Congrats, Mini Me

So we found out yesterday that one of my Super Techs who has worked with me - literally - since I was a new grad... got accepted to Oregon State School of Veterinary Medicine! She got the email right there at work and let me tell you there was some hootin' and hollerin' goin' on at that point!

Of course she would prefer Western Vet School here in Pomona, CA, but won't hear on that one for another month or so. But that's OK; she's got until April to accept her position in Oregon. So we're golden!

I admit that I feel smug about it. To all of those people who say "Oh yeah I was gonna be a vet" as if they could just walk through those front doors of any veterinary school - IN YOUR FACE! You do not and will never compare to someone like G. And to those who thought G. wouldn't do well with her application - again, IN YOUR FACE! She got into Oregon - who only accepted a total of 56 students - as an out-of-state applicant. Read: coveted position!

Hard to miss with a 4.0 GPA in science and a 1450 on your GRE.

G. is smart. Married, successful and putting off the baby making until she has an education. Just another version of me. Yeah, and she's only in her mid twenties. Like many of my classmates, she'll be a doctor by 30 and can start her family and never, ever have to worry about taking care of herself, her kids or even her husband if it ever came down to it.

Congrats, G. Welcome to the best profession in the world. Class of 2014.

(I'm bragging because I had a small hand in her pursuit of this dream. The mentored becomes the mentor.) :)

VIN

So this is kind of insignificant to most, but it's a HUGE thing to me. I am part of an online community called VIN - Veterinary Information Network. It's a resource for veterinarians that covers everything from basic message boards to online continuing education, classified ads, job searches, etc. It's awesome, and I've been a member since I was a vet student. In fact, our website is set up through the VIN site.

I was recently involved in a lengthy discussion about clients and the changes we are seeing in vet med, and that discussion led to another discussion about getting a group of veterinarians together to brainstorm and vent and discuss issues and try to come up with solutions. Then that led to a conversation about that group getting together soon, and to gather at the VIN location in Davis, CA.

I made it to the first list, so I'm in. It's probably not a big deal, and might lead to absolutely nothing, but being able to participate is a BIG deal to me. I feel like I'm a part of something, like I might be able to contribute and hell, maybe even be involved on the ground floor of something for change in veterinary medicine. There is growing concern that our national voice, the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) is starting to grow a deaf ear to our concerns and even starting to sell out to the big brats like pet insurance. Maybe this will turn into something bigger than we can anticipate!

I'll be heading up there for a short weekend in a few weeks. I'll let you guys know how it goes. :)