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Category: Opinion

  • 5 things I would tell my vet school self, part 4

    5 things I would tell my vet school self, part 4

    Client communication is an important part of being a vet, as building a rapport and gaining their confidence will allow them to trust you.

    I would encourage all young vets to practice this skill whenever and wherever they can, and develop their abilities from the feedback.

    Communication

    My year was the first at the University of Queensland in Australia to have any formal lectures and practicals on client communications, and I cannot tell you how underrated this crucial course is.

    In fact, I’d argue having good client communication skills is just as important as knowing the science behind veterinary medicine itself.

    You can know every veterinary textbook off by heart, back to front, and be the top graduating student of the class. However, if you are unable to build a rapport with your clients and gain their trust within the first three minutes of a consultation, they may still decline every diagnostic investigation and treatment you recommend, and seek treatment elsewhere.

    Complaints

    Gerardo Poli during his graduation.
    Gerardo Poli during his graduation.

    Client complaints are every vet’s worst nightmare, and what is the number one reason for a client complaint? Mis-communication. Therefore, it is vital everyone practices their own communication skills.

    For some of us, this isn’t innate and second nature, and that is perfectly fine. Knowing your weaknesses means you can work on them. Communication skills are something that can be learned and enhanced over time.

    I encourage every student to go into as many consults with clinicians as you can, observe what the vets do well in and watch out for things not so well received. It doesn’t have to be just learning from the vets, either – you can learn a lot from observing nurses’ and receptionists’ interactions with the clients, too.

    Practice on your peers, friends, family, lecturers, vets and nurses, and get them to give you feedback.

  • 5 things I would tell my vet school self, part 3

    5 things I would tell my vet school self, part 3

    So far in this five-part series I have stressed the importance of signalment and finding practical work while studying – both of which should be crucial in student learning.

    In this third part I decided to focus on the incredible support nursing and reception teams offer vets – both on a professional and personal level.

    Lifeline

    I did not appreciate how much I would come to rely on nurses and receptionists for support. For me, the support is both clinical and emotional. Not long after graduation, I remember I asked my head nurse at the time for advice on how to treat a hot spot, as I had never done so before.

    It was an extremely humbling experience – especially since it had never occurred to me until that point that I may need my nursing staff to offer clinical tips or perspective. Then again, I forget a lot of the nurses have more experience than me, having assisted vets years before I even graduated.

    Support

    Nurses are also there for you emotionally – they are the ones with you when you treat your patients; so, just like you, they share all the patients’ wins and also the losses. You will not be able to find someone else who can empathise with you more.

    Sometimes, when faced with particularly difficult consults, you will be surprised how often you offload your stress by talking to them, and it’s quite a relief to know you have someone to listen.

    I don’t think I could possibly explain to myself when starting out just how much I would rely on support teams.

  • 5 things I would tell my vet school self, part 2

    5 things I would tell my vet school self, part 2

    In the first part of this series, I suggested the younger version of myself would have benefited from having more knowledge of signalment.

    The second thing I think the young Gerardo Poli could learn is the importance of practical work and how it can build bridges with potential employers.

    Practical work is where connections are built

    Coming from my experience as a practice owner, I suggest students do as much practical work as they can in the clinics and hospitals they might want to work in.

    This could be part of the formal practical programme, in the form of paid work (such as working in veterinary nursing) and voluntary work.

    When you are on practical placement, you build relationships with the team and get exposed to the dynamics. It will give you an insight to help you decide if this is the practice you want to work at after graduation, and also gives that practice an opportunity to get to know you.

    If the practice likes what it sees, it is more likely to hire you over someone based on the resume of someone it has never met in person.

  • 5 things I would tell my vet school self, part 1

    5 things I would tell my vet school self, part 1

    We all sometimes wish we could go back in time or redo some situations. Often, when looking back with hindsight and more life experience, we wish we could have done things a little differently, or focused our time and energy in a better way.

    I have been reflecting and, while I am incredibly proud of what I have achieved and where my journey has brought me, I have five things I would say to the young Gerardo Poli about to start university. Here is the first:

    Signalment

    When I was writing my study notes at university in preparation for my exams, I don’t recall writing down a lot about the typical signalment for different diseases. At the time I couldn’t see the relevance, nor importance, of it – especially when so many more pathophysiologies were waiting to be memorised.

    Fast forward a few years when I started working, and the first thing I want to know – even before I lay eyes on the patient – is its signalment. It is the one crucial clue that helps me narrow down a long list of differential diagnoses and, from there, help develop a diagnostic plan.

    Starter for 10

    Signalment can be so telling in some cases that my colleagues and I will often guess what the patient presented for.

    For example, a young Labrador retriever that presents with protracted vomiting is most likely going to be an intestinal foreign body, until proven otherwise, while a geriatric cavalier King Charles spaniel with dyspnoea is likely in congestive heart failure, secondary to its genetically predisposed mitral valve disease.

    Obviously, just knowing the signalment isn’t everything to reaching a diagnosis, but it gives you a place to start.

    With age comes wisdom

    The difference between an experienced and inexperienced vet is the former is a lot more familiar with the types of disease and illness a particular demographic of patients is predisposed to, whereas the latter is not.

    My advice is to read up on as many clinical cases as you can, and don’t forget to look at the patient’s signalment.

  • Tips for new graduates, part 2

    Tips for new graduates, part 2

    Following on from last week’s tips for new graduates, here are my final two tips that resonate the most with me in my practice and as a coach. I hope they help with transitioning into practice.

    Systematic approach

    In my role as a mentor and coach, one of the most important concepts I instil or emphasise is a systematic approach. Develop a step-by-step process that allows you to look at everything – it’s not only important for finding abnormalities, but it’s the only way you will get used to what looks and feels normal.

    This applies to physical examinations, ultrasound, radiograph and laboratory result interpretation, even when developing a diagnostic pathway.

    Some may think this is only for new graduates, but it is still crucial for experienced vets who rely on a pattern matching approach, as they can miss diseases by not considering other possibilities.

    Be coachable

    Some people, once they have graduated, want to prove themselves and demonstrate they know it all, they are not just another grad and have earned their place.

    In my experience as a coach and mentor, a humble graduate is more valuable and will learn faster than the ones trying to prove themselves and showing they don’t need support. It is actually concerning for me when new vets don’t ask for help or advice.

    Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness or lack of knowledge; for me it’s a positive sign that someone is open, wants to be at their best and wants to be part of the team. It gives me real satisfaction to see graduates do things they never thought they could do. So, work together with your team of nurses and experienced vets, and never stop learning and asking for advice or guidance.

    The veterinary world is a profession I am proud of, and super passionate about – I cannot wait to see the future of this profession, and the impact every new graduate will make.

  • Crossing the finish line

    Crossing the finish line

    Finishing vet school feels like the end of a race I’ve been running for more than a decade. I don’t remember when exactly I started running it, or if there was ever even a conscious starting point, but it’s incredibly surreal to get to the end of such a long journey – and I’m still suffering with a heavy dose of denial.

    When will it feel real? When I don my cap and gown? When I first sign my name as “Dr”? Or when I walk in for my first day at work?

    The past few months have been both a whirlwind and an anticlimax all at once. There is nothing like stepping out of those final exams, feeling like the gazelles and giraffes blinking at the rising sun in the first scene in The Lion King – except far less magnificent and far more bedraggled because we truly had forgotten what sunlight was.

    Time to go

    Packing up my last ever student digs was also an emotional experience that felt more akin to dismantling an entire chapter of my life than simply packing boxes.

    Flatmates
    Eleanor Goad (centre) with her “comrades-in-arms”.

    I remembered standing in my bedroom two years earlier thinking how weird it would be to leave this house one day a real, qualified vet. I’d like to go back to past me and let her know she was wrong – it is so, SO much weirder!

    When one door closes…

    Image © elightshow / depositphotos.com

    It’s hard to be sad, however, when the end of university life opens far more doors than it closes.

    If I’m honest, I’ve always felt quietly smug for knowing what I wanted to do with my life since I could draw my first rudimentary cow. Up until this point I’ve been guided down a predetermined path of hurdles in order to achieve a particular goal. Now, rather abruptly, there’s nobody telling me where to go or what to do with my time.

    Where do I work? Where do I live? Do I specialise, or just get my feet on firm ground first? It seems very strange to me that a decision I made so early in life has since dictated every decision I have ever made up to this point, and I’m only now gaining true autonomy in my mid-20s.

    Brand new me

    Looking back, I’m a very different person to who I was six years ago (and yes, I did go out of my way to make the course unnecessarily long), but there are about as many things I’m grateful for in that time:

    My peers

    Not that I should really call them that because, after vet school, they’re more like my comrades-in-arms.

    There are a couple of friends in particular who got me through this intense roller coaster of a course, and from late night study sessions to a constant supply of baked goods, I will be eternally grateful to them for keeping me sane (as much as was possible).

    READ: You’ve got a friend in me

    Family

    I know how grateful I’ve been to have a place to go for home cooked Sunday dinners; comfort on the other end of the telephone at all hours of the day or night.

    • Mum: thank you for the monthly post cards.
    • Dad: thank you for the six-hour round trips to bring me home for those aforementioned Sunday dinners.

    READ: Thank you for everything so far

    Interns and residents

    Obviously, it goes without saying that I’m immensely grateful to all of the university staff for the work they do, but some amazing interns and residents at Langford got me through this last year of rotations. They represent a bridge between where you’ll soon be and the “god tier” level of an attending that seems completely unobtainable – which does wonders for the ol’ impostor syndrome.

    Quizlet

    Praise be. (Need I say more?)

    My poor cat

    For putting up with the constant, uninvited clinical exams.

    Me

    Or, at least, the younger version of myself who didn’t get too scared to put her running shoes on: we did it!

  • Tips for new graduates, part 1

    Tips for new graduates, part 1

    A date I will never forget is 6 June. Four years previously on that day I completed the final exam of my master’s degree, marking 11 long and tough years of study.

    I vowed at that point to never study again, although my love of learning didn’t allow that to last long.

    Then it was crunch and career decision time – which, for a new graduate, is exciting, but also causes anxiety.

    I have learned a great deal in my time since, so for all those students who recently completed their studies, firstly, congratulations and, secondly, over the next two weeks I have some tips that will help with the transition into being a new grad.

    Finding your first clinic

    Mentorpic
    Does the clinic you are considering working for offer an appropriate mentoring and structured learning?

    Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to find the best fit and perfect place, or overthink the process – you are just starting out and it’s likely your focus, passion and direction will change as your career progresses.

    Merits in waiting exist for a practice that fits with your wants and needs, but don’t wait forever as you need to start putting your theory into practice.

    I think the most important aspect to look at is the team. A practice with an amazing supportive team would be a wiser option compared to a practice with all the bells and whistles.

    The next thing would be do they offer an appropriate level of mentoring and structured learning?

    Ask if they have trained vets and new grads before, and do they have training and learning resources available to guide your learning?

    Perspective

    Days will occur where you make mistakes and feel as though you haven’t done a good job. It’s important to be able to put things into perspective – remember, everyone makes mistakes.

    I still have days where I feel like I’ve failed. It’s vital you can be clear that you may fail at a task or moment, but that doesn’t mean you’re a failure.

    If you have a bad morning, don’t generalise it into a bad day or bad week. It shows much more passion, talent and character to learn and grow from a mistake.

    Being a vet – especially in emergency – you have to learn to be able to stop, let go and reset a number of times each day so you are fully present for what comes next.

    Understanding perspective on bad days, and asking what can you learn from this, is a skill that takes time to master, but is one that will help you a great deal in your veterinary journey.

    Next week I will cover more tips when considering your first practice and starting your first role.

  • Life after vet school – graduation: where do I go from here?

    Life after vet school – graduation: where do I go from here?

    Nothing hits you quite as hard as reality, as you walk out of your final fifth year veterinary exam.

    Up until this very moment, your life has followed a structured timetable, carefully planned by the veterinary school. Now, with it all finished, who is there to lead you from here onwards? This is probably the most daunting question every final year vet student faces. University lecturers can only help you get so far, then you’re on your own.

    Forging your own path

    For those of us who are lucky enough to know exactly what they want in life, the path is quite clear. As the saying goes, “where there is a will, there is a way” – and it doesn’t get more true than that, for the rest the path is unclear, and there is uncertainty and doubt.

    In this post I share my thoughts about the three main options that for new graduates: general practice, rotation internships and emergency internships.

    General practice

    • Great at putting the last five or six years of learning into perspective, it will solidify what you have learned.
    • After one to two years you will have something to fall back on if you decide to try something else later.
    • You will have primary case control this will allow you to develop and fine tune your communication, medical and surgical skills.
    • The more remote the general practice, the likelihood you will be required to perform more advanced or complex diagnostic, medical and surgical procedures increases; therefore, the learning curve will be steeper.

    Generally, this is a good place to start, especially if you are uncertain as to what direction you want to head in. I started here. My only caveat is that you select a practice you feel best suits you and offers the best environment for learning.

    Rotating internships at specialist hospitals/referral centres

    Gerardo Poli during his graduation.
    Gerardo Poli during his graduation.

    Some new graduates go straight into rotating internships because of the opportunity to see a variety of cases and also because they wish to proceed down the pathway to specialisation.

    • Generally limited primary case responsibility as you will be following and assisting a specialist or registrar.
    • Offers the best exposure and foot in the door for a career as a specialist.
    • Exposure to a wide variety of complicated cases.
    • Opportunity to be involved in and possibly perform complex diagnostic, medical and surgical procedures.
    • Build connections and network within the specialist or referral community.
    • Most only last one year before a new pool of interns come through.

    If you have experienced general practice and you know it is not for you then a rotating internship at a specialist referral hospital will allow you to get a taste of what is available.

    Emergency internships

    I do not generally recommend emergency internships to new graduates, despite the fact I have developed training programs to assist in the transition into emergency and critical care. There are large emergency practices part of a specialist referral centres and small centres running within a general practice hospital, but not all emergency hospitals offer internships.

    Before deciding, here is what you need to know:

    • It has t best opportunity for a softer entry into an emergency career.
    • Generally prior experience is recommended as it can be a very steep learning curve.
    • The abnormal hours can be isolating socially and adjusting sleeping patterns can be difficult.
    • Most emergency internships are designed to retain interns not rotate them through, such as they “train to keep”.
    • You will get primary case control and exposure to more critically ill patients.
    • Depending on the type of practice and the arrangement you may get to perform more complex diagnostic, medical and surgical procedures as opposed to referring them to the associated specialist service.

    If you are looking at a career in emergency I would recommend a larger hospital where multiple vets are on at the same time and you have the support you need.

    Regardless of where you find yourself, the most important thing to realise is you have to start somewhere. Decide and take action. If you find yourself doing something you don’t like then you have learned what you don’t want to do. That is a valuable learning experience in itself. There are many ways to a destination, and no experience, whether it is good or bad, it is never wasted. Even in the darkest of days, remember, with every closed door, if you are looking another will open. Best of luck with all your future endeavours.

  • Finding a mentor, pt 4: the relationship

    Finding a mentor, pt 4: the relationship

    Being mentored by the right person can be a life-changing experience. The right mentor can help you fast track your growth and career success.

    The previous three articles in this series have looked at whether you are truly prepared to be a mentee, what you are after, and how to approach a mentor and ask him or her.

    This final part covers the requirements for making a mentoring relationship successful.

    The relationship

    Don’t cross the boundaries

    Yes, standard mentoring boundaries exist that should not be crossed. These include:

    • becoming intimately involved with your mentor. No further explanation needed here.
    • becoming emotionally dependent on your mentor. You need to have your own social network and support structure for times of need and crisis – not just your mentor.
    • asking your mentor for financial assistance. He or she is offering you advice and guidance; he or she is not there to be your financial backer. This is possibly the quickest way of making your mentor run a mile.
    • sharing confidential information with others. Your mentor will be sharing confidential information and life experience with you – you should respect that, and not go and share with others.
    • asking too much of your mentor. Respect his or her time; don’t ask him or her questions every day, unless he or she has offered that.

    Once you cross these boundaries, you start sliding down a slippery slope – you risk losing someone who can fast track your growth. You lose credibility and your mentor’s trust.

    Be a professional at all times.

    Invest in the relationship

    Don’t expect the mentor to drive the relationship. Remember – you asked for it, so you must maintain it.

    • Be a coachable mentee. You asked for feedback, so take the feedback – even if it may be tough to hear.
    • Maintain the connection through updates. Give your mentor updates on your progress, but don’t expect a reply each time.
    • Offer your mentor some value in return. For example, send him or her an interesting article.
    • Acknowledge your mentor for his or her contributions to your success. Mentors like to know they are making a difference.

    When it’s not working

    Ultimately, this relationship is designed to help you. If it’s not resulting in the changes you are seeking, take steps to address this rather than just carrying on.

    Acknowledge your mentor, and be grateful for his or her investment in you and the experience you gained – because, ultimately, you learned more than you realise from the relationship.

    Conclusion

    Finding the right mentor can be a life-changing experience, but remember – it is dependent on you being fully prepared to invest in the process.

    To take action and maintain the relationship, you must know what you want then select the right mentor to help get you there.

  • Building resilience in your sleep, pt 2: good sleep habits

    Building resilience in your sleep, pt 2: good sleep habits

    In the previous post, we discussed why you probably need more sleep. But how much is enough?

    You will hear different opinions on this, with talk of cumulative sleep over a 10-day period, “biphasic sleep” patterns, and the fact a small number of people (and we’re talking smaller than the number of lottery winners) with a unique genetic quirk can genuinely do well on around five hours per night.

    That, my friend, is almost certainly not you.

    Sleep is essential

    Let’s be crystal clear on this: six hours of sleep per night might be okay for a few nights, but it’s simply not enough in the long term.

    The research is clear – the vast majority of adults thrive on seven to nine hours of good sleep. But how do we achieve this? Here are the top tips sleep specialists agree on:

    Keep it regular

    There’s a reason why parents are strict with their kids about bed time – and why kids always seem to have so much energy. Having a set bed time trains your brain to start unwinding in preparation for sleep.

    Keep it dark

    Nocturnal screen time stimulates the brain with a deluge of light and information – both mortal enemies of sleep.

    Artificial light messes with circadian rhythms by reducing levels of sleep regulating melatonin. Even if you fall asleep easily enough after your “unwind” session on Instagram, your brain will struggle to reach and maintain the deep restorative phases of sleep it needs (iPhone’s night shift mode is not the solution; it makes a small, but insufficient, difference, according to research).

    Keep it cool

    A low core body temperature promotes better and deeper sleep, so turn down the heating or crank that fan.

    Too hot to sleep? A hot bath shortly before bed time is a counter-intuitive hack – the hot water encourages a rapid “heat dump” away from the core via dilated skin vessels.

    Keep the afternoons decaf

    Tired -> caffeine -> wired. For many people this formula works so well their brains will still be hyper alert eight hours or more after their last dose of caffeine. That late afternoon cup of coffee might get you over the hump, but chances are it’s also reducing the quality of your sleep; which means you’ll be fatigued the next day and reach for that extra coffee…

    Still not convinced?

    Try this experiment for a week:

    • Dim the lights in your house from 8pm.
    • Switch off all screens by 9pm at the latest.
    • Do something relaxing for an hour.
    • Go to sleep at 10pm and wake up at 6am.
    • At the end of each day of the challenge, take a moment to score how good your day was out of five.

    As good scientists we need a control, so go back to your old routine, but keep scoring the days. Compare the scores then decide whether that extra hour of Netflix before bed is really worth it. Chances are you will cancel the experiment for “ethical” reasons two days into the second week.

    “But how will I ever get anything done if I have to be in bed that early?!” – I hear you cry. Well, you’ll do it the next day, but you’ll do it better, faster and with a smile on your face.