Feeling lost more than a year out

[dvm24]

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I've been having a hard time figuring out what I want to do with my DVM degree. I don't enjoy clinical work like I thought I would during vet school. Working with animals and owners gives me immense anxiety and I don't have a strong work culture or mentor to lean on when I'm having trouble with something or just want a second opinion. I've always considered non-clinical veterinary jobs, but most seem to be governmental or require a specialty. At this time, I don't think government work is ideal and I don't know how to figure out if there is a specialty out there like radiology or anatomic pathology that I would actually enjoy without testing the waters. Does anyone have insight or advice on 1) Where to find non-clinical veterinary jobs other than AVMA career website and 2) Know where I can get more information about what a radiology or AP specialists' job would be like to determine if I'd be fit for pursuing a residency in either of those? It'd be easier if I were still a vet student and could do an externship, but does anything like that exist for veterinarians looking for a potential career change? I've always enjoyed those topics in general, but not sure I love them enough to pursue residency.

 

[vampyrica]

i’m not a veterinarian, just throwing my two cents here. would telemedicine toxicology be an option for you? when i worked ER and we had ingestion and poisoning cases, we would call the ASPCA poison control line and our doctors communicated to them via phone and email only. i’m not sure what other credentials you would need besides being board certified, but it’s an option i suppose?

anyone who knows more about this- feel free to jump in and correct me.

 

[JaynaAli]

i’m not a veterinarian, just throwing my two cents here. would telemedicine toxicology be an option for you? when i worked ER and we had ingestion and poisoning cases, we would call the ASPCA poison control line and our doctors communicated to them via phone and email only. i’m not sure what other credentials you would need besides being board certified, but it’s an option i suppose?

anyone who knows more about this- feel free to jump in and correct me.

I don’t think you even have to be boarded to start that kind of job, I think they train on the job and you can get boarded later. I don’t know how often @DVMDream comes round but they used to work for one of those companies, though I think they’re back in regular practice now.

Most people I know who were out in practice and decided to pursue pathology later on spent their days off shadowing pathologists in academia. Most pathologists in diagnostics like for Antech and Idexx work remotely from home now, so it’s harder to connect to locals and shadow those kinds of jobs when a decade ago you might be able to shadow at other local labs besides just a vet school. It can be hard for career changers, and unfortunately, you really do need time shadowing to decide if pathology is a career you want. People applying without strong letters of rec from at least one pathologist don’t often get far. Kansas State and maybe another place have pathology focused internships which can be a decent foot in the door and a way to get short term (1 year) intense experience in pathology and decide if a path residency is for you if you need some time of full time job with benefits (though low paying) to get some more path specific experience if you do decide you might want to pursue path and want more exposure.

In general I would strongly recommend only specializing if you truly love the topic, not just because you dislike general practice more. But I know getting that experience can be tough once you leave vet school and access to specialists is more limited.

 

[battie]

I think we need to know more information about your current work environment. Not all hospitals or clinics are created equal and he may need a different environment to truly know if you want clinical practice

 

[Polocrosse2017]

For radiology if you can afford to do a 2 week externship somewhere like Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists it really gives you a great idea of exactly what a radiologist does day by day. Doing an externship there really solidified that was what I really wanted to do with my career. It is hard to get an internship or residency in radiology, particularly is you have been out in practice but not impossible. You will have to get to know people. Contacts mean so much in that field.

 

[pp9]

I've been having a hard time figuring out what I want to do with my DVM degree. I don't enjoy clinical work like I thought I would during vet school. Working with animals and owners gives me immense anxiety and I don't have a strong work culture or mentor to lean on when I'm having trouble with something or just want a second opinion. I've always considered non-clinical veterinary jobs, but most seem to be governmental or require a specialty. At this time, I don't think government work is ideal and I don't know how to figure out if there is a specialty out there like radiology or anatomic pathology that I would actually enjoy without testing the waters. Does anyone have insight or advice on 1) Where to find non-clinical veterinary jobs other than AVMA career website and 2) Know where I can get more information about what a radiology or AP specialists' job would be like to determine if I'd be fit for pursuing a residency in either of those? It'd be easier if I were still a vet student and could do an externship, but does anything like that exist for veterinarians looking for a potential career change? I've always enjoyed those topics in general, but not sure I love them enough to pursue residency.

Company rep is a great non-clinical position that doesn't need a specialty. Purina, Hill's, pharmaceutical companies, etc.

As for getting more experience in the specialty...it might be challenging for you to find someone willing to take you on since you're already a vet. Do you have a good relationship with your nearest specialty hospital or vet school?

 

[VIN-Foundation]

In general I would strongly recommend only specializing if you truly love the topic, not just because you dislike general practice more.

I think this is really important. Just because you are not enjoying one job area does not necessarily mean you will enjoy another area.

Your mention of immense anxiety is worrying. If you haven't already done so, you might consider getting evaluated by a mental health care provider just in case.

All the best.