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Veterinarian
Dr. Renee Fisher gives important advice to pet owners who come to her rural Pennsylvania office: “Take good care of them,” she says tenderly. “Pets have feelings too.”
For more than a decade, Fisher, a graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, has taken care of small animals in her clinic. Ear infections, kidney stones, skin disorders and broken bones are all in a day’s work for Fisher. “It’s very rewarding to successfully treat pets that are uncomfortable,” she says. “And knowing that I’ve helped make them feel better when others couldn’t is the best part of my job.”
Fisher prepares college-bound students exploring careers in veterinary medicine for a long road ahead. She explains that the job has a high level of commitment. “Sometimes love just isn’t enough to get you through. You need to remember than being a veterinarian is not just playing with kittens and puppies.” A large part of any veterinarian’s job is to deal with seriously injured and dying animals. “It’s my job to put them back together,” Fisher says.
Unfortunately, sometimes putting pets back together is impossible. Euthanasia of animals is the hardest part of veterinary medicine, according to many veterinarians. “It’s very difficult to deal with,” agrees Daniel Johns, another Pennsylvania veterinarian. “But if we didn’t deal with it, who would?” Johns, a 1964 graduate of Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine, invites those interested in exploring the veterinary field to volunteer at local clinics before making any career decisions. “It takes a great deal of energy,” he says. “And a huge educational investment.”
Becoming a veterinarian requires about eight years of undergraduate and graduate work – four years of undergraduate and four years of medical school. All that education will cost a lot of money, so Johns suggests looking into schools close to home in effort to keep expenses to a minimum. For those on a tight budget, public or state schools may be the answer. Johns also suggests visiting some of the 27 veterinarian colleges throughout the country in an effort to find the school that fits with your personality. “Remember that many veterinarian schools require an undergraduate concentration of biology and chemistry,” he says. “So maintaining good grades in math and science in high school is the first step toward becoming a veterinarian.”
Volunteering at a local veterinary office, farm or animal hospital during high school will help enormously when it comes time to apply to a college program. Acceptance to many four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M) programs requires completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and the Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT) or the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Upon your graduation from an accredited veterinary school, you will be required to pass a national and state board examination before receiving your veterinary license. Also be prepared to take a state jurisprudence examination, which covers state laws and regulations. “You become responsible for these animals,” Fisher says. “And if you’re not careful, you’ll get sued.” Veterinarians aren’t limited to private practices.
Veterinarians also provide invaluable assistance in animal research and emergency medicine. In 1998, there were more than 57,000 veterinarians in the United States. Of those, more than 30 percent were self-employed or involved in a group practice. Additionally, the government employed nearly 2,000 veterinarians, largely in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Many veterinarians work with physicians and scientists as they research ways to prevent human health problems such as cancer and AIDS.
Fisher and Johns agree that owning a private practice is the most rewarding, despite the long hours and modest pay. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, a recent graduate can expect a salary of $29,200 to $39,500. The average veterinarian works a 50 to 55 hour week, depending on the number of house calls and surgeries. Johns, who makes house calls to those pet-owners who can’t leave the house, says support from his family keeps him going strong. “Dedication to animals is absolutely necessary,” he says. “That’s what this is all about.” Article provided by 
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