Guest Author: Elizabeth
Newsom-Stewart
Note: The original and complete version of this story
will be posted on March 19 at www.veritasDVMblog.com
Editor’s
Note: Elizabeth Newsom-Stewart is a second-year DVM
student at Cornell University who recently interviewed a veterinarian to
fulfill her assignment in a class I teach, Veterinary
Medicine: The Versatile Profession. I chose her paper to reprint here
because it speaks cogently to the important issue of whether or not new
graduates need to do an internship to feel qualified to enter veterinary
practice. Because of Elizabeth’s desire
to become involved in the leadership of the profession through organized
veterinary medicine, she interviewed another veterinarian who has provided
leadership at the regional and state levels in New York.
Donald F. Smith
There are two aspects of
the veterinary profession that are important to me: being an excellent
clinician who practices high quality medicine and surgery, and being a leader
in organized veterinary medicine. Those issues were best addressed by
veterinarians in two different stages of their careers; therefore, I interviewed
two different women. First, I interviewed Dr. Angela Silva (Indriolo), a 2011
Cornell graduate, and we discussed issues relating to transitioning from the
role of a veterinary student into that of a practicing veterinarian. I also
interviewed Dr. Linda Tintle, a 1981 Cornell graduate, regarding leadership in
organized veterinary medicine.
Elizabeth Newsom-Stewart, Cornell DVM Class of 2016
Photo Taken during Rural Area Veterinary Services Rotation
(Photo provided by Ms.
Newsom-Stewart)
I chose to interview Dr. Silva because,
as a relatively recent graduate, I felt that she would have a helpful
perspective on how to develop oneself into the best veterinarian possible,
especially during the crucial first few years post graduation. Dr. Silva spent two
years as a small animal general practitioner at Bond Animal Hospital, a busy
general practice in White Plains. She has now transitioned to a practice that
is closer to her home. Dr. Silva is a certified veterinary acupuncturist, is
certified in stem-cell therapy, and has completed a course at Colorado State
University in client communication, called the FRANK program. Dr. Silva now lives with her husband and two
standard poodles in Somers, New York. As I did an externship with her in the
past, I know that she is an excellent veterinarian who also maintains a healthy
work-life balance, and I therefore felt that she was a perfect person to
interview.
Because I am questioning whether or not
to do an internship, I asked Dr. Silva her opinion. She feels that an
internship is an appropriate choice if a student does not feel confident enough
to practice upon graduation, but she insists that one can become an equally
excellent clinician without one. She
explained that, for a new veterinarian who really cares about their patients,
the first year of practice is “like an internship, with a much higher salary.” By this she meant that a new graduate will
need to spend hours every night speaking with specialists and diagnostic
laboratories; and doing research in order to provide the best patient care.
The negatives of doing an internship also
include that they may not be as relevant to what a general practitioner may
encounter. For example, she explained that one of her friends finished an
internship “being able to easily formulate a ten-drug treatment plan for kidney
failure, but unable to do a cat spay in under an hour.” Interns may also gain little experience in
the practicalities of general medicine, such as client financial constraints,
client communication, and moving in a “step-by-step manner” that moves with the
client’s needs instead of in opposition to them.
Very notable to me was her statement
that, “You graduate knowing how to practice good medicine, but not how to work
with your clients [towards a common goal].”
She explained that client communication is one of the most critical
aspects of practice, but is not effectively taught or learned until after
graduation. A helpful tip that she gave me was to pursue additional training,
such as the FRANK program that her employer, Dr. Aspros, sent her to Colorado
State University to obtain.
On a similar note, Dr. Silva also
emphasized the importance of mentorship—finding a practice owner who is aware
of the challenges faced by new graduates, and who is willing to mentor as
needed. Although it seems obvious, many new veterinarians also do not seem to
realize how important it is that they find an employer who practices high
quality medicine and surgery, because a new graduate will be following most of
their practice policies and recommendations for several years. We also
discussed issues such as the importance of continuing education, being
proactive about honing skills, maintaining a work-life balance, and working
well with technicians, staff, and practice owners.
Although interviewing Dr. Silva was
extremely helpful for me, I still had questions with another aspect of
veterinary medicine; that is, becoming a leader in the veterinary profession as
a whole. To that end, I decided to interview Dr. Linda Tintle, founder and
owner of a small animal general practice in Wurtsboro, New York. Dr. Tintle is very active in the Hudson
Valley Veterinary Medical Society, the New York State Veterinary Medical
Society (NYSVMS), and is a past member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at
Cornell. She is president of the Orange County Animal Emergency Service, and is
active in the Shar-pei community, having been involved in research of breed
specific disorders and the Chinese Shar-pei Club of America.
My many questions for Dr. Tintle may seem
very basic, but I truly did not know the answer. For example, what does being involved in
“organized veterinary medicine” actually mean?
What, practically, does one do on a daily basis? What is the purpose of the state
society? What about the regional
society? How does one get involved?
Dr. Tintle was patient and knowledgeable.
She described how the regional society is mainly involved in local issues,
including continuing education and the addressing of ethical complaints or
issues between veterinary colleagues. At
a state level, she told me how the state society is essentially a liaison
between veterinarians and the New York State government, which establishes laws,
policies, and regulations that influence the way veterinarians are permitted to
practice. For example, issues regarding
the legitimacy of equine dentists, a bill making debarking illegal under any
circumstances, and restrictions on having compounded doses in a clinic have a
very real effect on veterinarians, and the state society works to make the
impact of these laws as minimally detrimental (and hopefully as beneficial) as
possible.
The NYSVMS also tries to assist its
members in other ways, such as providing health insurance, educating its
members on legal matters such as those described above, as well as more
managerial issues like hours and employee restrictions. They provide continuing
education opportunities through biannual conferences in conjunction with
Cornell, and also have run a veterinary accreditation program to help clinics
meet the New York State practice standards and abide by all the legislation
that applies to them.
Because it is very important to me to be
involved in organized medicine, I asked Dr. Tintle how one can go about that as
a new graduate. She said that many regional associations are eager to find new
people to serve. She explained that there are so few veterinarians interested
in being involved that many members remain in the same position for several
years out of necessity.
Additionally, she told me of a great program
offered by the NYSVMS that is aimed at developing the leadership abilities of
new graduates. It is run by the Committee for Leadership Advancement, and
essentially helps new graduates transition into leadership roles. The program can
also help with other issues facing new graduates. If I practice here in New
York, I will absolutely take advantage of that opportunity; if I go elsewhere,
I will know what to look for in whatever state I work.
I found both of these interviews to be
very helpful, and an excellent opportunity to answer questions that will help
me build my career in the future. Mentorship is so important in becoming a
great clinician, and in being productive member of the profession as a whole. I
will absolutely remember the advice that both women gave me, and put it into
action as I move out of the student role into the role of a practicing
clinician and member of the national veterinary community.
By Elizabeth Newsom-Stewart, DVM student, Class of 2016, Cornell
University
