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In the age of globalization, veterinarians must have a wider knowledge of science, economics, politics, and societal trends, especially as these areas apply to public health issues. Veterinary schools and employers will be looking for people with good leadership skills and ethics, business and crisis management abilities, an awareness of how the law affects animals, and excellent written and verbal communication skills.

The science that veterinarians need to know encompasses ecosystems, comparative medicine, bioinformatics (the application of information technology to the field of molecular biology), genomics (the study of the genomes of organisms), and proteomics (the large-scale study of the structures and functions of proteins). They must also be able to coordinate and communicate information between scientists, policy makers, and the public.

As society’s relationship with animals evolves, veterinarians will take the lead as spokespeople on animal issues, contributing to public-policy development and awareness of the correlation between the food system and human and animal health.

Camp Vet

The Arizona Animal Welfare League and SPCA has a summer program called Camp Vet for those age twelve to seventeen who are interested in veterinary careers. Among the activities included in the week-long program are watching spay/neuter surgeries, dissecting organs, studying anatomy, and learning pet first-aid techniques. It’s not unusual for “campers” to return year after year.

A similar program takes place at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, in North Grafton, Massachusetts. Open to adults and college, high-school, and middle-school students, the Adventures in Veterinary Medicine program allows attendees to hear lectures, participate in laboratory sessions, and get hands-on experience with animals.

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

VETERINARIAN

A veterinarian should have the following characteristics:

 Adaptability

 A love for and understanding of animals

 An aptitude for the sciences, particularly biology

 An inquiring mind

 Compassion

 Creative-thinking skills

 Good decision-making and leadership skills

 Good people skills for communicating with pet owners

 Hand-eye coordination

 Manual dexterity

 Keen observation skills

 Tolerance for a noisy work environment

 Willingness and ability to help people deal with grief and loss