AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by student AABP member Elizabeth Peterson. Elizabeth is in the inaugural class at Texas Tech University College of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo, Texas. We discuss how students can react to generalizations about recent veterinary graduates and students. She shares challenges that students face today and what the next generation of veterinarians wants for their professional career. She wants to be in a practice that is mostly cattle where she can grow, get support, mentorship and learn from the inevitable mistakes we all make. Peterson describes the financial realities of tuition today,  and working through veterinary school has not made a significant difference in her debt load which is much different than previous generations. We can all learn from each other by listening, engaging in productive conversation, not placing blame, and welcoming everyone to the profession and encouraging them to continue to work as a bovine veterinarian! 

We welcome veterinarians, credentialed veterinary technicians and students enrolled in veterinary school to join AABP to support the organization’s efforts to provide continuing education, support the AABP Foundation and advocate for issues important to cattle practice. The 2023-2024 dues season is open. Click here to join AABP or renew your dues today!

Relevant publication:

 Gibbons, P. M., Wells, J. K., Watson, K. R., Weale, J. J., & Roberson, J. R. (2022). A mixed-method pilot study investigating challenges experienced by mixed animal veterinarians in practice and their private practice experiences prior to graduation. The Bovine Practitioner, 56(1), 18–28. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol56no1p18-28