Transcript Pathways through Veterinary School

Pathways through
Veterinary School
Dr. Victoria (Tory) Hampshire,
VMD
[email protected]
Why are you interested in Vet
School?
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Common answers
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I love animals but not so much so people
I want to make as much money as doctors but not
taking care of people
Veterinarians are generally well liked and I want to be
liked.
I love math and science
I like drugs
I love the outdoors
I’m ambitious and I like clawing my way to the top
What kinds of questions should you
ask yourself?
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Am I flexible?
Can I make decisions without a lot of help?
Can I live with the concept that sometimes it’s
not in the book?
Can I forgive myself for unintentional mistakes
and move on?
Can I talk with ease to people who own pets?
Do I work well in a team
Am I interested in public health?
Getting There
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Will
Hard Work
Self sufficiency
An appreciation and love of society
Can you put in long hours for at least the first part of your
20s and 30s?
Competitive grades
GREs
Related work experience; don’t be afraid to start at the
bottom if you have not already
If you are in a position to get a job as husbandry or
technical staff at the school of interest, do so
AAVMC
What does it cost?
About $130,000.00 in education fees
 Living expenses
 Books
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Paying for a Veterinary Education
PHEA
 Stafford
 PLUS
 GET IN FIRST AND THEN TALK TO THE
FINANCIAL AID OFFICER AT THE
SCHOOL
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What’s it like when you are in?
First year mostly repeat advanced science
classes and begin anatomy and
physiology, histology, pathology and
parasitology
 Second and third years more clinical
 Fourth year the real deal.
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The clinics
Choices when finished the 4 years
Internship to Residency
 Direct to private practice
 Internship to residency to academia
 Any combination of the above to
government or military
Advantages and disadvantages
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Hot Areas
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Public Health
Food safety and biosecurity
 Zoonotic diseases
 HIV
 Regulatory
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 Food
and drugs
 Fish and wildlife
 Environmental safety
Large Animal***
Community family-owned (recommend you
have business training.
SALARIES
HOW MUCH IS THAT A MONTH AND WHAT ELSE DO YOU HAVE TO PAY
FOR?
-About 6600 before taxes or $5500 after taxes
depending on what your spouse also earns
-Housing; 2-3K/month
-Car and Ins. About $600/mo
-Groceries $200/person/mo
-Utilities $500-800/month including cell
-School Loans $800-1300/month
New ways to worry less
USDA loans
 USPHS
 NIH
 Army and Airforce
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http://www.lrp.nih.gov/
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ACTIVE VETERINARY CORPS BENEFITS
Veterinarians who choose the Active Army are eligible for a wide
range of benefits. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package
that includes a competitive salary, you'll be an Officer, eligible to
receive incentives such as veterinary school loan repayment and
special pay bonuses. You will receive low-cost or no-cost medical,
dental and life insurance, generous retirement plan options, housing
allowances and 30 days of paid vacation earned annually. Perhaps
most importantly, you can take advantage of reasonable work-life
balance that provides plenty of time for family and recreational
pursuits.
HEALTH PROFESSIONS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (HPSP)
Earn a full-tuition scholarship to complete your D.V.M. or V.M.D. at
the accredited program of your choice. You'll also receive money for
academic fees and a monthly stipend of more than $2,000. After
graduation, you'll be commissioned as a captain in the Veterinary
Corps.
USPHS
Take home messages
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This is a great profession for its diversity. If you don’t like what you choose in the
way of work, change again to another subspecialty.
Don’t lock yourself into a contract if you don’t absolutely love what you are doing
For new parents it can be tough; weekends, on call, etc. You need a good support
structure to do it with kids. This adds to costs early in your career at a time when you
are biologically programmed to have children and face loan repayment.
Don’t be put off by repayment opportunities; the time goes fast and you can usually
moonlight in approved outside activities
You will work with people as much as animals
You will struggle financially in the beginning of your career but there is good job
growth and a relatively comfortable next 10 years if you are careful not to accrue
additional unreasonable debt. You are encouraged to carefully track expenses.
You will only have boring days if you allow them to be boring.
You will often get dirty but there is soap and water!
You will often work beyond normal work hours but it will come back to you in gratuity.
.although not so much so now as before (evolution of emergency critical care
centers)
You will generally receive admiration from friends, family and most all, your furred,
feathered, and hooved friends!
Thank you