The Wagging Tail

I work in a practice group that employs many different veterinarians with different backgrounds. I graduated from school in 1998, another veterinarian graduated in 2008 and a relief vet we use is working on becoming board-certified in internal medicine. With each new person we hire, I find that we all get to share a lot of information. We each learn from each other.

I’m likely to have insights on dealing with difficult clients, exam room etiquette, hospital policies, exotic medicine and some of those unusual cases that I’ve worked up over the last 10 to 12 years. Brand new graduates are likely to have insights on new technology or new medications. They have recently worked with the leaders in the field and their classroom notes are likely to be a great resource on current protocols. We have a doctor that loves orthopedic surgery. With each new addition to the team I get excited about what new things we might all learn.

I try not to think of it in terms of “How can I learn to tolerate a new associate?” or “How can I learn to get along with the younger generation?” I try to always think “How can we benefit each other? What experiences have I had that I can share and what new ideas and procedures have they seen that they can share?”

When I was a new graduate I found myself frustrated with the “old” policies of the “old” vet that I worked for, so now I actively try not to be that “old” vet. If one of my younger colleagues asks me about carrying a new medicine or trying a new therapy, I always look at that as a way to potentially improve the practice and not as questioning the current practice. By reading lots of journals and attending lots of continuing education meetings, even “old” vets are able to stay current and get as excited by new developments as do the new grads.