Career Development

Believing you have some control over the events in your life is crucial to happiness and could make a huge difference in your personal life and veterinary career.

People with an internal "locus of control"who believe that they have control over their destinies and that their actions matterare happier and healthier. But making changes in your life isn't as easy for everybody, and we need to acknowledge that more than we do.

Do you pull the strings in your life and career? Or do you think luck, fate and other people are the deciding factor in your happiness and success?

We selected confessions from the Vet Confessionals Project that reflect the feelings of control (or lack thereof) that plague the profession.

Why the hit HBO show has something to teach those who lead in veterinary medicine. Are you Stark, Lannister, a Direwolf or one of those misfit leaders? (Hint: I'm down with Khaleesi.)

Reaching out to those around us can do more than turn their frowns upside downit can help them live longer. This island-dwelling veterinarian is on board.

Pained veterinary associates get the help they need in our first bonus-length Vets Ask Dr. Dave.

For young associate Dr. Greenskin, the biggest choice of her life in buying the practice from old Dr. Codger feels like a question of time: Time for family and personal life or time traded for money and career fulfillment. Which will she choose?

Lets get to know what these documents are, how they can help and why they might benefit your practice (and your wallet).

The key to contentment is embracing what brings you passion-even if it's a downer at times-as well those things that bring pure joy.

Is it unprofessional to warn technicians about difficult people and pets using a system thats hidden from the client? One team member says yes.

Oh that's right. You don't have a helicopter. But there is someone who could could chop away at your duties and increase efficiencya midlevel practitioner. Is it time to consider an answer out of human healthcare's playbook?

The place to see all of the articles in our alphabetical look at veterinary dentistry thus far.

While the financial problems plaguing veterinary education may hog the spotlight, this young veterinarian says its time to talk about the other issuesthose that occur behind closed doors and within closed mindsthat are making students sour.

Dr. Codger dreams and schemes about how to hand off his responsibilities at his veterinary practiceand perhaps still receive a paycheck. But will Greenskin bite?

You can't stop your veterinary practice systems, your equipment, your team or even yourself from breaking sometimes. CVC educator Dave Nicol says its how you plan for and deal with the breakages that makes all the difference.

Don't just hand your clients business cards of trainers youve never met and know nothing about. Commit to partnering with a trainer to improve your patients health.

Have you ever returned from a conference with five billion business cards, a plethora of pamphlets and about two lines of notes you can actually read? Heres an easy organization tip to ease post-conference confusion and help you get the most out of your investment.

The veterinary practice of your dreams may require some serious cash. Here are some back-of-the-napkin calculations you can do to figure out if you can get what you need, courtesy of veterinary finance guru Gary Glassman.

Ready to start your own practice from scratch and relish in its greatness? Hold your horses and give yourself the once-over before anything else.

What do you do when you find a microchip at your veterinary practice and the pet owner says "no," you can't scan it? Here's how I handle it.

When it comes to successful transition to new (and old!) practice cultures after a clinic is sold and bought, you may feel like a big fish in a small pond. This advice should help. Come on in, the water's fine!

Dr. Greenskin drags her boss into a boxing match of wit and wisdom. But did she underestimate the crusty old veterinarian?

The world of veterinary medicine is always evolving. Should we really be staying stuck in time to keep private practices safe from corporate medicine?

Was this vaccine-clinic veterinarian right to order a steroid injection over the phone for a pet he didn't even remember?

Does the corporate boogeyman have you worried that independent private practice wont be an option in the future? Our panel of experts is here to help.

Crippling debt + more debt = less debt? We promise theres method to this math madness, but it requires veterinary graduates to pull their heads out of their debt and consider practice ownership.