October 28, 1999
6:00 PM

INTRODUCTION
Dr. Smalley graduated from Michigan State University in 1979.  She has
been practicing in the Eugene area for about 20 years, 15 of which were
spent at another clinic working as an associate veterinarian.  She said
that it is typical for graduate vets to work as an associate for 2 to 3
years before moving on to open their own clinic or purchase an existing
one. In most states, it is required that a vet work as an associate before
starting their own practice for anywhere from six months to a year
depending on the state.

POST VET SCHOOL
Vet school, once admitted, is not competitive but it is tough.  After
graduation, you must past the National Board test for which you have three
chances.  Then you must take the State Board test to be certified in the
state(s) which you want to practice.  Some states have reciprocity with
other states such as Ohio and Michigan.  This means that once you are
State Board Certified in Ohio, you can also practice in Michigan.  The
exam usually covers two days and is either written or a combination of
practical and written tests.

Once licensed, you can legally practice on any animal at this time
although you have probably specialized for large or small animals.  This
may be changing in the future however.

STARTING AND RUNNING YOUR OWN PRACTICE
Owning your own clinic is more lucrative than being an associate
veterinarian Dr. Smalley said.  You can do things your own way and
practice in a way that you feel is right.  She also said that it is never
boring because of the variety of people and pets, histories of pets and
tests that she runs.

Management is very important for running your own practice, and Dr.
Smalley had/has problems pricing out appointments.  Buying equipment,
marketing your service, and managing employees also come with running your
own clinic.

NEW PROCESSES AND SPECIALIZATION IN THE VETERINARY FIELD
Kidney transplants, chemotherapy, and a variety of other techniques have
become common place in veterinary medicine.  Specialists work with general
vets to provide excellent care for pets.  Such specialization includes:
dentistry, neurology, pathology, dermatology, surgery, radiology,
optometry, and internistry.  You can become board certified in an area
and then the "family practitioners" can refer patients to you for help.

DEALING WITH OWNERS
Dr. Smalley recommends not limiting a customers options.  She said that
many people have surprised her with how far they would go to save their
pets.  Giving them the option of the best treatment as well as
alternatives helps them decide what works for them financially and
emotionally.  Because she works with small animals, she finds many people
treat their pets as family and the practice has become to be known as
"companion animal" vet medicine.

EXOTIC ANIMALS
Reptiles have been the new wave recently.  Birds have become a new field
of vet medicine and it is closely related to reptile work.  The medicine
and equipment of these two groups overlaps a lot and special drugs are
needed that set them apart from typical animals.

TIME COMMITMENT
Dr. Smalley works about fourteen hours a day seven days a week.  She knew
that it was a big commitment from the effort that she put into it during
school.

MOVING YOUR PRACTICE
Typically some people will follow you if you move your practice within a
city, but others may not.  It usually depends on how well you interact
with your clients as well as such things as distance to the new clinic.

THE VET PRACTICE
You have to love animals to be a dedicated veterinarian.  Dr. Smalley
could not express enough how this profession is not very well paying.
Starting vets receive only 25-30K per year while human physicians receive
twice that when starting.  Communication with people is essential as well
since you will be dealing with pets owners as well as the animal itself.

Being a veterinarian is dirty work.  Dr. Smalley is her knees a lot
working with animals.  She also said that horses kill more vets than any
other animal does.  It can be physically demanding job and sometimes
chemical and physical restraints are needed for the animal.

Animal blood is dealt with a lot but there are few diseases that she has
encountered that can transfer to humans (ring worm being an exception).
Pregnant women are sometimes at risk.  There are health risks involved
like working with chemicals, sterilizes, and disinfectants, and
sustaining injuries from animals.

EXPERIENCE WE SHOULD BE GAINING
Definitely working in a clinic to determine if this field is what we want
to go into.  Because vet school is such a big commitment, it is better to
know ahead of time that it is something that you really want to do.