Community

Pet owners are lining up for services — great! — but what if we can’t meet the demand? Either way, we need to root out bad vets and figure out where we stand on CBD.

There’s something special about a new decade. The view is longer — 10 years, of course — and generational change lies at the heart of many conversations. If you doubt this, think about the veterinary profession on Jan. 1, 2010, and today, and then list the companies, practices and people no longer with us or […]

Sponsorship opens additional doors for underrepresented veterinary professionals.

At a fall conference on women leaders in veterinary medicine, Dr. Samantha Morello from the University of Wisconsin’s School of Veterinary Medicine called for more sponsorship of women and minorities in veterinary medicine. I immediately tweeted out support —http://bit.ly/2Qx4SwO — which led to a short online discussion about the difference between mentoring and sponsoring and […]

Following 10 principles will help propel your financial portfolio to the next level.

Are you confused about what to do with your investments given all the turmoil in today’s world? If so, you’re normal. Most busy veterinary professionals lack the interest, inclination, knowledge and experience to manage their investments. Those so inclined would be wise to get a second opinion. A financial adviser should be a fiduciary, meaning […]

Are you stressing over an enormous student loan balance? Peace of mind is achievable if you follow three steps.

What’s the most important issue facing the veterinary profession? It’s student debt, according to the Merck Veterinary Wellbeing Study. In the study of more than 3,500 veterinarians, over 91% ranked student debt as a “critically” or “moderately important” issue facing the industry. High levels of student debt cause serious psychological distress such as depression, anxiety […]

The path to enlightenment is paved with lecture halls and PowerPoint presentations. Or we can try something different. In the end, we need to be engaged, excited and current.

The continuing education myth is the fallacy that attending CE events keeps veterinary professionals current with contemporary standards of practice. Remember when your professor told you that half of everything you learn today will be obsolete in five years? Man, was she right! Lifelong learners, that’s what we all aspire to be. In fact, we […]

The evolution of veterinary education and successful practice requires open-mindedness and a willingness to change. Universities, employers and students all have key roles to play.

The cries from longtime practitioners and from the lectern at last summer’s AVMA House of Delegates meeting cast light on a startling accusation: New and recent veterinary school graduates lack practice readiness. The fingers are being pointed at academia and the students themselves. But, we ask, is that fair? We believe that U.S. veterinary schools […]

The flourishing import market poses genuine health threats. Certifying large commercial U.S. breeders could be a worthwhile solution.

Mark the summer of 2019 as when the United States finally took seriously the issue of how many dogs, mainly puppies, were being allowed into the country illegally each year and the perilous condition of their health. To understand the situation, we need to step back and understand where we’ve been. A 2015 Moore Information […]

“A hospital that offers excellent mentorship and a positive practice culture is certainly a viable option for a first-year veterinarian like me even in the absence of room for advancement.”

Nearing the final stretch of my DVM program at Ross University — my January graduation date is fast approaching — I have been considering career opportunities and employment contracts more critically. As a soon-to-be new graduate, the job market is favorable, as veterinarians are in high demand in the United States and abroad. I am […]

Four-year programs? No. Blockchain technology? Yes. Income sharing? Perhaps. We have a lot to learn about education and how knowledge is shared and absorbed.

How can we better prepare the veterinary student of the future, and do it more cost-effectively? Let’s get provocative and toss out 10 ideas for consideration, debate, improvement and adoption. We’re ready for the tomatoes to be launched. We don’t claim to have all the answers. 1. Hybrid Distributive Model In this model, which is […]

Veterinary medicine is slowly becoming a female-dominated profession. The reasons are many. Having more role models and promoting the value of a college education are ways to draw males back in.

Every so often I field a call from a veterinarian inquiring about the declining numbers of men in the veterinary profession. These callers are mostly genuinely interested in the factors that have led to just under 20% of DVM students identifying as men. Occasionally, such calls devolve into suggestions that diversity programs have disadvantaged young […]