Vet Candy: Interview with Dr. Charles McMillan

Up close and personal with Dr. Charles McMillan 

When Dr. Charles McMillan first set foot in a vet’s office for a volunteer position, he found a passion for an industry that never left. At 14 years old, his volunteer time with a vet’s office quickly turned into a paid position, his first ever job, and a sign of what was to come.

Since then, Dr. McMillan has become a skilled veterinarian, graduating from the prestigious Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine. He is currently a small animal practitioner, and has shared his knowledge through presentations on the national level as well as sitting on an editorial and scientific advisory board.

An avid reader, Dr. McMillan’s favorite books include The Mismeasure of Man by Stephen Jay Gould and The Dog’s Mind by Bruce Fogle. One of his favorite areas of his home is the part of it filled with books. 

One of the biggest problems he sees in the veterinary industry is the lack of representation of different races in the field. White men and women make up the vast majority of veterinarians. If you aspire to become a veterinarian and never see someone like yourself working the job you want to have, it can put up a barrier to achieving your dreams before you even get there.

He’s also concerned about how difficult it is to find proper staff to keep a veterinary office running smoothly. He worries this is a sign of a growing problem, and that change needs to happen in order to stop this from occurring.

Care needs to be taken with everyone from the receptionist all the way up to the Veterinarian to make sure they can do their jobs safely, comfortably, and well. This means finding ways to reduce stress, but also getting the proper equipment for them so they have the tools needed to do their job.

Dr. McMillan also believes there is greater work to be done culturally as well. He hopes the country can eventually become a true meritocracy, and that the world can move forward into something truly multicultural.

This can be done through creating a culture of understanding. The more empathy we have for each other, the better the world has the potential to become. When we’re more empathetic to those around us, we’ll be in a better position to reach out a helping hand to lift them up. 

Dr. McMillan admires the human ability to work together in large groups, and our ability to adapt. He believes that is possible to reach a true meritocracy, and hopes to be a part of that evolution. Today, Dr. McMillan has a keen interest in human behavior, and discussing race in the veterinary industry through social media, blogs, and magazines.

His life goal is to better the lives of his children, and to keep both his family and his legacy in mind when making important decisions. As a rising star in the field of veterinary medicine, he is well on his way to reaching those goals for his life.

VIN Rounds: Identifying Signs of Animal Abuse (Part 1)

Are you missing out on clinical rotations because of COVID-19? The VIN Student Team has you covered with Tuesday Topic Rounds.  During the month of December, join the VIN Student Team for 30 minute, case-based sessions every Tuesday at 12pm ET. Everyone and all levels of experience are welcome. There will be time for Q&A and discussion following. The next session is Identifying Signs of Animal Abuse: Part 1 on December 14, 2021 at 12 ET.

In this rounds: 

• Are there any pathognomonic signs of animal abuse?
• What are the Five Freedoms?
• What are the red flags of animal abuse?
• What signs are consistent with animal abuse?

TO JOIN THE SESSION, LOG INTO THE VIN STUDENT CENTER AND CLICK THE GREEN BUTTON IN THE TOP RIGHT

The Veterinary Information Network (VIN) is here to help you as a vet student – especially during this worldwide pandemic. Membership is always free as a student!

Webinar- Positive Perseverance: Leading Resilient Teams

Need a reset before exams or a quick break from studying? Join us on December 13 to hear Josh Vaisman speak on Positive Perseverance.

Positive Perseverance: Leading Resilient Teams

Monday, December 13 @8pm ET 

Register in advance for this webinar:

boehringer.zoom.us/webinar/register/...

Description of Program: Having psychological resilience doesn't mean being happy all the time. The most resilient people (and leaders) became that way in part because they were challenged by adversity and developed the ability to overcome it. This session will focus on understanding what resilience means, how to develop skills associated with resilience, and how to use resilience to respond productively to challenges or crises. It will also examine how resilient leaders react to and grow from adverse situations and how their positive orientation bias can help build more resilient teams. You'll walk away with tips and tools on how to develop these characteristics in your own team, maximizing their resilience, so you and your team both thrive.

Speaker: Josh Vaisman, CCFP, MAPPCP, believes all veterinary professionals deserve to feel fulfilled and energized in their work, each and every day. Through his company, Flourish Veterinary Consulting, he combines more than 20 years of veterinary experience, a master's in applied positive psychology and coaching psychology, education in positive leadership and positive organizational scholarship, and a passion for guiding leaders to cultivate workplaces in which people thrive. When he's not crafting ways to elevate the veterinary community, Mr. Vaisman spends his time with his wife, Greta, and their many creatures in Firestone, Colorado. To fill his bucket, he's a soccer-playing, weight-lifting, cookie-eating beekeeper.

VIN Rounds

   

Are you missing out on clinical rotations because of COVID-19? The VIN Student Team has you covered with Tuesday Topic Rounds.  During the month of December, join the VIN Student Team for 30 minute, case-based sessions every Tuesday at 12pm ET. Everyone and all levels of experience are welcome. There will be time for Q&A and discussion following. The next session is Introduction to Veterinary Forensics, the LINK and the Laws on December 7, 2021 at 12 ET.

In this rounds: 

• What is veterinary forensics?
• What is the Link and why is it important to veterinarians?
• Who is a mandatory reporter and for what?
• What is animal abuse?

TO JOIN THE SESSION, LOG INTO THE VIN STUDENT CENTER AND CLICK THE GREEN BUTTON IN THE TOP RIGHT

The Veterinary Information Network (VIN) is here to help you as a vet student – especially during this worldwide pandemic. Membership is always free as a student!

Press Release: "Chats with the Chatfields"

Chatfields and AVMA Trust launch recurring segment for  veterinary students 

“Chats with the Chatfields” is excited to announce the launch of a recurring segment within  their hit podcast. The Chatfields have partnered with the AVMA Trust to bring listeners “V’s  View from Vet School.” This monthly recurring segment will follow Veronica, a veterinary  student, as she takes the journey to become a veterinarian. 

Veronica has a unique pre-vet school background: She is a non-traditional student with  previous experience working in public health epidemiology, as a forensic analyst for a law  enforcement agency, as a veterinary technician, and in private sector industry. Her perspective  is anything but boring! 

Once each month, “V” will share her thoughts on current events, her studies, and interesting  veterinary school happenings as part of the regular episode. Pet lovers and veterinarians alike  will be entertained with this peek into the mystery that is veterinary training. 

Becoming a veterinarian still ranks high in career-path surveys of young people across the  nation and, given the focus on zoonotic diseases and emerging infectious diseases, public  interest in the veterinary profession could continue to see increased interest.1 Communication  between pet lovers and veterinarians is key to providing animals the opportunity to live their  best lives; and insight into the training and process that creates today’s veterinary medical  professionals can only enhance communication among the care team.2 Vet students around the  world will be entertained (and perhaps comforted) hearing that their experience in the grueling  veterinary training is a shared one. 

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