Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Animal Science & Zoology None Provided None Provided Working with animals has been a dream of mine since childhood. I was raised next door to the town veterinarian, Dr. Murphy. He specialized in farm animals, which my family raised, so he visited our house on a regular basis. He knew I loved to hear stories about his patients and always entertained me, no matter how busy he was. When I was 10, Dr. Murphy gave me a copy of “All Creatures Great and Small” by James Herriot. The book told the story of a country veterinarian and his daily work. To this day, that book remains one of my favorites and always renews my interest in animals. I recently spoke with Dr. Murphy, who is now retired, about his experience in the field of veterinary medicine. He told me, “Kid, its long hours and hard work. No matter how exhausted you are though, it’ll all pay off when you hear a newborn calf cry for the first time.” Dr. Murphy went on to reminisce about his years as a successful large animal veterinarian. Although he recently retired, Dr. Murphy still helps the occasional farmer in need. (Murphy n. pag.). Veterinary medicine is a very scientific field that requires extensive training and education. I am currently a Biological Sciences major and plan to apply to Veterinary Medical School at the University of California Davis upon separation from the military. I will be required to take a broad selection of courses ranging from Animal Behavior to Organic Chemistry and Calculus. Once I complete my Bachelors degree, I will be required to undergo an additional four years of intensive coursework to obtain my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) degree. Veterinarians who seek specialty certification in a field such as opthalmology, pathology, surgery, radiology, or laboratory animal medicine must complete a 3-year residency program, and pass an examination. In addition to academic instruction, training includes clinical experience in diagnosing and treating animal diseases, performing surgery, and performing laboratory work in anatomy, biochemistry, and other scientific and medical subjects. (The Veterinary Profession n. pag.). The veterinary profession is a stable career because animals, like humans, will always need to be cared for. Today veterinarians have the option to choose between several areas of practice. Private clinical practice remains the highest for percentage of total veterinarians and annual earnings. Large animal practices earn $79,600 on average while small animal practices earn $75,000. There are also opportunities within public education systems, federal and state government agencies, and the uniformed services. However, these practices earn a considerable about less. The average salary is $60,000 - 65,000 per year. (AVMA n. pag.). Today’s veterinarians also have the option to specialize in a number of areas such as radiology, pathology, toxicology, and oncology. These veterinarians will perform general duties like dressing wounds, setting broken bones, and prescribing medication, but will utilize their additional training when needed. I will be finishing my Bachelors degree through the Air Force ROTC program. This allows me to re-enter active duty as a Biomedical Services officer and obtain training in the field of radiographic imaging. Hopefully I will be afforded the opportunity to train in magnetic resonance imaging as well. This will allow me to gain experience reading the minute details of an x-ray. This will also prepare me for a veterinary specialization in radiology. I plan to use my D.V.M. degree and military background to obtain a job in a leading animal hospital on the upper East coast. My exact location is undecided at this point but I am partial to that area of the United States. After completing my residency requirements and gaining a few years of practical experience, I would like to relocate to Australia and continue my practice. Bibliography: WORKS CITED NetVet. “The Veterinary Profession.” NetVet. 4 Jan. 1996. 23 Jan. 2002. . Murphy, Dr. Edward. Personal Interview. 19 Jan. 2002. American Veterinary Medical Association. “Veterinary Market Statistics – U.S. Veterinarians.” AVMA.org. Aug. 2001. 25 Jan. 2002. . Word Count: 624
Copyright © 2005 College Term Papers, INC All Rights Reserved.