Job Talk: with a veterinarian
Job Talk: with a veterinarian
Name/age: Angelique Fuller, 34
Occupation: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Employer: Guilford-Jamestown Veterinary Hospital
Years in field: 1 1/2
Salary range: Starting salary for 2008 graduates going into a small animal private practice is $59,000 to $62,999, according to the American Veterinary Medical AssociationTextWhat does your job entail?
My job is to provide general health care services for the family pet. This includes general health checkups, sick pet exams, preventative care and surgery. I also perform diagnostics such as radiographs, cultures and blood work. My patients are mostly dogs and cats. However, I also see ferrets, rabbits and small pocket pets such as chinchillas and rats.
How did you become involved in this line of work?
I’ve always had a deep love for animals. Growing up, I was surrounded by dogs, cats, rabbits and a gerbil and mouse. However, this is a second career for me. I used to be a technical director/stagehand in theater. I changed careers because of my dog, Zoe. When she was 4 years old she was diagnosed with a luxating patella (her kneecap could move side to side). She was in a lot of pain and required reconstructive knee surgery. I listened to the surgeon describe how he was going to fix Zoe’s leg and I thought to myself, “I could do that.” Throughout Zoe’s recovery I became more convinced I was meant to help animals and their human companions. I got a job working at a veterinary hospital and went back to school to get the required courses needed to apply to veterinary school at N.C. State University.
What training or education is required?
There are only 28 colleges of veterinary medicine in the U.S. and they can have different required courses for each. In general, to be accepted you need to complete prerequisite courses, which involves three to four years of science; have a competitive GPA (at least a 3.5); get high scores on the GRE, if required by the school; and have experience working directly with a veterinarian or in animal research. It is important to contact the school you are interested in to find out exact requirements and deadlines. The average time it takes to become a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, including prerequisite course work, is seven to eight years.
What does it take to do your job successfully?
To be successful it is important to enjoy working with and listening to people. After all, anytime you see a patient, you are also seeing its human companion. When dealing with animals, it is important to have patience and be sensitive to their needs. For instance, you need to know how to recognize subtle signs of distress. You also need to be able to multi-task and problem-solve, and have good dexterity.
What is most challenging about your job?
As a veterinarian you are faced with many challenges on a daily basis. The most challenging for me are cases where a quick diagnosis is not available and further testing must be done.
What is the most rewarding?
Having the opportunity to form long relationships with people and their pets.
Any advice for someone interested?
The best advice I can offer is to be true to yourself, work hard and be compassionate. To start, try to get a job working for a veterinarian or volunteer for one.
Job Talk: Dr. Angel Fuller with Guilford-Jamestown Veterinary Hospital
Dr. Angel Fuller with Guilford-Jamestown Veterinary Hospital checks on Cozmo, a 4 1/2 year old Belgian Malinois. Cozmo works with the Guilford County Sherriff's Office.
Nancy Sidelinger Special Sections Photographer
