As COVID-19 impacts unfolded, the veterinary community found itself in uncharted territory. From canceled externships and limited in-person learning opportunities to curbside service and increased demand for veterinary care, concerns and questions around the new educational and patient care models arose.
The VIN Foundation’s Rising Leaders Committee held a webinar to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on transitioning from the veterinary school classroom to clinics, and life as a practicing veterinarian. The panel included a clinical year veterinary student and new graduate veterinarians in different areas of practice.
The webinar recording lives in VIN (Veterinary Information Network), if you have a VIN account click here to login.
If you do not have a VIN account, click here to create a free account for special VIN Foundation access to VIN (without access to VIN tools, content, or community), and confirm you are a veterinary student or veterinarian.
The webinar addressed the following questions:
- How has COVID impacted your current practice experience?
- How do I make the most out of a non-traditional 4th year?
- How has COVID impacted the job market?
- What challenges to practice have you seen since the pandemic started?
- What tips do you have for managing personal and professional life during a pandemic?
Included in this discussion are salient quotes and data gathered from projects completed by the Rising Leaders Committee. The first was a survey targeting 4th-year veterinary students and new veterinary graduates at the height of the implementation of the COVID-related changes. They assessed changes to veterinary clinical education, as well as concerns for how the pandemic would impact their veterinary career. The second survey was sent to those new graduates a few months later and assessed how COVID had impacted their transition into practice, and it also gathered advice that they offered to clinical veterinary students.
Some highlights from these surveys include:
- Over 66% of respondents indicated they were comfortable or very comfortable communicating medical information to clients
- Over 56% of people said they were comfortable or very comfortable communicating financial information to clients
- “Client communication is going to be one of the most important things you do. Don’t take that training lightly. You can always do research on a case, but clients appreciate it more when you can effectively communicate to them what is going on.”
- “I also think this (curbside) is forcing me to have even stronger client communication skills that can only get easier once clients are allowed back in the hospital.”
- Although 71% said they anticipated they would feel less prepared than normal following graduation, 51% said they were comfortable or very comfortable with their level of medical knowledge for their current position
- “You will never learn everything you need to know in clinics, so don’t feel like you need to know everything when you get out. Find a place with good mentorship and try to work on your communication skills and how to find your resources during your clinical year; the knowledge will come as you practice!”
- 60% said their mental well-being was negatively or very negatively impacted while transitioning into their new role
- “You are about to become one of the most adaptive veterinary classes that ever existed. And has it sucked along the way? Absolutely! But this won’t be the first crisis you’ll face in your lifetime and hopefully you’ll be better equipped for that next pandemic or whatever life throws your way.”
- “Just always remind yourself that you are doing enough, you are enough.”
The webinar recording lives in VIN (Veterinary Information Network), if you have a VIN account click here to login.
If you do not have a VIN account, click here to create a free account for special VIN Foundation access to VIN (without access to VIN tools, content, or community), and confirm you are a veterinary student or veterinarian.
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VIN Foundation
The VIN Foundation was founded by members of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) in 2005. VIN is an online community of veterinarians and veterinary students with over 100,000 members worldwide. The VIN Foundation’s charitable efforts are centered around the belief that a healthy veterinary profession is essential for healthy animal and human communities.
