EP 191: The Transformative Impact of Working Abroad

The 'So You're A Vet... Now What?' Podcast

Episode Description

In this week’s ‘So You’re a Vet, Now What?’ podcast, host Dr. Moriah McCauley is joined by Dr. Chloe Buiting as they delve into the transformative impact of practicing veterinary medicine in foreign countries, highlighting heightened adaptation and innovation. Dr. Buiting underlines how veterinarians, even in their native countries, regularly encounter differences necessitating adaptation. However, working abroad intensifies this need, challenging vets to think beyond their familiar norms and ultimately fostering heightened creativity and problem-solving skills.

The episode features Loop Abroad, a program designed to cultivate these adaptive and innovative skills in students by exposing them to diverse cultures and practices. This approach aims to prepare them for the challenges of veterinary practice, emphasizing the value of early career exploration.

The founders of Loop Abroad, recent veterinary graduates themselves, crafted the programs based on their experiences, identifying gaps in their education. They recognized the need for not only clinical training in wildlife medicine but also mentorship and support from experienced professionals in the field.

Mentorship emerges as a crucial aspect of the Loop Abroad experience. Enrolled students become part of the Loop Abroad network, connected with trip leaders who provide ongoing guidance and support throughout their experiences. Each group of students is led by two trip leaders, fostering a supportive learning environment.

In the context of career exploration, Dr. Buiting stresses the importance of thorough research and the exploration of different options, arguing that conducting due diligence in all aspects of life, including career choices, is crucial. Programs like Loop Abroad are presented as valuable tools for helping individuals determine if specific fields, such as wildlife medicine or conservation medicine, align with their interests and goals.

Episode Outline

• [00:01:13] - Untraditional course in medicine.
• [00:04:36] - Wildlife conservation and medicine.
• [00:07:39] - No clear pathways in conservation.
• [00:12:07] - The power of community.
• [00:14:35] - Clinical skills and confidence.
• [00:17:08] - Globalization in veterinary medicine.
• [00:20:03] - Navigating post-graduation challenges.

Quotes

• "You often find things are a little bit different and you do have to adapt and innovate and that's particularly heightened when you find yourself out of your home country."
• "being able to become adaptable, to have empathy for different ways that things can be done, for different cultures, for different people, like that is something, that's an experience in itself that regardless of whether you're going into like conservation medicine, I feel like that is so valuable."
• "We've all taken our own paths and now, rather than see that as a scary thing, I see that as that it's actually just a huge opportunity."
• "So ruling things out is just as important as ruling things in and it's sort of taste testing or test driving these careers or this different sort of niche within the veterinary space might be for you or might not be for you, whatever the answer is, that's a really important one to establish."

Episode Links

Dr. Chloe's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jungle_doctor/?hl=en

Loop Abroad: https://www.loopabroad.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

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