- Email: [email protected]
Professional success
William E. Jones, DVM, PhD Editor/Publisher Ann Slatten Jones, BA Associate Editor Paula Slatten, Circulation/Advertising
PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS Advisory Board Joerg A. Auer, DVM J.M. Bowen, BVet Med, FRCVS Wolfgang Jöchle, DVM, Dr. med. vet. Thomas Lane, DVM Pierre Lekeux, DVM, PhD John Madigan, DVM, DipACVIM Scott Palmer, VMD Gary D. Potter, PhD Sarah L. Ralston, VMD, PhD, DipACVN Norman Rantanen, DVM, MS, DipACVR Marc Ratzlaff, DVM, PhD Rueben Rose, DVSc, PhD, FRCVS Peter Timoney, MVB, MS, PhD
Editorial office: 909-678-1889 Advertising office: 909-678-1889; FAX 909-678-1885
Copyright © 2001 by William E. Jones. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or copied either wholly or in part without permission of the publisher. Subscriptions: P.O. Box 1209, Wildomar, CA 92595; phone (909) 678-1889. U.S. individual subscription rate $155; Canada and Mexico $160; overseas $185; libraries $210, $220 and $240 respectively. Members of some organizations receive a discounted subscription ($99 US; $105 Canada & Mexico; $125 overseas): AAEP; AVMA; IAEP; ENPS; WEVA. On-line subscription $25 (no mailed hard copy). Journal of Equine Veterinary Science (ISSN No. 0737-0806) is published monthly (12 times a year) by William E. Jones, 20225 Grand Ave., Wildomar, CA 92595. Periodical postage paid at Wildomar, CA 92595. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, P.O. Box 1209, Wildomar, CA 92595.
Original work published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science is peer-reviewed by two or more referees familiar with the content of the paper. Referees' comments are incorporated into a revised manuscript and reviewed for a second time before publication. Authors are encouraged to obtain a complete copy of "Author's Guidelines" on-line, where each issue is also published: www.j-evs.com
Are you satisfied with your career? Are you happy that you chose veterinary medicine as a career? Do you think you are successful, or at least on the road to success? I suppose that depends on how you measure success. After 45 years as a veterinarian— in practice, academics and publishing— I feel that success involves more than making money. Financial success is only part of the total feeling of success that we all work towards. I believe success is complete only if, in the end, we have made a significant contribution to our profession. Last month more than 200 veterinary medicine and veterinary technology students attended a forum, at Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, on the topic "From School to Success: Shaping the Future of Your Veterinary Career." The speakers discussed the current economic status of the profession, the need for teamwork in moving the profession to a sounder economic base, and the tools that are emerging to help address these problems. All of the speakers emphasized the need to change the current culture of the veterinary profession such that practitioners value themselves and their services more highly. They also stressed that being a successful veterinarian entails more than scientific/clinical skills; it involves business, communication, and other life skills, as well. Building those skills was an important part of the forum, which focused on self-esteem, professional image, time management, marketing oneself, leadership, gender issues, negotiating employment contracts, financial planning, and successful client communication. I realize that in the early years of one's career, developing expertise in one or more specialties within the profession is an all-consuming endeavor. Along the way, it is easy to grow myopic about our veterinary profession. Those who retain a broad-based interest in many aspects of veterinary medicine feel better about themselves and are in a better position to contribute to our profession in a significant manner. William E. Jones DVM, PHD Editor/publisher
Printed by Layton Printing, 357 E. Arrow Highway, #203, San Dimas, CA 91773. Phn: 909-592-4419.
Volume 21, Number 11, 2001
513
PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS Advisory Board Joerg A. Auer, DVM J.M. Bowen, BVet Med, FRCVS Wolfgang Jöchle, DVM, Dr. med. vet. Thomas Lane, DVM Pierre Lekeux, DVM, PhD John Madigan, DVM, DipACVIM Scott Palmer, VMD Gary D. Potter, PhD Sarah L. Ralston, VMD, PhD, DipACVN Norman Rantanen, DVM, MS, DipACVR Marc Ratzlaff, DVM, PhD Rueben Rose, DVSc, PhD, FRCVS Peter Timoney, MVB, MS, PhD
Editorial office: 909-678-1889 Advertising office: 909-678-1889; FAX 909-678-1885
Copyright © 2001 by William E. Jones. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or copied either wholly or in part without permission of the publisher. Subscriptions: P.O. Box 1209, Wildomar, CA 92595; phone (909) 678-1889. U.S. individual subscription rate $155; Canada and Mexico $160; overseas $185; libraries $210, $220 and $240 respectively. Members of some organizations receive a discounted subscription ($99 US; $105 Canada & Mexico; $125 overseas): AAEP; AVMA; IAEP; ENPS; WEVA. On-line subscription $25 (no mailed hard copy). Journal of Equine Veterinary Science (ISSN No. 0737-0806) is published monthly (12 times a year) by William E. Jones, 20225 Grand Ave., Wildomar, CA 92595. Periodical postage paid at Wildomar, CA 92595. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, P.O. Box 1209, Wildomar, CA 92595.
Original work published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science is peer-reviewed by two or more referees familiar with the content of the paper. Referees' comments are incorporated into a revised manuscript and reviewed for a second time before publication. Authors are encouraged to obtain a complete copy of "Author's Guidelines" on-line, where each issue is also published: www.j-evs.com
Are you satisfied with your career? Are you happy that you chose veterinary medicine as a career? Do you think you are successful, or at least on the road to success? I suppose that depends on how you measure success. After 45 years as a veterinarian— in practice, academics and publishing— I feel that success involves more than making money. Financial success is only part of the total feeling of success that we all work towards. I believe success is complete only if, in the end, we have made a significant contribution to our profession. Last month more than 200 veterinary medicine and veterinary technology students attended a forum, at Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, on the topic "From School to Success: Shaping the Future of Your Veterinary Career." The speakers discussed the current economic status of the profession, the need for teamwork in moving the profession to a sounder economic base, and the tools that are emerging to help address these problems. All of the speakers emphasized the need to change the current culture of the veterinary profession such that practitioners value themselves and their services more highly. They also stressed that being a successful veterinarian entails more than scientific/clinical skills; it involves business, communication, and other life skills, as well. Building those skills was an important part of the forum, which focused on self-esteem, professional image, time management, marketing oneself, leadership, gender issues, negotiating employment contracts, financial planning, and successful client communication. I realize that in the early years of one's career, developing expertise in one or more specialties within the profession is an all-consuming endeavor. Along the way, it is easy to grow myopic about our veterinary profession. Those who retain a broad-based interest in many aspects of veterinary medicine feel better about themselves and are in a better position to contribute to our profession in a significant manner. William E. Jones DVM, PHD Editor/publisher
Printed by Layton Printing, 357 E. Arrow Highway, #203, San Dimas, CA 91773. Phn: 909-592-4419.
Volume 21, Number 11, 2001
513