Health Careers Spotlight:
Veterinarian

 

Veterinarians are medical professionals whose main job is protecting the health and welfare of animals and people. Veterinarians diagnose and control animal diseases, treat sick and injured animals, prevent the transmission of animal diseases to people, and advise owners on proper care of pets and livestock. They ensure a safe food supply by maintaining the health of food animals. Veterinarians are also involved in wildlife preservation and conservation and public health of the human population.

Veterinarians often work long hours. Those in group practices may take turns being on call for evening, night, or weekend work; and solo practitioners can work extended and weekend hours, responding to emergencies or squeezing in unexpected appointments.

Job Outlook: There is a growing need for vets with post-graduate education in particular specialties, such as molecular biology, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology, immunology, diagnostic pathology, or environmental medicine. The veterinary professions also is becoming more involved in aquaculture, comparative medical research, food production, and international disease control.

Salary Notes: Salaries for veterinarians start at around $45,000 per year but range up to $120,000 per year. Salary is dependent upon the work setting.

Education, Licensing & Certification: Students interested in becoming veterinarians should take the most challenging secondary school courses available in science, math and English, including advanced placement courses. To enter a graduate program in veterinary medicine, students must complete a minimum of two years of pre-veterinary study. Most successful candidates complete a four-year program. Licensed veterinarians must earn a doctoral degree in veterinary medicine from a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medicine Association and must pass both national and state examinations.

For more information on a career as a veterinarian or another health career, please call .

Millie Armstrong is a Veterinarian at Petit Brook Veterinary Clinic in Milton, Vermont . Millie received her undergraduate degree in Biology and Chemistry from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from the University of Tennessee. Millie currently serves as chairperson of the Public Relations committee for the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association, is a Vermont delegate to the New England Veterinary Medicine Association, and is the Secretary-Treasurer of the Greater Burlington Academy of Veterinary Medicine.

We spoke with Millie in January 2008 to discuss her experiences working in the field of Veterinary Medicine.

Q How did you become interested in becoming a Veterinarian?
A I wanted to be able to help people's pets.

Q What personal needs are satisfied by your job?
A I can interact with the animals and avoid a monotonous routine. Every day is different!

Q In what ways has being a Veterinarian changed you as a person?
A It has helped me keep problems in perspective and has made me learn to look for the alternative ways to solve problems.

Q Describe the demands of your job...
A I have very long work days (9 - 14 hours at times) and late night emergencies. It can be emotionally draining and it's hard to schedule personal time because of emergencies.

Q What is a typical day for you?
A I start work at 8:00 a.m. and see routine vaccine/wellness appointments or possibly an emergency surgery. I spend a lot of time on the phone discussing blood work and pets' health care. I leave work around 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Q What personal characteristics are desirable to be good at this job?
A You need communication skills, patience, understanding, a sense of humor, stamina and flexibility.

Q What special knowledge or skill does a person need be a Veterinarian?
A You need four years of college and at least four years of veterinary school. Some people go on to specialize, which requires another four years of specialty training. After graduating from veterinary school, it is necessary to pass a National Board Examination and a State Veterinary Board Exam prior to practicing medicine. Yearly continuing education courses are necessary to keep licensed.

Q Can a person specialize within the field of Veterinary Medicine? Into what areas?
A Yes. You can specialize into all areas of medicine and surgery, microbiology, virology, etc. You can specialize into all the same areas as physicians in the human medical field.

Q What changes are occurring in this field?
A The public is demanding more specialized care, allowing veterinary specialists to evolve into a mainstream part of the medical team.

Q How does the economy impact this field?
A There are certain financial limitations to treating pets. However, more people are willing to budget and dedicate a certain portion of their income to pet care. The human-animal bond has strengthened tremendously and so, as the pets become a part of the family, it is more important to provide quality preventative care to these animals.

Q Do you encounter any problems combining your job with your family life?
A No, but it is necessary to budget time wisely.

Q What advice would you give someone who is planning to enter the Veterinary Medicine field?
A Get exposure at an early point - volunteer or observe at an animal hospital to see what the field entails before you enter your years of study. The curriculum is very intense and grueling and you need to be sure you really want this before you get too far into it. Also, prepare financially; the costs of veterinary school are rising considerably. For more information on becoming a veterinarian, visit the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association web site at www.vtvets.org.