Texas Equine Veterinary Association

www.teva-online.org • Page 4 P R E S I D E N T message/from/the/point Ben Buchanan, dVM, daCVIM, daCVECC This is a great time of year. The weather is not too hot yet and everything is green. It is a time when everyone is busy and the financial side of Equine practice looks good. It is also the time of year when many new veterinarians are beginning their professional career or when many of us see an increase in extern/ride-along requests. It was a question posed to me by a recent extern that is the topic of my thoughts today. While riding in the truck, we visited about different cases or how I approach different situations. I asked if the extern had any more questions. His reply was very simple but something I had to ponder: "What advice would you give me?" What advice would you give to a student about to enter their fourth year of veterinary school? Would it be different from the advice you give to a prospective veterinary student? Is it any different from the advice you would give to a veterinarian joining your practice straight out of school? "What advice would you give me?" As I thought about the question, I realized how much of an impact a short visit or externship can have on a person's career. I remember a passing comment Dr. Walter Zent told me 15 years ago about the pros and cons of having a hospital. I think about simple pieces of wisdom that have been passed on to me by hundreds of veterinarians during conversations on the phone, in the truck, at a meeting, or in the bar. So much of who I am as a professional is a direct effect of these conversations. Despite training a handful of residents, 30+ interns, and hundreds of externs I had never really reflected on how much a simple conversation could impact a person's career. What if Dr. Zent told me that managing a hospital was a terrible idea, would I have chosen the path to be an internist? I wonder if I had not been encouraged to participate in SCAVMA or SCAAEP if I would have ever been the president of TEVA. What if Bo Brock was not so funny, would I have ever even gone back to another SCAVMA meeting? Our impact on students can be profound. Whether it is advice you give to a student wanting a weekend job before applying to vet school or how you train your new graduate, they are seeking your counsel and take your comments to heart. Ours is a small but wonderful profession. Like a small stone in a pond, your impressions on people have ripples that can impact them in unexpected ways. Believe what you tell someone, but consider your thoughts carefully. "What advice would you give me?" is an opportunity to improve the people that make up our profession. How did I answer the question? After stumbling through a couple thoughts, I could hear my father speaking and I told him — This is a great but demanding profession. Everyday is a new and exciting challenge. For as long as you believe that, you will look forward to going to work and work will be fun. When it is no longer fun is when it is time to quit. I hope tomorrow is an exciting challenge for you. I hope you have an opportunity to impact someone's life. I hope that you feel as I do, and look forward to going to work. 2014 Summer SympoSium AuguST 7–9, 2014 HORSESHOE BAy RESORT, MARBlE FAllS, TExAS save the date! connect wth uS:

• Cover