Dream Jobs!

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My (unrealistic) dream job would be a combination of zoo, wild animal, shelter medicine with some small animal GP mixed in. I'd love to be able to treat pets for free for people who love their pets but can't afford proper care. Realistically I hope to end up in small animal GP and go to Central America from time to time to help out with spay/neuter and vaccine clinics. Hopefully one day I'll bring home my own rescue pet from Central America, probably something missing a limb or an eye or both and more. Maybe I could occasionally help out with sea turtle research or something similar too.
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Dream job would be working in large animal reproduction. Ultrasounds, palpations, embryo transfers, semen collection. Oh a neonatal care~
 
I wish I had posted in this thread initially, would be really fun and interesting to read my response. Now? I am FREAKING OUT because I have no idea what I want to do with my life, and match is coming up very very soon! To apply for a residency or not, that is the question...if not, I have lots of time to figure it all out, but if so....PANIC!!! haha
 
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jmo1012 said:
I wish I had posted in this thread initially, would be really fun and interesting to read my response. Now? I am FREAKING OUT because I have no idea what I want to do with my life, and match is coming up very very soon! To apply for a residency or not, that is the question...if not, I have lots of time to figure it all out, but if so....PANIC!!! haha
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I always assumed your Dream Job was anything that paid for SCUBA and had enough free time/time off to travel for it. 😛

Hmm, dream job? Small animal therio work, epidemiology, internal med and pathology combined.

I love path, but committing to path means giving up live patients. Internal med means more school (well, residency) at a time when I'm sick of school and my fiancee has a good job in SD and put up with me being gone for four years already. Epi means govt job, Army is fun but again with the travel/moving. County jobs are few. I love puppies and had a ton of fun shadowing a therio clinic.
 
ljones2211 said:
Love this thread! I want to be an equine lameness vet...one who charges rich horse owners entirely too much, so I can fund my horse show addiction XD

also...own a small hobby farm where I raise my own livestock - never pay for meat from the grocery store again!

Id also love to own a boarding facility. Winning the lottery sounds good too while we're being delusional and imaginative!
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I'm doing the bottom 2 currently. Owning and working the small farm is great, but I've always had to sell enough animals that I can't quite escape the store. Maybe if I increased rabbit breeding...

Boarding has been a pain. Very few people seem willing to either care for or pay for their animals and the less they visit, the more likely their check bounces... On the positive side (ish), that's how I got the 2 horses I own. Once I got them healthy and up to date again, they've only cost me about $1500-$2000 a year. (Barefoot, on 3 acres to graze, so most cost in the winter). So it is doable, just dealing with boarders can really suck! When you do it, just make sure you have a great contract that covers every weird horror story you can think of.
 
My dream job is the edge of the middle of nowhere as the one stop dairy shop, so consulting, nutrition, repro, IVF, embryo transfer, collections, disease and milk testing... and since I'm middle of nowhere, getting the late night calls for everything else on the farm.
And, somehow still have time to breed sturdy, long living Guernsey (and maybe Brown Swiss) cows for home dairy, show and drafting while working the rest of the farm and raising my girls.
And I want to backpack for a year straight across Europe for retirement.
 
I think my dream job would be doing what I'm doing .... except instead of rotating nighttime and daytime shifts it would be M-W 8am-8pm and then call it a week. I mean, I already like that 'full time' is 3 shifts/week, but it would be nice if they were three day shifts in a row.

And owners would always take all my recommendations without making snippy comments about the cost.

And nobody would ever bring me a dog with itchy skin or ears at 3am.

And I'd never see exotics. Or have any of my patients develop a tension pneumo.

And I'd have the latest 'n greatest in flexible scopes, ultrasound, CT, MRI, ventilators appropriate for long-term use so I could save that near-drowning patient that died, and dialysis equipment.

And minions. Gotta have minions.
 
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Jamr0ckin said:
ACVIM diplomate in small animal medicine treating patients, conducting research, and teaching veterinary students at UTCVM.

Or, even to work in a nice referral hospital doing medicine, nutrition, and canine rehab consults.
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Oh my gosh, how things have changed. Right now, I couldn't imagine doing an internal med residency.
My biggest interests right now include small animal GP (with derm being my favorite) and equine lameness (though I doubt I'll actually end up doing that).
 
Jamr0ckin said:
Oh my gosh, how things have changed. Right now, I couldn't imagine doing an internal med residency.
My biggest interests right now include small animal GP (with derm being my favorite) and equine lameness (though I doubt I'll actually end up doing that).
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Oh! I also am really liking small animal therio.
 
Still living my dream. Owning my own practice has been such a fulfillment of what I wanted in life, it's hard to describe. While I don't always love the administrative part (like hiring/firing), I do love being able to decide on our own policies, when to work with people, and be able to practice medicine in the way I feel is best. I recently hired a 2nd vet and she has the same outlook that I do and it means that I am able to share the case load and discuss cases as necessary.
 
Current thoughts are small animal therio work and oncology. But will likely just end up doing GP work right out of vet school and going from there... perhaps residency down the road.
 
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I'd really like to go into small animal internal medicine, and end up working at one of those large referral hospitals. Or, you know, run my own practice and take referral cases within my specialty, if I could.

What will I say four years from now? Dunno, that's really hard to say. I'm betting it will probably change, though.
 
#1 (for now): Specializing in canine reproduction and working exclusively with dog breeders/pet stores to improve breed quality and quality of life for young pets from the production standpoint.
#2 (for now): Emergency

When I was little, I wanted to be the vet that took care of the Olympic horses. 🙂
Never ever again: small animal general practice
 
LetItSnow said:
I think my dream job would be doing what I'm doing .... except instead of rotating nighttime and daytime shifts it would be M-W 8am-8pm and then call it a week. I mean, I already like that 'full time' is 3 shifts/week, but it would be nice if they were three day shifts in a row.

And owners would always take all my recommendations without making snippy comments about the cost.

And nobody would ever bring me a dog with itchy skin or ears at 3am.

And I'd never see exotics. Or have any of my patients develop a tension pneumo.

And I'd have the latest 'n greatest in flexible scopes, ultrasound, CT, MRI, ventilators appropriate for long-term use so I could save that near-drowning patient that died, and dialysis equipment.

And minions. Gotta have minions.
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aka pre-vets
 
Dream: ACZM diplomate, doing conservation medicine research in the field, employed by either a zoo or some kind of wildlife conservation institution. Basically, I want to be the vet I interned for.

Slightly more realistic: Anything that ultimately lets me do some kind of research while avoiding private practice (I just don't want clients...is that too much to ask? 😛). I've been working this summer as a lab animal technician for a pharmaceutical company, and I'm starting to think I could really enjoy lab animal medicine. (I think I'm really just discovering that I prefer working with professionals over working with the clients at the small animal hospital where I was previously employed. 🙄)
 
My ultimate dream job? Pokemon master of course! 😀

But barring that doesn't work out... I think (at the moment), I would be really happy as a mixed animal practitioner, though I think if I could find a balance between a small animal GP and some emergency work I would really enjoy that as well. :shrug: Who knows what will happen.
 
I would love to specialize in surgery.. not sure on SA or LA. Struggling with not making much for 4 years after school with increasing interest rates and paying off debt.
 
My dream would be to be WTF. Only I do actually plan on industry first then swinging back round to academics at some point. As long as I get a laboratory of my own, preferably in the basement of my off grid home, I will be happy. 😏

1372476200_devushka-art-krasivye-kartinki-kote-632960.jpeg
 
I'd love to have a 9-5 weekday government job, preferably at the CDC with the occasional stint as a relief vet at an exotics-only practice. And then of course, be the go-to person for avian medicine--consults, conferences, research, etc.

Yeah...totally realistic, right? 😉
 
1. Use my genetics and ecology degrees to bring back the dinosaurs, open Jurassic Park, and then be the chief veterinarian for Jurassic Park.
OR
2. Travel the world and save endangered species along the way.
 
jmstroup said:
1. Use my genetics and ecology degrees to bring back the dinosaurs, open Jurassic Park, and then be the chief veterinarian for Jurassic Park.
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I'm pretty sure @batsenecal is going to be the dino vet (see below)... and I already called dibs on first associate 😛

batsenecal said:
DIBS!!!!!!!!! DIBS ON DINOSAUR VET RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!
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@jmstroup and @kcoughli, you know what we can do? Open multiple Jurassic Parks/Worlds so that we can all be lead vets at our own park! 😀 It'd be pretty boss.
 
Equine specialized vet who is also certified in surgery and oncology. Also spending a lot of time on research about curing cancer in animals and how rumors are different in animals and people.
 
2.5 months away from starting clinics and I have no idea what I want to do with my life. Veterinary Dentist? Internal Med Specialist? GP? Practice owner? Hopefully clinics will help guide me in the right direction 🙂
 
Kpowell14 said:
2.5 months away from starting clinics and I have no idea what I want to do with my life. Veterinary Dentist? Internal Med Specialist? GP? Practice owner? Hopefully clinics will help guide me in the right direction 🙂
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In a perfect world, I'd be both a specialist and practice owner! I worked with a veterinarian who ran a typical GP hospital but was also board-certified and took in lots of referral cases. I'd love to do that, but that seems kinda too good to be true for me so I'll probably have to pick one.
 
LyraGardenia said:
I'm sure you meant "tumors," but now I'm picturing pets gossiping about their friends. :laugh:
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Yes I did mean tumors but I suppose it would be interesting to study this as well. 😉 Phone autocorrect to blame :annoyed:
 
Kpowell14 said:
2.5 months away from starting clinics and I have no idea what I want to do with my life. Veterinary Dentist? Internal Med Specialist? GP? Practice owner? Hopefully clinics will help guide me in the right direction 🙂
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Kpowell is gonna do it all. Wonder vet.
 
If everything works out, I want to be a veterinary pathologist, DACVP, working on preclinical drug trials and consulting for zoos. Or, as my friends and boyfriend like to say, I'll be a student for life
 
Kpowell14 said:
2.5 months away from starting clinics and I have no idea what I want to do with my life. Veterinary Dentist? Internal Med Specialist? GP? Practice owner? Hopefully clinics will help guide me in the right direction 🙂
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for a second, i thought it was spring and i was suddenly very confused, and then i read your sig haha

i knew what i wanted to do going into clinics and came out not knowing. i was hoping my internship would shed some light, but i still feel very confused and conflicted...sigh

when are you coming to tampa? and with what service? we currently have 4 (!) externs here right now 🙂

thecatastrophist said:
In a perfect world, I'd be both a specialist and practice owner! I worked with a veterinarian who ran a typical GP hospital but was also board-certified and took in lots of referral cases. I'd love to do that, but that seems kinda too good to be true for me so I'll probably have to pick one.
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i knew a surgeon and an internist that got tired of their day jobs and opened a (now extremely successful) ER/IM/Sx practice together...
 
jmo1012 said:
for a second, i thought it was spring and i was suddenly very confused, and then i read your sig haha

i knew what i wanted to do going into clinics and came out not knowing. i was hoping my internship would shed some light, but i still feel very confused and conflicted...sigh

when are you coming to tampa? and with what service? we currently have 4 (!) externs here right now 🙂


i knew a surgeon and an internist that got tired of their day jobs and opened a (now extremely successful) ER/IM/Sx practice together...
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Hahaha Sorry for the confusion - Mizzou does things differently. I will be there Nov 9th - 20th! It is my first external rotation so I am pretty excited! I have no clue what service i'll be on - I asked the extern coordinator and she said I would rotate through a couple services depending on case load :shrug: ( im hoping for time on either IM, Derm, & ECC)
 
Kpowell14 said:
Hahaha Sorry for the confusion - Mizzou does things differently. I will be there Nov 9th - 20th! It is my first external rotation so I am pretty excited! I have no clue what service i'll be on - I asked the extern coordinator and she said I would rotate through a couple services depending on case load :shrug: ( im hoping for time on either IM, Derm, & ECC)
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i suspect you will be able to get time on all of those if you'd like 🙂 we have IM 5 days a week, CC 7 days a week, ER 7 days a week (this is separate from CC), and derm...yeah haven't figured that one out yet. there are 2 derm people, one who rotates to all the hospitals, another who is in tampa some of the days per week (no more than 4, but i dont know if shes there all 4)
we have a high case load for all services, and if you really wanted to spend all your time with one service i think you could easily do that
 
jmo1012 said:
for a second, i thought it was spring and i was suddenly very confused, and then i read your sig haha

i knew what i wanted to do going into clinics and came out not knowing. i was hoping my internship would shed some light, but i still feel very confused and conflicted...sigh

when are you coming to tampa? and with what service? we currently have 4 (!) externs here right now 🙂
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I was wondering if you were at BP - we had one of your guys' techs (Lisa I think?) fill in a day at the shelter I was externing at and she mentioned they had an NC State person. 🙂
 
Trilt said:
I was wondering if you were at BP - we had one of your guys' techs (Lisa I think?) fill in a day at the shelter I was externing at and she mentioned they had an NC State person. 🙂
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😉 except that they put me down wrong on the intern mug shots sheet, and claimed i'm solely from NCSU (which obviously i'm not). one of your classmates is here right now
 
jmo1012 said:
i suspect you will be able to get time on all of those if you'd like 🙂 we have IM 5 days a week, CC 7 days a week, ER 7 days a week (this is separate from CC), and derm...yeah haven't figured that one out yet. there are 2 derm people, one who rotates to all the hospitals, another who is in tampa some of the days per week (no more than 4, but i dont know if shes there all 4)
we have a high case load for all services, and if you really wanted to spend all your time with one service i think you could easily do that
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Sweet! Yea at first I wanted to just get some derm in because we dont have a dermatoligist at Mizzou, but the hospital is so busy that I want to be on a little bit of everything haha. I havent figured out how that will work with them submitting a grade for me - I guess the doctors would just talk and agree on a grade? No clue how that works.
 
that redhead said:
Got an update fax for a patient that was seen at the ER the other night (admitted 12:52am)...for itchy skin. I wanted to buy that vet a drink.
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Effing hot spot emergencies man!

What I hated is that treating hot spots is easy. But I couldn't in good conscience not open up the whole can of worms by giving the allergy talk. And then I facepalm when they tell me the dog's been itchy for years and their vet told them just to feed grain free.
 
Minnerbelle said:
Effing hot spot emergencies man!

What I hated is that treating hot spots is easy. But I couldn't in good conscience not open up the whole can of worms by giving the allergy talk. And then I facepalm when they tell me the dog's been itchy for years and their vet told them just to feed grain free.
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Smh
 
Right now, I definitely want to be an epidemiologist. I'm going to try field and research to see where I want to end up (hence all of the planned degrees) I also want to do the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service training program 😍
 
Minnerbelle said:
Effing hot spot emergencies man!

What I hated is that treating hot spots is easy. But I couldn't in good conscience not open up the whole can of worms by giving the allergy talk. And then I facepalm when they tell me the dog's been itchy for years and their vet told them just to feed grain free.
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A client told me recently that they thought their itchy dog had a food allergy so they switched to some XYZ grain & gluten-free nonsense brand. I said, oh what's the protein in that? The owner's response: chicken, turkey, AND beef :smack: Any improvement in itchiness? Nope
 
that redhead said:
Got an update fax for a patient that was seen at the ER the other night (admitted 12:52am)...for itchy skin. I wanted to buy that vet a drink.
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They loooooooove to come in at 3am, because they've been scratching all night keeping the owners up. Anything that causes the dog to annoy the owner (respiratory, scratching....) always shows up at 3am. It's a rule. 🙂
 
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