Veterinary Residency Program Instruction - Thoughts?

[LMMS]

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OK, I’m finally going to bite the bullet and get an opinion on something that’s been nagging at me for a few years. I ask that you please read this as it is for face value. Don’t try to dissect it. Rather, give me your opinion based upon face value and/or gut feeling. I want the truth; and I know I can count on you guys to give it to me.

If you were to go onto a residency program to specialize, how would you feel if one of your instructors didn’t have a doctorate or professional degree? I ask because I have been offered more than one position that would have me teaching/training newly minted veterinarians to work in my particular field. I have declined these offers in the past because I fear individuals in these programs may not like/respect having an instructor who was not as the same level educationally and perhaps feel they were getting a raw deal. My brother in law (a physician) says that I shouldn’t worry because I’ll get respected for my knowledge and skills; but I’m just not sure how it would be perceived.

Any and all thoughts are appreciated. Thanks, guys. 🙂

 

[twelvetigers]

Letters after a name aren't worth half as much as a competent educator that knows what (s)he is talking about and does a good job of teaching it.

 

[Bracco Pointer]

I think it will depend on each individual resident. Some might be narrow minded, but I truly believe that anyone who *wants* to learn will recognize your knowledge for what it is and appreciate the chance to learn from you .... regardless of your education.

 

[StartingoverVet]

Of course there are going to be arseholes that treat you with disrespect, just like a few people may not care what a nurse/vet tech tells them in vet school, but for the vast majority it doesn't matter. If you are knowledgeable, helpful, and engage learning/teaching in a enjoyable manner, that will be all that matters.

I had a chemistry instructor that "only" had a masters and she was the best chem teacher I had, and I was happy to be her student rather than some crotchedly old worthless Professors.

I say go for it, but just know there MAY be an occasional elitist out there.

 

[Packen]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but as you asked, this is my gut reaction - it entirely depends on what you are teaching.

For example, if I am doing a surgical residency, I want to be instructed by a board certified veterinary surgeon, or at least a veterinarian with tons of surgical experience. Same for basically all clinical based residencies.

I don't think I would mind if the residency were in a field that where the skills being learned were specific to a veterinarian. What comes to mind is animal behavior - understanding and teaching the principles of behavior do not require a veterinary degree. Or even an alphabet soup after your name.

So that is my two cents. Hope it is helpful.

 

[Emiloo4]

At UF, we have an anatomy instructor who is by far the best teacher I have ever met in my life. The professors come to him when they have an anatomy questions. We all thought he was a DVM, PhD and we all go to him for everything. He's truly awesome. We found out he tried to get into vet school 7 or 8 times and never did. I don't know a single student who has any less confidence in him. I still go to him first every single time.

Secondly, who gives a shiz what the students think? I'd MUCH rather have a competent instructor than someone with fancy letters after their name who can't teach you the alphabet (bc we have those too 🙄 ). But when it comes down to it, you will earn their respect in no time. If this is something you want to do, definitely go for it.

 

[485501]

My mother, for a variety of reasons, never graduated college, and because of the school she went to, she couldn't even get an associate's degree for the 3+ years of full-time school and additional continuing education. However, she has huge amounts of training from appreticeships, certificate programs, and a lifetime of working in the medical field. She is a developmental physical therapist, and does things like help children learn to walk after various MDs have given up on the kids.
She also occasionally teaches classes to recently-graduated MDs on practical hands-on skills, presentations of developmental problems, etc. She is mostly respected, but she gets a lot of grief from the occasional student and the occasional fellow instructor.
So, my impression is that you would get respect from most of the students, and then there would be the occasional person who would be completely disrespectful. If you think that won't bother you, I would say go for it. If the people who run the program think you have valuable info/skills to teach the residents, then you do.

 

[goldnretrivrgrl]

I think I would be impressed and interested to know what kind of skills you had that got you a teaching position over someone with a higher level degree. The fact that you are being offered these jobs speaks for itself. And honestly, if you teach me something that I want to learn in a way that is both interesting and accessible, I would be delighted with you no matter what kind of education you had.

 

[twelvetigers]

Letters after a name aren't worth half as much as a competent educator that knows what (s)he is talking about and does a good job of teaching it.

This was my 10,000th post so it carries that extra bit of weight, too.

 

[LMMS]

TT;s 10,000th post was on this thread?!? I feel honored!!!

Thanks for the excellent feedback; and thank you for being honest. THIS is what I was looking for. Knew I could count on you guys. You're such a good bunch...

I've been teaching/training for about a decade now. However, working with the populations I do (MDs, medical residents, post-docs, etc...), I'm dealing with lots of folks that don't have a deep knowledge of critters. Thus, they're usually a captivating audience when I have to explain that a rabbit is NOT a neonate and then demonstrate how they should be handled / treated. However, I have had the occasional individual who has scoffed at the fact that they're being 'forced' to learn from a 'non doctor'. But, when I hear it, I understand it completely.

I've never really thought I was 'all that'; but have had many an institution come knocking over the past few years trying to recruit me as part of their team - including institutions hoping to set up veterinary residency programs in the future. But, I've always turned them down due to my reservations or because I had pending vet school apps. Whether or not anyone comes looking in the near future has yet to be seen (my last recruitment happened right after OK State waitlisted me). But, I've heard from a couple of colleagues that I may be getting another offer soon. Thus, I've been thinking about it a lot lately.

I really do love what I do; and know that if I leave working with the critters that a little part of me will likely die. Also, given that one of my goals of obtaining a DVM was to teach, working in a residency program could perhaps be a good thing for me. But I still worry on a level. It may just have to do with underlying thoughts that apparently I'm good enough to teach but am not good enough to become one. It's an odd dichotomy.

Thanks again for the feedback. If anyone else has something they want to toss in feel free. I've got thick skin, so knock your socks off. Within reason of course. 😉

 

[Bill59]

Letters after a name aren't worth half as much as a competent educator that knows what (s)he is talking about and does a good job of teaching it.

Most residencies require training to be performed under the supervision of a board-certified diplomate of the particular speciality. That doesn't mean non-boarded people can't be involved in the training, but the supervising specialist must indeed have the right letters after their name.

 

[twelvetigers]

Most residencies require training to be performed under the supervision of a board-certified diplomate of the particular speciality. That doesn't mean non-boarded people can't be involved in the training, but the supervising specialist must indeed have the right letters after their name.

This makes sense. I was assuming that she would work with someone who did have the correct credentials - just pointing out that, if you know about something and can teach it well, those are the most important things for someone to learn from you, legalities aside.

 

[that redhead]

I wouldn't be surprised to hear people turn their noses up at the idea, but I personally wouldn't care so long as the person was extremely knowledgable about the material (professional degree or otherwise) and had the skills to teach it well. I think the key is respect from both parties.

 

[LMMS]

I think the key is respect from both parties.

Red, I couldn't agree more.