Everyone says that your first job out of school is the most important. It “sets the standard for how you practice throughout your career.” When I was in vet school, I knew exactly what my first job would be. I would work at a multi-doctor practice owned by one of my excellent mentors. I’d always… Read More
Wellness
4 Childhood Lessons To Be Happier
Many of us can fondly recall times we spent playing as children. What stands out most in those memories? We were… happy! And all too often as adults, that feeling of pure happiness is missing. What can we learn from these memories? Is there a way to extract some of the juices of childhood happiness… Read More
Stress Almost Drove Me Out Of Vet Medicine
I just read yet another article on Compassion Fatigue passed along by yet another vet who has considered giving up the PROFESSION over job-related stress. While that might sound silly to some people, it’s a very real indicator of how intense stress in our field can be. I first considered that I might not be… Read More
10 Things Dogs Can Teach Us About Relationships
I was already married to my wife when I became a veterinarian. We quickly discovered that a career as a vet can put some stress on a marriage. I can’t tell you how many dinners I have missed because a patient needed me, how many social occasions I’ve attended at which I’ve arrived covered in cat… Read More
How Veterinary Associates Can Manage Work-Life Balance
How Veterinary Associates Can Manage Work-Life Balance Originally Published: DVM Newsmagazine, November 1, 2010 [Author’s Note: I like this article, but was never fond of its title. This was my first venture into the delicate world of writing about involvement in organized veterinary medicine. I think that the title may have turned people off, and… Read More
Veterinary Associates: Lose the Guilt
Veterinary Associates: Lose the Guilt Originally Published: DVM Newsmagazine, September 1, 2010 Most of us embrace guilt like it’s in the Veterinarian’s Oath. If we didn’t pursue an internship, we feel guilty. If we pursued advanced education that took us away from spouses and children, we feel guilty. We feel guilty if we… Read More