I think the email posted sounds confused about their own goals. On the one hand they talk about being able to work a job.... Manage their lives.... Etc. On the other they talk about how there is more to know now then however many years ago.
Those are contradictory reasons to extend the education. The former wouldn't change the education - just give you more flexibility to finish it at a pace you control. The latter suggests increasing the amount of content.
I think they need to get a better grip on what the PUPOSE is before they start looking for input. They sound confused or conflicted.
And in classic university fashion .... They are ignoring the reality of the incomeebt issue.
Seems like a non-starter to me. At least for now maybe if they had some miraculous way to get the tuition down..........
Speaking of other things that are non-starters (to me, anyway), did anyone see the bit about Colorado (I think???) floating that proposal to create a position in vet med similar to a physician's assistant? I'd have to go dig up a link.....
I agree. If there's SO much more to learn how is adding those 2 semesters in the classroom going to give you more free time? As a non-traditional student I like the idea of slowing the pace a bit, but not by adding more years. With what you get paid to be a vet these days and the tuition insanity, I'd rather see them lessen the time in school. I realize vets are doctors on furry (and sometimes not furry) creatures, so one would think we should do 4 years of school and a residency like the MDs, but the salaries and the way the business works outside of school doesn't support that. Conversely, the public seems to think vet school is only 2-3 years....not 4.
I think the mid-level vet thing is just a totally terrible idea for the profession. I HATE seeing a NP or PA when I make and pay for an appointment to see a damn MD. They make more mistakes and they do lots of things they aren't really supposed to be doing. It's too much MD ego without the MD knowledge base. If we are thinking PA but a vet version, they'd undercut the vet for all the simple procedures and vet school would basically be reserved for people who wanted to specialize. Think of the salary gap between Vet assistants, Vet Techs, and Vets. It's not nearly as large as Nurses, PAs, and MDs. I can't even imagine the salary range a vet PA would hope to fall in. I've always considered the registered Vet Tech the equivalent of the NP or PA for vet medicine, though not quite as the need didn't support it.
Jesus christ, the thought of a house call nail trim on an unvaccinated dog makes me want to jump off a bridge. Why do people do that to themselves? All it does is encourage people who think rabies isn't a big deal and vaccines don't matter. I very briefly thought about commenting to sympathize with my classmate's crappy day but also mentioning it's for the best, since her not-UTD dog biting a Petsmart groomer wouldn't be a pretty situation, but it's not worth it.
