Becoming a Veterinarian
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
Choosing what to do with your life begins with imagining yourself in a career. Using stories of real practitioners in the field, the Masters at Work series offers the opportunity to see through the eyes of someone who has mastered a profession and learn what the risks and rewards of a job really are.
According to a LinkedIn survey that polled 8,000 professionals, the second most popular childhood dream job for respondents was a veterinarian. It’s a career that appeals to many, due to its involvement with animals and association with helping and doing good. Still, much of the day-to-day elements of the job are not known by the wider public. This series, and individual guide, provides valuable and relevant information about what daily life for a professional veterinarian is like, and will be a vital resource for anyone interested in pursuing the path.
Is there such a thing as a typical veterinarian? Journalist and author Boris Kachka sets out on a journey, determined to discover how to turn a childhood dream into a real career. Becoming a Veterinarian is a behind-the-scenes, honest, and inspiring look at the day-to-day life of a veterinarian through the eyes of four people who have made this career their life’s work. There’s Michael, who thought he would be an architect, but instead works with urban pets at the ASPCA in New York; Elisha, who studied dance before she began treating cows, cats, and horses; Idina, who was injured in a car accident and was forced to find a second career; and Chick, who was earning a Masters in economics but turned to veterinarian science after he began working nights at an animal hospital. With each, Kachka dives into every element of the job: science, surgery, financials, finding a program, and everything in between.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
New York magazine contributing editor Kachka (Hothouse) gives valuable insight into what it takes to become a veterinarian in this addition to the Masters at Work series. His assessment is blunt and begins with the stark financial reality: vets incur the same amount of student debt as human doctors ($300,000 and up), but make significantly less (a median of $70,000). Kachka shares accounts of various procedures, the job's day-to-day grind, and the delicate task of informing pet owners of the price of procedures, while also considering the high rates of burnout and even suicide in the profession, which will likely dent some aspiring veterinarian's enthusiasm. But it's not all doom and gloom. Many of Kachka's subjects take great pride in their work, and truly enjoy its unpredictability, as well as its emotional rewards. Readers are guaranteed to walk away from Kachka's searching work with a better understanding of what the role requires and a deeper appreciation for their local vet.
