What the F**k Is This Vetmed?: Hard Won Lessons for a New Generation of Veterinary Professional

The mythos of being a veterinarian is that you love all pets, and are so compassionate and empathetic that you would never let any animal suffer, and that you are endlessly available for pets and clients (at no personal cost). And, when the day is over, the mythos also says that a veterinarian then goes home, leaves work at work, and has a great personal life. They are an amazing parent, spouse, friend, son, or daughter. In short, the mythos is that we are supposed to easily juggle the roles of life and never skip a beat.

I am pulling that myth out of the dark and into the light, where we can all see its dysfunction. It is an impossible standard and an unrealistic expectation, and many veterinarians are drowning in it! I know I was drowning. Trying to be everything to everyone, and never taking a moment to recognize what it was doing to me. The reality? Each day dawns to a schedule jammed full of appointments, emotional decisions, high-stakes moments, responsibilities to coworkers and business decisions (which somehow are never supposed to be emotionally absorbed or impact you personally).

In this book, I offer friendly, hands-on, simple, and practical advice about how to recognize your power and then to harness it to build confidence and gain control of your life and career. This book is meant to prompt conversation about things we take for granted, to help build skills, and to offer perspective on stress management and the soft skills necessary to manage your day.

Melanie Bowden, DVM, is happily developing her veterinary life in Maine. When not on the clinic floor, she enjoys mentoring students and coaching fellow veterinarians in their careers. She is a public speaker who gave a TED Talk entitled "What Being A Veterinarian Really Takes" in January 2020. This is her first book.

Outside of her professional passions, Dr. Bowden also enjoys being in nature. You can find her frequently hiking in the mountains or out on the many lakes, rivers, and ocean coves of Maine in the summer, and ski slopes in the winter. Her pup Pippin (featured on the cover) is her faithful companion in all her adventures.



Dr. Bowden would love to hear from you!
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