine in the curriculum was minimal at best. I feel that most students who are interested in exotic medicine have to make the effort to gain experience on their own, outside of the veterinary program. Dr DeCubellis: I certainly feel that my veterinary school education adequately prepared me for the basics of veterinary medicine. However, I do feel that completing a small animal internship solidified that information and was beneficial for the transition to specialty avian and exotic training. Dr McCleery: Veterinary universities offer such specialized care that students aren't always exposed to the "common" problems that are presented to general practitioners. A student can graduate having helped correct a cor triatriatum (3 atria) dexter but having never seen an enucleation. Exposure to exotic animal medicine also varies greatly. I was fortunate enough to know that I wanted to work with exotic animals before entering veterinary school, so I was able to select a university with a strong exotics program, where I could tailor my education to meet my interests and seek out additional extracurricular experiences. However, my internship has been invaluable, and I don't think I would be practicing the same quality of medicine had I gone into general practice after graduating. Dr McLaughlin: I believe that Oklahoma State University provided me with all the tools I needed for success. Although exotic animal medicine rarely comprised a significant part of our standard training program, there were many opportunities available for learning outside of the classroom. I, overall, was very pleased with the quality of my education, and I am proud to be a "cowgirl veterinarian." Dr Ravich: I do. Luckily my veterinary school (Cornell) had a terrific exotics program, and I definitely received a very good exotics background there. However, I also think my small animal medicine/ surgery internship was essential in providing me with a good overall medicine background. Question: What is the one single thing you know now about being a veterinarian that you wish you had known before you became a veterinarian? Dr Baine: I wish I had known that veterinary medicine certainly is not just about being a good doctor. You also have to learn to be able to be a compassionate communicator, financial consultant, public speaker, client support, staff referee, advocate, teacher, and innovator with a creative imagination at times. Dr Chan: I was definitely not prepared for the emotional toll that comes with not being able to help some patients and clients. I am still trying to find a way to cope with those days when, despite our best efforts, we cannot help the pet or its owners. Dr DeCubellis: Honestly, having worked as a veterinary assistant/technician since high school and having volunteered in various settings, including private, rescue, zoo, and farm practices before applying to veterinary school, I didn't encounter any surprises during or after veterinary school. Dr McCleery: Although I have known for a long time that not everyone values pets the same way that I do, it is still very challenging to be unable to treat an animal in need because the owner cannot justify spending money on a $5 hamster or a rabbit that was adopted for free. Dr McLaughlin: Until I was in my fourth year of veterinary school, I never realized how time consuming it would be to create good veterinary records. Although my efficiency has improved dramatically since I started private practice, I still spend at least 1-2 hours after work each night finishing my patients' charts. Dr Ravich: I wish I had known that it's not as easy or as stress free as I had pictured. I'm sure it's more stressful for most new graduates than experienced veterinarians, and I know people who have told me that it took them 5 years of practice or more before they didn't worry about every case. However, I don't know if knowing this ahead of time would have changed my mind about wanting to become a veterinarian. Question: Are you satisfied with your career choice? Dr Baine: Absolutely! A professor in school told our class to find the career that we're most excited about and pursue that path. I've certainly found my niche. Dr Chan: I don't think I can answer this question at this point. I am currently completing my second internship program, and I don't feel like I have a career right now. The internships have been more like stepping stones to a career rather than careers in themselves. Ask me this question in a few more years, and I will, I hope, have an answer. Dr DeCubellis: Yes, absolutely. I have known that veterinary medicine was my career choice ever since I could remember. Dr McCleery: It is too early to know, because I am still in pursuit of what I hope will be my career. Dr McLaughlin: Absolutely. Veterinary medicine has been my dream career since I was 6 years old. I am firmly convinced that I have the coolest job in the world! Dr Ravich: I am satisfied. It's definitely challenging and sometimes frustrating, but never boring. Even on bad days, I remind myself that it's all about helping the animals, which is what's important to me. Question: What are your immediate and long-range career goals? Dr Baine: I'm still in my first year of residency, so my immediate goals are to finish up my residency and pass board examinations. Long term, I would love to find a position working in an exclusive exotics arena. What that looks like specifically, I'm not quite sure of yet. Dr Chan: My immediate goal is to find employment after this internship. My long-term career goals are less defined at this time, but I would like to continue working with exotics, and I hope to also be able to contribute to research, furthering the field. Dr DeCubellis: My immediate career goal is to complete my ABVP dual residency program in avian and small mammal medicine and to start my position as a clinical instructor at Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine this summer. My long-term career goals are to give veterinary students the best possible exposure to avian/exotic medicine and to continue to improve the standard of care for avian and exotic patients by completing long-term collaborative evidence-based medicine studies. Dr McCleery: I will be starting an avian residency at the University of Tennessee next year. My goal is to acquire an academic position in the future. At some point in my career, I also hope to become ABVP certified in reptile and amphibian practice. Dr McLaughlin: My immediate goals are to finish my internship and pay off my student loans. My long-range career goals are to become board certified in exotic animal medicine, with an emphasis in avian medicine (I am still deciding on ABVP Avian versus ACZM board certification). I am currently leaning toward a career in exotic animal--exclusive private practice, although I remain interested in the field of zoo animal medicine. Dr Ravich: I'm currently doing an avian/exotics internship, and my immediate career is to complete that and start an avian residency. In terms of long range, I'd potentially like to become certified in reptile and/or small mammals, as well. Question: If you were advising a student potentially interested in becoming a veterinarian, would you recommend veterinary medicine as a career? Dr Baine: My "yes" is tempered with the qualifiers that the student realizes that the debt-to-income ratio for most graduating veterinary students is disproportionate and that you cannot go into veterinary medicine because you "do not like working with people." Dr Chan: I would recommend veterinary medicine as a career, but I would absolutely advise students to at least shadow a veterinarian in the field of medicine they wish to pursue before committing to it. Dr DeCubellis: Yes, I would. Dr McCleery: Not every animal lover is suited for a career in veterinary medicine; however, this degree is much more versatile than I ever knew. Some of my classmates have joined the US Army Veterinary Corps, received degrees in public health, are involved with research, or are entering residencies to become board certified in various specialties. I would encourage students who are seriously considering veterinary medicine as a career to start shadowing and volunteering to determine if this career is the right fit and to see the opportunities available. Dr McLaughlin: In my opinion, interested students need to volunteer at quality veterinary hospitals and gain exposure to the profession before making any career plans. While I can't imagine doing anything else with my life, veterinary medicine is definitely not for everyone. Veterinary school is difficult, time consuming, and expensive. The salaries offered for new graduates are low compared with the cost of education. The work hours are generally long, and the job can be emotionally draining. It takes a special type of person to become a successful, happy veterinarian. Dr Ravich: I would recommend it. Being a veterinarian allows you to help a wide variety of animals, gives you many opportunities to do things that you otherwise wouldn't have done, and really gives you many career options. However, it is definitely a long haul (sometimes 3-5 years of further training after veterinary school), during which you often don't have much free time and don't make nearly as much money as your friends in other careers. So you really do have to be prepared for that. Question: If you were going to choose a career again, would you choose veterinary medicine again? If not, why not? Dr Baine: Yes! Dr Chan: Similar to my answer above, at this time, I don't think I can answer this question. Being only 2 years out of veterinary school and having only practiced within internship programs, I feel I have yet to start a true career. Dr DeCubellis: Yes, I would. Dr McCleery: At the end of the day, I can't think of another career where I would be happier. The hours are long, clients can be frustrating, and losing patients is devastating. But the joy of helping an animal, and that animal's family, makes my job worthwhile. Dr McLaughlin: Yes. Veterinary medicine allows me to help both people and animals in countless ways. I get to exercise my creative and intellectual skills daily, and I am never bored, and there is always something new to learn. The career also offers me unparalleled flexibility. I am thankful to be a part of such a wonderful profession. Dr Ravich: I would. Although I don't think that any career is perfect, I can't really picture myself doing anything else. Reference (1.) Vet schools, students feel budgetary sting. Vet Pract News. March 2012;24(3): 1, 12. |
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