TODAY’S EDUCATION AND TOMORROW’S VETERINARIANS
Many of you are aware of the ever changing environment of veteri- nary medicine. Te updated therapies, veterinary shortages, burnout,
expected salaries, and new companies. What you might not know is how these changes are directly affecting our education at the CVM. With an increased demand for veterinarians, students are often re- ceiving job offers as early as their first and second years. Our course- work now includes communication classes to address the demands of our career as well as reserved wellness blocks, where no academic events can be scheduled, and a student is guaranteed time away from the classroom. We are educated early on the importance of our well- ness and how to navigate the high demands of veterinary school and practice. While we have an array of clubs to provide lunch and dinner meetings we often are treated with lunch and learns as well. Much like many of you might have in your practices. Tese come from a variety of sources and provide insight into current happenings and today’s market of veterinary medicine.
With demands high we are educated early on what we might expect in contracts. Our introductory busi- ness class acts as a guide for what we need to look for, what we can negotiate, and how to receive the best offers for our abilities. Tere are numerous resources for understanding our loans and the discussion of our payment plans are becoming increasingly common. Te financial strain our education has continues to shape our future career decisions as well as how we spend our time in school. Some practices have started to offer incentives to work for them, including an opportunity to increase our signing bonuses with sum- mer externships. Multiple scholarship opportunities are provided to us as well as part time jobs within the school to provide some income. Students also have many opportunities to represent a variety of companies and corporate practices for a stipend or scholarship, some even a commission. Tese representatives provide information and updates to each class and act as a point of contact between the business and the students. Tese announcements often come through our student emails or with meetings and social events outside of class time.
All these things have shaped our veterinary education to be quite different than what some of you may have experienced. When I first started writing these articles for the KVMA Newsletter I was so excited to have a connection to home. I felt as if this was a small way to stay involved and have an opportunity to update veterinarians on the happenings at the CVM. What I didn’t know is how much information I might be able to provide you. With the longstanding SREB contract it is also important for you to receive updates on the many Kentucky students studying at Auburn. As a second year, I decided to attend the KVMA conference while at home and quickly realized the need for more communication between our veterinarians and stu- dents. With some enthusiasm, dedication, and the great team at KVMA, we have now launched a KVMA Student Chapter at Auburn University.
Tis student chapter will allow Kentucky veterinarians to have a direct contact with the veterinary school and student body. Any veterinary student can join this club to receive updates from the KVMA, attend meetings with members, and receive information. It will provide a point of contact for any KVMA member to share or receive information with veterinary students and strengthen the relationship between our col- lege and the state so many of us call home. Tis is also an opportunity for students to be involved in events such as board meetings and can provide representation when needed.
Te launch of this student chapter, which took place on October 20th was accompanied with a great re- sponse from the students. Currently with eighty-seven members from a variety of classes (see figure), there is so much potential for what this might become.
22 KVMA News Continued on pg. 23
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