STUDENT EXPERIENCE: ACVO CONVENTION

Submitted by Nicki Doan, Ross University

The ACVO (American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology) is a national convention held annually for all veterinary ophthalmologists and those interested in veterinary ophthalmology to attend. To be quite honest, I was very intimidated by the thought of being surrounded by very intelligent hardworking diplomats who earned their spot in this field. But there were also people like me, who had a strong passion for ophthalmology, and were interested in paving our own paths in this field as well. My goal for this conference was to learn about the new scientific research, observe what a national scientific conference is like, and build connections with those who have the same goals as I do. 

The first day consisted of scientific presentations about the tear film, cornea, uvea, and glaucoma. Presenters were at various stages of the ophthalmology totem pole - there were some presenting research as a veterinary student, all the way up to those in a tenured faculty position. I was very impressed with how much work went into these projects, and how much knowledge came out of it.

In between the general presentation sessions, we had a room full of posters that veterinary students, interns, and residents worked on during that year. These posters covered everything one could literally imagine possible in veterinary ophthalmology, such as infectious diseases, to immunology, to predisposed ocular pathologies. 

In the afternoon I attended the Career Fair, which was divided up into specialty internships, residencies, and employment. I had so much fun getting to know more about these programs and having light discussions with those clinicians. I think the most fun was meeting other rotating interns sharing the same experience as me. There’s just something empowering about sharing a similar goal, and having that support system along the way. 

Meeting other Rossies at the conference was also a highlight of the experience. We island kids share a very unique veterinary school experience, and it’s so comforting to meet others with shared memories of St. Kitts landmarks such as Port Zante, Brimstone Fortress, and Romney Manor. In addition, Rossie ophthalmologists make great role models; seeing someone with a similar background become successful showed me that I can be successful too. 

The next 2 days were quite similar to the first, with the theme of presentations and posters being a different aspect of the eye. Overall, my first scientific conference experience was phenomenal and I am empowered by all the drive and passion for veterinary ophthalmology. I left the conference feeling very inspired by my peers, and I hope to be able to make the same contributions to this field just as they had.

STUDENT EXPERIENCE: OEPS CONFERENCE

Submitted by Leiloni Johnson, Ross University

I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to attend this conference. It was an eye opening and career altering experience. The organizers of the conference, both AAEP and OEPS, were clear with their vision of wanting students to understand two simple facts. Firstly, they emphasized that it’s not what you practice that will dictate your salary but how you practice. I feel that while I was attending undergrad and even here at Ross, I was told frequently that an equine or large animal practitioner would not be a course to pursue if you ever wanted to live comfortably financially. We have all heard the stories of the large animal vets back home that are working harder than anyone in the area and still barely making ends meet. However, there are quite a few opportunities that can kick this notion to the curb. Many of the doctors at the conference mentioned that the areas that they chose to live in had a great impact on the number of clients and cases that they would see. It also had an impact on the type and quality of medicine they were able to practice. The AVMA did a survey a while back recording the salaries of new grads in their 1^st year out of vet school. The results of this study are shocking in the comparison of small animal vets compared to large animal. Small animal new grads brought roughly 100,000 a year while large animal vets were around 60,000. Dr. Jackie Christakos kindly shared the flaws that arose in this study. The first problem was that the study reported only a very small number of large vets in compared to a large sample size of small animal vets. The next point that she made was that the track that most equine vets take to help kick start their career is to do an internship right out of vet school and not starting as an associate right away. As many of us know interns don’t have the salary of an associate but will be working harder to gain 3-4 years of experience right out of the gate. This internship also provided interns with mentorship that can give them the confidence and challenges to really succeed.  These interns can then proceed into practice as an associate with more experience. In this study Interns and 1-year associates were not separated thus drastically lowering the results of what a true associate in the quine workplace would make. Another excellent opportunity that was presented during the conference was the potential to increase your practice even with financial constraints in partnering with a larger business. This allows your business to have the financial support to keep up with the technology and to pay your staff what they deserve with less risk and strain on your part. It allows you to set the stress of owning and running a business on someone else’s shoulders while still being able to practice medicine the way you want. 

            The second point that was really emphasized at the conference was the necessity of a work-life balance and that it is very much obtainable. Again, an important factor was not what you practice but how you practice and the environment you create at your practice. Creating partnerships and having associates allows for a shared workload, making it possible for all parties to truly take a needed step back from work to enjoy personal time. Now this doesn’t mean that you’re never on call it just means you’re on call less. An important factor of being on call is that the phone is not a ball and chain tethering you to your home. It’s okay to go to the grocery store or out on a date even with the emergency phone in your pocket. That call you get on the phone may not be the “come in call” but simply a question of clarification, you never know. They discussed the importance of having hobbies outside of work whether that be still spending time with animals in other ways or doing the occasional underwater basket weaving. Either way it’s important to let your mind rest from the stress and allow it to recharge. Many clinics mentioned that their practices were as successful as they are due to the environment that they created as coworkers and associates. One of my favorite things that was noticeable was the comradery not only within the clinic but also their relationships with clients, trainers, farriers, and other vets. Rhoad and Rittle and Haygards, two of the top equine clinics in the country just a few miles from each other in the heart of Kentucky work side by side to provide the best care possible to the patients and promote the growth and welfare of the equine industry. A good environment with teamwork and positivity can completely flip the attitudes and morals of those working in or around it. If we looked at how far we all have come many of us will say that we wouldn’t be where we are without the support of family, friends, and mentors. That should be the goal of every practice, to truly support and lift the profession as a team in every way possible. Our world is changing in both good and bad ways, but it was said multiple times that “there is no better time to be an equine vet!” Dr. Sherry Johnson stated, “the best things happen when you take risks and put yourself out there… get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Now is the time to follow our passions and to have confidence in the understanding that we can succeed as an equine veterinarian knowing that the hard work, we put in now will lead to a full and happy career if we accept setbacks but never stop learning and growing towards our goals.