It is almost that time of year again. As I write this, a new clutch of baby veterinarians is excitedly rustling its feathers, eagerly eyeing the ground in anticipation of a full-fledged launch into the real world of veterinary medicine. As they do, their heads will nearly explode with the many fears and frustrations most of us have long forgotten about. The fact of being a newbie and the fears that come with it tend to fade fast (thank God!), but that does not make the experience any less stressful—nor does it render this time period any less crucial. Although it has been 30 years since I have huddled in that nest alongside my classmates, I’m not yet muddled enough in the head to have forgotten how it feels to harbor both anticipation and dread in the months immediately preceding graduation. It is simultaneously thrilling and terrifying but somehow more nerve-wracking than anything else you have experienced. Despite all you have been through to get to this point, after all the exams, all-nighters, endless waiting, and fraught decisions, it is this final stretch that seems most capable of defining your life’s ultimate path. If only there was a list of suggestions someone could offer to make this excruciatingly time-crunched process seem less daunting! While recently mentoring a recent graduate through the first six months of her life as a veterinarian, I had the privilege of being reminded of this stage of my life—back when everything seemed scarier and more problematic than fresh or exciting. With this in mind, I thought it might be helpful to offer a seasoned vet’s perspective on this period. I may have forgotten most of it, but I figure plenty remains to be gleaned from a 30-year gap in one’s vantage point. Here are 10 tips to help get you through this crucial transition from life as a student and layperson to that of a professional and doctor: 1) Attend a conference Some will be taking advantage of their last semester in vet school to cushion their earthbound trajectory with an internship or job all lined up in advance of graduation. Meanwhile, others will be staying away, preferring to dedicate more of their time and energies to their final cache of externships and rotations and, of course, to passing the NAVLE if they did not pass the first time. I suggest you try to attend a conference—but not with a specific goal in mind. Do so simply to observe. Understanding what you really love (and what you might not love so much) about your profession takes a lot of looking. Spend time on the exhibit hall floor and attend a couple of lectures, but concentrate your efforts on lifestyle veterinary issues rather than on your medical training. You will gain a broader perspective from this approach. 2) Add on an extra rotation if you can Some schools will offer an extra rotation after graduation. This is a time when they may not have enough warm bodies in the ER rotations, for example, which means you may be eligible for a two-week zinger of a rotation while everyone else is home or traveling with their friends and loved ones post-graduation. Coming from the perspective of someone who has been out for a third of a lifetime, I can honestly say I would rather spend two extra weeks in vet school than hanging out in my PJs to decompress because I’m “exhausted” after all that education. 3) Don’t worry too much about finding an associate position in your last semester Given the under-supply of veterinarians in most markets, there will be plenty of time for interviewing and job-finding after you graduate. Though some will get lucky and find their forever home on the first try, most veterinarians will not renew their contracts after a year or two at their first practice. The vast majority need to kiss a lot of frogs before finding the right place. 4) Remember, you have one primary job in your last year You must pass the NAVLE. Much as I hate to say it, much of our education comes down to this test. So, if you do not pass on your first try, you need to concentrate on this as your overriding goal. Everything else can and should wait. Those who failed the first time should hire a good tutoring group and make this venture their one true focus, all else be damned. 5) Do not rush into your first associate position Rushing into an associate’s position because you believe you will miss out on the best jobs if you do not get in early is not a good strategy. Interview with several practices and do not be pressured to sign a contract before you are ready. 6) Ask an attorney to read through your employment contract Just because you are smart enough to become a veterinarian does not mean you know the first thing about contract law. Even if it’s just a friend of your family’s, be sure to have someone look through it so you’re not being utterly screwed by some of the finer points of a corporate contract. 7) Always negotiate! Do not be so excited to join a practice that you do not negotiate terms in your contract. You can almost always get a better deal than the first one you are handed. Here is where you need to get past your people-pleasing instincts (the ones telling you you will be branded a “difficult” person if you ask for more than what you are offered). 8) Secure a specific mentor It is not enough to be promised mentorship. Be sure you know who your primary mentor will be and what they will do for you. If this information is not immediately forthcoming, you are risking going it alone in your first year. Just to be clear: a “mentorship program” without a specific mentor does not mean you will be mentored. It probably means you will receive lots of online advice, group classes, and possibly even “individualized mentorship” coursework that has little bearing on your ability to handle your cases. You deserve better. 9) Follow your moral compass With every new phase in life, we doubtlessly encounter unexpected moral and ethical hurdles. In early-career veterinary medicine, much of it comes down to handling production compensation with a clean conscience. As I tell my mentees, every single client deserves to know their options, and regardless of their owner’s ability to pay, every patient should be offered the care you’d want for your own pets. Don’t skimp or pad, and never presume. 10) Ask for help It is never OK to feel abandoned and helpless during your transition. Unfortunately, this sometimes happens because we are unwilling to ask for the help we need. Whether you are having trouble passing the NAVLE, having difficulty reading a contract, finding it hard to handle your caseload during your first job, or feeling overwhelmed by all of the above, asking for help is crucial. This bit of easy-to-forget advice is worth remembering, whether you are a fledgling or an old hen like me. Patty Khuly, VMD, MBA, runs a small animal practice in Miami, Fla. and is available at drpattykhuly.com. Columnists’ opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Veterinary Practice News.
