EPDC Study Package Scholarship Winner

Devon Duffy - Auburn

Professional development for many people in the veterinary medicine field starts when they are very young. I believe this because most people knew they wanted to be a veterinarian at a young age. Even though this development started way before a person’s enrollment in veterinary school, I have a few suggestions to an incoming student that I feel would help them in the future.

I would suggest making friends and starting a study group. You are able to divide up work, talk over important ideas, and help each other understand complicated concepts. Help those who need it and ask for help when you need it. There is no sense in falling behind because of your pride. If you are accepted into veterinary school, it is everyone’s goal for you to succeed!

During your breaks, find jobs related to veterinary medicine. You not only gain money, you gain experience. Volunteer at places when you don’t work. The more you work and volunteer, the more experience you will have, the more connections you will have, the more job opportunities you will have after you graduate.

Most importantly, buy a lottery ticket every once in a while and hope for the best. Study hard but remember the important things in life such as friends and family and never study so hard you neglect them. They are your rock, your biggest supporters, and they are the reason you are here. Your veterinary career is what you make of it, good luck!

EPDC Study Package Scholarship Winner

Bridgette Peal - OSU 

This is advice from an exhausted (finals are next week), anxious (clinics

start soon), successful (I think so) third year student to any first year who, no

doubt, thinks they know everything about becoming a successful

veterinarian (I thought the same), on what “professional development”

means to me.

Get to know your classmates; they are your future colleagues. Everyone has

a niche and one day you may need their expertise. Build those relationships

now.

Ask for help when you need it, and ask for feedback. Recognizing and

working on your weaknesses will not go unnoticed.

Study a little every day. To be a professional, you have to be knowledgeable,

and it is important to learn the material, not just memorize it for an exam.

Grades are not everything. Do not let your desire for a 4.0 keep you from

club activities or research. These are great networking opportunities and

ways to expand your knowledge base.

Get in the clinic. You will be able to practice thinking like a doctor and

correlate what you learned in class with real patients. Some days I felt like I

learned more in an afternoon in the clinic than in a week of lectures.

Improve your communication skills. Everyone can work on them, and it may

save you from a lawsuit one day.

Last, take time for yourself. No one can be on all the time. Sometimes you

need to watch bad reality television all afternoon. Professional development

is personal development after all.

EPDC chooses four NAVLE Study Package Scholarship Winners!

Over the next four days we will post the entries from the four winners of the EPDC NAVLE Study Package contest. Each won a subscription to the online study aid of their choosing. Congratulations!!

Bridgette Peal - OSU

Devon Duffy - Auburn

Jenessa Grau - Iowa State

Samantha Thomas - WSU

The prompt was: An essay, 250 words or less, describing what “professional development” means to you.  For example: what would you suggest to an incoming first year who had no idea how to begin their veterinary school career or what are some key steps in becoming a successful veterinary professional?  

CLICK HERE to see the April newsletter. 

Time Flies When Miracles Happen!

Jodie Joseph, Cornell

Entry, Experiences

During my gap year, I worked as a veterinary technician at Holistic Pet Care in Little Falls, New Jersey. What was most remarkable about this place was the dedicated bond between clients and their patient and the heartwarming ability to defy all odds.

My story begins with Darlene and Diamo. Darlene is a 35-years-old human, diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer a few years prior to presenting to our clinic with Diamo, an 11-year-old castrated Siamese cat. Darlene had 40 tumors in her body, ranging as far cranially as her brain and caudally as her extremities. Nearly 70% of her body was removed, through surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation.

Darlene knew exactly where all 40 tumors were because Diamo had pointed them out, nudging each area where the cancer had been. However, there was one spot Diamo did not identify, her pancreas. As many know in human medicine, pancreatic cancer is practically a death sentence, and in animal cancer the prognosis is poor.

Diamo presented to Holistic Pet Care with pancreatic cancer. His previous vet gave him a prognosis of 8-10 DAYS to live. 

We treated Diamo with goat milk, in hopes to stimulate his appetite and make him comfortable. We also treated him with homeopathic remedies in hopes to palliate him. He came for regular rechecks over the ensuing WEEKS, his weight fluctuating slightly, but his condition stabilized. 

Approximately 4 MONTHS after his initial consult, we received the most remarkable news- diagnostic imaging suggested there was NO EVIDENCE OF TUMORS in Diamo. As for Darlene, she had also received a clean bill of health from her oncologist that week! 

         It has been over a  since I met Darlene and Diamo. They continue to inspire me along the path of small animal integrative oncology. I vow to not only fight for my patients, but also fight for my clients.