The Wagging Tail

I just returned from SAVMA, where the feeling of excitement from soon-to-be-veterinary graduates was almost palpable. So many future veterinarians filled with compassion, hope and idealism — eager to begin their careers. I met a third year student from the University of Minnesota at the conference, and she expressed that she is so afraid to face her mounting student debt that when she receives loan notices, she files them away, unopened, to be dealt with after graduation. It got me thinking about my challenges with student debt and how I had done pretty much the same thing. After graduation I finally faced what I owed, it was a huge shock. I felt overwhelmed, anxious and limited in my job choices. I wish I had faced my loans earlier on, so that I could have planned what they meant for my future and prepared myself for reality.

Like me, many new graduates are facing this current economy with student loans weighing them down. My job is to help new veterinarians begin their careers and I’ve read several articles on the subject and in my interpretation most of them seem to be saying the same thing; veterinary student debt is higher than ever, costs of living is on the rise, and many starting salaries are not enough to cover hefty loan payments AND provide a decent quality of life. Experts caution veterinary students to really think about loans before taking them on, and to borrow as little as possible. But what about the current generation graduating today in this struggling economy? With that in mind, I was determined to find some positive tips! Here’s what I came up with:

• Make the most of your free time. If your goal is to be in general practice, seek experiences that will allow you to build your clinical skills while in school so that you feel comfortable stepping into your first job. If you pursue an internship and defer your loans, try to pay the interest at a minimum as it accrues during your deferment and will likely capitalize (be added to your principal balance).
• Have a strategy in place for paying off your loans. I am focusing on paying off my auxiliary loans first (those with a higher interest rate), and I always pay more than the minimum payment on all of my loans. Knowing that I have a solid plan in place helps to alleviate my “debt” stress.
• Remind yourself that not all debt is equal. This is not credit card debt or an auto loan — your student loans are an investment in your future. Your degree is an appreciating asset and will be worth more in financial terms every year. The initial investment is high but well worth it in the long run.
• Don’t let your debt bring you down! Career satisfaction, quality of life, and debt management are attainable! I can personally attest that living with student debt is do-able!

Here are links to some great articles; I encourage you to check them out:

Student debt: Why it’s your problem too
Student Debt: Threat or Opportunity?
DVMs, veterinary student converge at NAVC to examine ways to ease debt
Tips For Handling Higher Education Debt
Incomes, debt top student concerns

I remember when I first started practicing veterinary medicine that my mind was full of information—drug names and procedures and protocols, etc.  Early in my career, I was somewhat disappointed to learn that all of those drug names and protocols, anesthesia, equipment, etc. weren’t just sitting there on the shelf waiting for me to grab them and use them.  The doctor that I worked for had his own set of medications and procedures and protocols.  He had his own set of equipment that had worked fine for the last 10 to 15 years and didn’t see any reason why it shouldn’t keep working fine for the next 10 to 15 years.

At that time I didn’t realize that the problem was two-sided.  Yes, I needed to realize that there are multiple ways to do the same thing and that all of those ways might be 100% correct.  But, my employer needed to realize that there are multiple ways to do the same thing and that all of those ways MIGHT NOT be 100% correct.  Over time, things got better as he saw positive outcomes from my clinical cases and I saw positive outcomes from his clinical cases.  Something that helped tremendously was when we would exchange journal articles or attend the same continuing education meeting.  We could compare notes and ideas and come up with new procedures, policies, etc. together.  The secret was developing a life-long commitment to continuing education.

Now that the tables are reversed and I have been in practice for quite some time, I am encountering times when the newer doctors are doing things different and I have to step back and realize that it’s the exact same situation.  Continuing education is the secret to a long and rewarding career with lots of positive clinical outcomes.  Whether you’ve just graduated or have been in practice for many years, continuing education is important. Like human medicine, veterinary medicine is always advancing with new techniques and it is in your best interest to keep up-to-speed. Read scientific journals, industry publications and attend professional meetings, conferences, workshops and seminars. As a matter of fact, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (www.avma.org), approximately half the states require veterinarians to attend continuing education courses to maintain their licenses.

Although we’re struggling in the U.S. economically, money and time used toward education and certification can be resources well spent. Extra credentials and more knowledge just might mean a higher salary…a new wave of clients with your new specialization…a promotion…who knows where it can take you.

Make it your year to develop yourself professionally. Here are a few websites worth visiting that offer a variety of continuing education courses and other educational opportunities:

• AVMA (http://www.avma.org/education/default.asp)
• Vetlearn (www.vetlearn.com)
• WorldWideLearn(www.worldwidelearn.com/continuing-education/veterinary-ce.htm?s=ypi)
• National Veterinary Education Association (http://www.veterinaryeducation.org/)
• Lifelearn (www.lifelearn.com/c2/2000.html)
• VSPN (www.vspn.org/LIBRARY/WWWDirectory/CE.htm)
• AASVB (www.aavsb.org/RACE/RACEHome.aspx)
• ContinuEd (www.continu-ed.com/ContactInfo.html)
• Veterinary Information Network (www.vin.com)
• International Veterinary Information Service (www.ivis.org)

This is just a start as there are many continuing education options available through colleges and universities. If we’ve left anything out, please let us know.

 “So, are you back to the grind, or are you still feeling the afterglow of your amazing vacation?” a friend of mine asked me. I can tell by the way she said “grind,” she basically means the hard work of everyday life. I’m two weeks back from the-vacation-of-all-vacations (*don’t ask, you’ll be forced to hate me) and I’m a bit perplexed by her question. I assume she’s referring to my mental state, post-vacation.

I stuttered, “I’m, I’m still feeling good from my time away…” A bit vague, I know, but the best I could come up with at the time. Truth be told, I had an amazing week. I completely enjoyed my getaway, happy for the break in accountability, but equally happy to return to my world of work, as well as family and friends. Sound too Pollyanna?  Sorry, I make no apologies. I like…no, love, what I do for a living and I know you feel the same way about your chosen career. No, I don’t dabble in the paranormal; I just know a few things about veterinarians, based on the last 18-months of working with Banfield folks. Here’s what I know: One – Veterinarians are passionate about the business of taking care of animals.  Two – Vets are committed to fulfilling their professional obligations, and then some. And three – Vets are amazing people.  

Here’s something else I know about you: You hold the same high-standard in your personal life, doing everything in your power to be the best friend, best parent and best child you can possibly be. But striving to be the best in every part of your life can be hard and all-consuming. Setting high-standards leaves little or no room for downtime. And although most vets buy into the concept of taking time away from life’s responsibilities, the reality is, many are not good at making time for breaks or regular vacations.

I know, I know… there are lots of good reasons why taking time-off right now might seem inconceivable. It’s hard to break away when you feel like the infrastructure might collapse, not to mention the cost and logistical details involved with planning a vacation.  But if you stop and really let yourself think about it, it’s highly unlikely that taking a couple of days of “R&R” will negatively impact your business or your personal life. In fact, it might do just the opposite. Most people soon realize that what they once considered to be an unproductive use of their time (usually pre-vacation) is actually very productive use of their time (usually post-vacation.) Renewed energy and a fresh perspective are the bi-products of an enjoyable vacation.

Are you bad about making plans to go away? When was the last time you took a vacation?  If you are someone who does take time off, regularly, how do you do it?  What do you tell yourself to make it happen?

* If you’re curious about where I went, post a comment and I’ll respond.

 

Having earned a degree myself, I can understand the feeling of having to repay student loans after graduating from college and trying to accomplish this with a beginner’s salary in my chosen field. It’s no different in veterinary medicine. Earnings, when you are fresh out of vet school, are still much lower than other professions with similar educational requirements and skills. We’re also in the middle of an economic crisis and student debt is at an all time high. The average educational loan debt of graduating veterinary students has increased over the past decade.  The educational debt for UC Davis’ School of Veterinary Medicine graduates, for example, has more than doubled since 1993 when the average debt was $29,770. For 2008, it has risen to $102,395
(http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/studentprograms/subpages/admission_info/debt.html).

I think we can all agree that there’s a hefty price to pay when it comes to advancing your education. According to the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), the cost of a veterinary education has also risen about 31% for tuition, fees, books and equipment in the last four years. Don’t forget to add in room and board, personal expenses, transportation and healthcare costs. In a nutshell, vet school can be very expensive.

It’s really unfair. You borrowed thousands of dollars for school because you probably grew up with a sincere love of animals and an interest in science… you may have always wanted to teach or work in a lab…or maybe equines and farm management is your thing. For whatever reason, something pulled you into veterinary medicine and now you’re just looking for some financial stability and reward for all the hard work.

Sure, you can offset the debt by working extra hours and cutting down your living expenses, but for managing your student loans right now there’s information out there. I’ve found a website called the Project on Student Debt: The Top 10 Student Loan Tips for Recent Graduates (http://projectonstudentdebt.org/recent_grads.vp.html) that provides some useful tips for staying on top of everything. Hope it helps.