My Time in D.C.: A Story about Work-Life Integration

Kassandra Schneider, UC Davis

This past summer I had the privilege of attending the AVMA Convention in Washington, D.C. Eye opening doesn’t even begin to describe it - in addition to opening my eyes to the breadth of veterinary opportunities, I was also empowered to believe that these opportunities are within my reach if I simply choose to pursue them. I left with the motivation - perhaps even a compulsion - to do just that. At the same time, I went on this trip with my boyfriend; it was our first time to D.C. and to the East Coast in general. With so much to explore, we had an amazing time perusing museums, seeing the monuments, trying new foods, and going to comedy clubs and music venues. While I had an amazing time both attending the conference and sightseeing, it wasn’t always easy to balance the two. I’d like to share a few of the realizations I had along the way about work-life integration. These realizations can be applied to conference trips like this one as well as to general day-to-day life. 

1. Planning is just the first step in achieving work-life balance; adjustments will need to be made along the way and should align with goals for the experience and for life as a whole. Before the conference, I tried to plan my day so that I would attend a chunk of lectures, break for lunch with my boyfriend and perhaps go on a museum jaunt, then return to the conference and afterwards have the evening free for more sightseeing. For the most part, my planning worked out well, but some changes occurred while I at the convention. Sometimes I’d find out about an event that I just had to attend. Other times I’d miss a lecture because it took longer to walk back from the National Mall than anticipated, or that red-eye flight plus jet lag required that I rest. These changes mostly balanced themselves out, but I had to keep in check any changes with my original goals in going to D.C.: to nurture both my career and my relationship, to both learn and relax. Somewhere there has to be a limit - I could have easily attended every talk in the conference as they were all fascinating, but in doing so I would have totally ignored my boyfriend. On the flip side, I also could have spent much more time enjoying the amazing city, but it would have been at the cost of missing the incredible opportunity I had to attend the convention.           
2. Though planning and calculated adjustments are important to achieving balance, flexibility and a positive attitude when things go awry are equally important. The one time my boyfriend and I taxied to a tourist destination (since I had more talks I wanted to attend soon after), we ended up in entirely the wrong part of town. (It turns out there are four sets of street corners with the same cross street names in D.C., but that’s a rant for another time.) By the time we realized this, the taxi had driven away, stranding us in what felt like a random, middle-of-nowhere neighborhood. At first I was upset about wasting the cab fare, stressed about getting back in time for the conference, and a bit scared of being in an unfamiliar neighborhood. But throughout my freak-out, my ever-patient boyfriend kept repeating the mantra, “Turn mistakes into miracles,” and we would soon do just that. We discovered an amazing mom-and-pop Salvadorian restaurant that we otherwise never would have found, and my fear of the unfamiliar neighborhood was immediately assuaged by the homestyle service we received. After our delicious meal, we learned that the National Zoo was just a short walk away through a hidden gem of a nature park! On the way back, a kind bus driver even let us on free of charge (shh, don’t tell anybody!). While I was unable to attend the talks I wanted, this day ended up being one of the highlights of my trip. With many Type A personalities in the veterinary field, we often feel the need to have perfect control over all situations, but often the best things in life are unplanned accidents that are embraced with an optimistic, open mind.                      
3. Acknowledge that we aren’t any less for having different aspects of our lives. In a panel I once attended about being a mom in veterinary medicine, I was introduced to the idea that if you embrace motherhood, you need to come to terms with the fact that you will neither be fully successful in being a vet nor in being a mom. During this conference I got a sense of what the tradeoffs between work and personal life feel like. I knew I gave up many networking opportunities, yet I was also aware that I was passing up bonding time with my boyfriend. Despite the understanding I have for the sentiment, I also disagree with it: rather than believing I was not fully successful as a vet or as a partner, I instead felt I was fully successful as a human being. It sounds cheesy, but we aren’t made up of component parts - we’re whole people and our careers and our families are all part of us. Taking time to enjoy myself meant that when I was in lectures, I was fully present and squeezing everything possible out of the experience. Had I spent every moment at the convention, I would have become fatigued and probably wouldn’t have enjoyed the convention as much. In one of the conference talks, a museum curator of the “Outbreak” display discussed how she designed the exhibit with tourists’ “museum fatigue” in mind. Through the way I allocated my time in D.C., I avoided both museum fatigue and “conference fatigue.” There’s no shame in living a balanced lifestyle and we aren’t any less for doing so - instead, it gives us the energy and the passion to excel in all the important areas of our lives. 
4. Reflect on the experience and consider what may be done differently next time, while maintaining the perspective that there’s no single correct path. This conference was just the beginning for me - not the be-all, end-all. Next convention in San Diego I may go with classmates and do more networking. In other situations (perhaps if I bring kids, or have other work responsibilities I must attend to while at the conference), I may spend even less time at the convention. Every outcome is a success as long as it meets my current needs - we need to renounce the idea that there’s only one way to do things because in reality there’s so many paths. We know this inherently when we see our fellow classmates who have all taken different routes to achieve their own version of success. That truth doesn’t stop once you’re in vet school or once you’re out. My time in D.C. was life changing and modifications I make to how I approached the conference this year will not change the fact that my first trip was a complete success, with even its imperfections being a crucial part of the journey. 

I have nothing but good words to say about my trip to D.C. and the lessons I’ve learned will continue to guide me through my career and my life as a whole. I will continue to work towards work-life integration in order to pursue a more enriched and meaningful lifestyle, and I hope you will too!

VOICE/BSVSA Collaboration Trip Fall 2019

LSU and Auburn VOICE/BSVSA clubs met at Dauphin Island August 31 – September 2, 2019

Saturday the clubs met for lunch in Theodore, Alabama. After that we checked into our Airbnb house Saturday afternoon.

A grocery list was made for the weekend and meals were planned. Groceries were bought at a local store by a small group while the rest stayed to unpack, settle in, and study since the LSU students had a test Tuesday morning.

Saturday evening the clubs met for their collaboration meeting. We reintroduced ourselves to each other with our club roles and an interesting fact about ourselves. At the meeting many beneficial things were discussed such as the different meetings/events held at each school and the differences in student/faculty/school reception of these events. Speaker names and ideas were also swapped. Numerous other topics about various diversity and inclusivity issues were also discussed such as how racial, sexual, gender, etc. outreach and education was handled. Planning for the regional Southeastern Diversity Conference was also discussed since Auburn will be hosting it this upcoming Spring and a few students from LSU had attended the last one in Spring 2018 at the University of Tennessee.

Sunday was spent getting to know each other better and swapping personal stories at the beach and at the house. Some more studying was also done and later after dinner we played Just Dance and had a lot of goofy entertainment from that activity.

Externs on the Hill

By Haillie Crockett, Tufts University

When I applied to a four-week externship with the AVMA Government Relations Division in Washington D.C., I knew that as a dual degree DVM/MPH student who has always had an interest in non-traditional veterinary career paths, it would be a valuable means to gain public policy experience. I also knew that I would have the chance to meet many veterinarians doing interesting work in federal agencies,congressional offices, and independent organizations. I did not realize that I would walk away with a completely different outlook on my career and the roles I can play within the veterinary profession. While I could write a short book about everything I learned during my time with the AVMA, I have donemy best to boil it down to my three main takeaways:

1. If you do not love what you are doing, change it.
For some, a long career in clinical practice is deeply fulfilling. For others, our lives and interests
pull us in surprising new directions, and for still others the reality of clinical practice is more of a
mixed bag when long hours, difficult clients, or toxic work environments are an everyday
reality. We might feel we should “tough it out”; after all, we toughed it out through college, vet
school, and possibly an internship and residency. These experiences tend not to teach us to
prioritize our own mental health, happiness or evolving interests. We know that these factors
contribute to the high rates of mental illness and suicide in our profession, and it pains me to
know that veterinarians stay in situations that push them there. But keep in mind that we live in
a complex, interdisciplinary world where the average American changes professions five to
seven times in their adult life. An incredible variety of opportunities and paths exist for
veterinarians from regulatory work to policy making to military service to industry and more.
While some of these paths may be very different from the image we had of ourselves in school,
it is critical to empower veterinarians that are struggling in their current role to make a change
that fulfills them while also supporting their mental health. Trading a career in clinical practice
for a desk job may feel like quitting when, in reality, it can be the beginning of an equally
fulfilling career that serves both humans and animals while allowing for prioritization of one’s
happiness and mental health. And if you are thinking of making a change but are not sure where
to begin, it’s also important to know that…

2. Almost every veterinarian is happy to talk to you about what they do; you just have to ask.
As I started reaching out to veterinarians in the DC area, I expected a fair number to not respond
or not have time for me. After all, these are busy, specialized professionals. I was blown away by
how responsive and excited to meet almost every person was. It demonstrated the strength of
the veterinary community. I met with veterinarians who were Colonels, CEOs, and Congressmen
during my time in DC; every person was incredibly generous with their time, and for that I am
deeply grateful. This is an aspect of our profession and the people it attracts that should not be
taken for granted. A long resume or list of credentials can be intimidating, but we all have the
shared experience of veterinary school and a shared passion for animal health. I now feel so
much more comfortable reaching out to those doing work I find interesting, even if it is just to
chat about what they do and how they got there, and I hope that veterinarians in all stages of
their careers feel the same.

3. No matter how you use your veterinary degree, you have a role to play in policy.
During my time with the AVMA I saw veterinarians influencing policy in many ways. Some had
dedicated their careers to policy, but many others were clinicians who made policy a priority in
other ways. They did this by writing op-eds, calling their representatives, building relationships
with their state governments, and serving with their state VMAs. Especially at the federal level,
it can feel like our voices do not make a difference, but I can attest that many representatives
are excited to hear from veterinarians on issues of animal health and veterinary business, where
we are subject experts. The only way to make sure that elected officials are receiving accurate
information about legislation that affects our community is for them to hear it from us. We hear
about the importance of advocacy often, and it is hard to find the time, but I have seen firsthand
the difference that it makes and the sense of empowerment it can give us. I encourage every
member of the veterinarian community to find some way, even if it feels small, to advocate for
our profession.

I am very grateful to the people who took time out of their busy days to discuss their careers and their impact on the world and to the AVMA GRD staff for providing such an eye-opening experience. I walked away from each of these meetings with a little more knowledge and wisdom about the profession in general and my career specifically. I encourage any veterinary student that wants to expand their knowledge of our diverse profession, learn about the policy making process, and build a bigger network to look into this externship. And if you have more questions, remember, all you have to do is ask.

The Road Less Traveled

These stunning photographs were submitted by Brayden Routh from Oklahoma State University!

The Road Less TraveledTurquoise TreasureWhen The Weekend Hits

Galápagos Islands

By Erin Beasley, North Carolina State University

During spring break of 2018, I traveled with thirty-one other veterinary students and two professors to the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador for a study abroad program.  I learned about the unique and diverse native species, local culture, and current scientific work with Galápagos tortoises.

After spending a night in Guayaquil, Ecuador, we flew to San Cristóbal.  Seeing the island from the air was fascinating because I noticed the different landscapes/geography of the island.  We walked to Darwin’s Cove and snorkeled there.  I was amazed by the plentiful wildlife, including sea lions, sea turtles, and many fish.  I was most excited to swim with the sea turtles.  While we were exploring the cove, I thought about how Darwin was there long ago.  Walking along the trail, we saw a beautiful sunset along with marine iguanas and sea lions.  We also spotted a marine iguana digging a nest.  The first day in the Galápagos Islands exceeded expectations, so we were excited for the rest of the week.

The next day, we performed health assessments on Galápagos tortoises at the Galapaguera.  I enjoyed learning about the handling techniques of the tortoises, the daily activities of the tortoises, and the involvement of the national park workers.  By the end of the day, I had taken temperature of tortoises, collected blood, obtained heart rates and respiratory rates, and observed their overall condition.  This experience showed me how field work is conducted in the islands, and it made me look forward to field work in the future.

Galápagos tortoiseWe also embarked on a SCUBA diving trip to Kicker Rock.  My favorite part was swimming within a very large school of fish.  Additionally, we swam with over fifty sharks, including a hammerhead shark.  It was interesting to compare the marine ecosystem with North Carolina’s.  Later that day, we hiked around La Loberia, where we saw dozens of marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and various gulls.

Marine iguana

We left San Cristóbal and arrived at Isabela Island.  This island was more remote.  We snorkeled at Concha de Perla, where I saw a variety of fish, sea lions, and marine iguanas.  One day, we hiked to the top of the volcano Cerro Negra and viewed the caldera.  This caldera is one of the largest in the world, and it was interesting to learn about the life cycle of lava from the tour guide.  I also biked to the Wall of Tears, which is a sad part of history in the islands.  However, it was good to learn about the history from a tour guide that is a descendent of the original inhabitants. 

Caldera of volcano Cerro Negra

After leaving Isabela Island, we traveled to Santa Cruz.  This island was more populated.  We visited the Charles Darwin Research Center, where we met the lead scientists there and saw Lonesome George.  I liked hearing about their current research and educational efforts.  We also visited the Darwin Animal Doctors Hospital.  This visit helped me understand how veterinary medicine can be conducted in remote settings.

When we returned to Guayaquil, we walked through the land iguana park, along the river, and climbed five hundred stairs to the lighthouse.  Through this adventure, I was able to observe the culture in this large city.

Overall, this study abroad program was fantastic.  I learned so much from seeing the various species in their natural habitat.  This experience also showed me public health issues and research opportunities there.  It was great to spend time with fellow classmates as well.  I am thankful for the support from the SAVMA Integrative Communications and Diversity Committee’s Diversity and Communications Development Travel Grant!