source: Farm and Food Report
Nothing beats getting your feet wet to find out what it is like to be a veterinarian in a rural setting.
That is precisely why mentorships make sense, especially in light of current trends, according to Registrar of the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association Dr. Curt Hagele.
“As veterinarians in rural practices get closer to retirement age, we are likely to face a shortage of veterinarians with a rural background,” says Hagele. “More veterinary students today come from urban areas and don’t necessarily intend to work in a rural setting. They might be tempted more by a career in urban, companion animal practices. Consequently, there is a need to expose students early on in their training to rural, large animal practice experiences.”
Peer-to-peer mentorships provide the kind of advice to students that can enable them, once they graduate, to cater to any professional needs that may arise in the future.
“Five or six years ago, then Agriculture Minister Clay Serby expected a greater share of our agriculture diversification activities to stem from sustained growth in the cattle sector,” Hagele explains. “There would be a greater need for veterinarians with livestock experience. Minister Serby forecast this need, and assisted with the launch of the SVMA mentorship program.”
The purpose of the program is to create opportunities for 10 first and second year veterinary students to work in food animal or mixed animal practices for 14 weeks during the spring and summer months.
The participating practices, the SVMA and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food’s contribution to the program covers the students’ summer salaries.
Current Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman is equally supportive of the initiative.
“This mentorship program allows us to introduce students to the richness of life in rural Saskatchewan, to experience the professional advantages of a rural practice, and to obtain some excellent clinical, diagnostic and surgical experience early in their academic careers. This is why we recently approved a $50,000 contribution to the SVMA for the program this year.”
The SVMA administers the program and brings it the attention of the students who qualify.
“The selected practices must expose students to beef cow-calf operations and feedlots, and must agree to mentor the students for the full 14 weeks,” says Hagele. “The students will experience practice in rural Saskatchewan; dealing with client relations; large animal behavior and restraint; effective management of the business aspects of the practice; and staff relations.”
Alain Fafard of Ste.-Marthe, near the Manitoba border, had a chance to participate in a mentorship two years ago. He is graduating as a veterinarian this spring.
“Finding work in the summer when you are just beginning your studies can be difficult,” he says. The financial contribution from the government to my employer through the mentorship program made it possible for me to participate in the day-to-day activities of the practice, including visits to farms. It is a great program.”
The biggest advantage the students derive from the experience, according to Hagele, is the comfort level they will acquire with the livestock industry – its culture and language – and working effectively in a rural environment.
“Students are expected to submit monthly reports on their progress and, at the end of the summer, we analyze their impressions of the experience. This feedback forms the basis of the report provided to the Minister.
“Once a young veterinarian has overcome the hurdles of dealing with an unfamiliar environment, half the battle is won,” Hagele says. “Lacking exposure to rural veterinary practice leaves students at a disadvantage. By understanding the food animal industry and animal agriculture, they are more prepared to work with the producers and ranchers.”
Dr. Hagele hopes that, over time, the program will have a positive impact on how many new graduate veterinarians choose their first assignment as a veterinarian in a mixed or rural practice, rather than a companion animal practice.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Curt Hagele
Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association
(306) 955-7863
Scott Brown
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-4031
Nothing beats getting your feet wet to find out what it is like to be a veterinarian in a rural setting.
That is precisely why mentorships make sense, especially in light of current trends, according to Registrar of the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association Dr. Curt Hagele.
“As veterinarians in rural practices get closer to retirement age, we are likely to face a shortage of veterinarians with a rural background,” says Hagele. “More veterinary students today come from urban areas and don’t necessarily intend to work in a rural setting. They might be tempted more by a career in urban, companion animal practices. Consequently, there is a need to expose students early on in their training to rural, large animal practice experiences.”
Peer-to-peer mentorships provide the kind of advice to students that can enable them, once they graduate, to cater to any professional needs that may arise in the future.
“Five or six years ago, then Agriculture Minister Clay Serby expected a greater share of our agriculture diversification activities to stem from sustained growth in the cattle sector,” Hagele explains. “There would be a greater need for veterinarians with livestock experience. Minister Serby forecast this need, and assisted with the launch of the SVMA mentorship program.”
The purpose of the program is to create opportunities for 10 first and second year veterinary students to work in food animal or mixed animal practices for 14 weeks during the spring and summer months.
The participating practices, the SVMA and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food’s contribution to the program covers the students’ summer salaries.
Current Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman is equally supportive of the initiative.
“This mentorship program allows us to introduce students to the richness of life in rural Saskatchewan, to experience the professional advantages of a rural practice, and to obtain some excellent clinical, diagnostic and surgical experience early in their academic careers. This is why we recently approved a $50,000 contribution to the SVMA for the program this year.”
The SVMA administers the program and brings it the attention of the students who qualify.
“The selected practices must expose students to beef cow-calf operations and feedlots, and must agree to mentor the students for the full 14 weeks,” says Hagele. “The students will experience practice in rural Saskatchewan; dealing with client relations; large animal behavior and restraint; effective management of the business aspects of the practice; and staff relations.”
Alain Fafard of Ste.-Marthe, near the Manitoba border, had a chance to participate in a mentorship two years ago. He is graduating as a veterinarian this spring.
“Finding work in the summer when you are just beginning your studies can be difficult,” he says. The financial contribution from the government to my employer through the mentorship program made it possible for me to participate in the day-to-day activities of the practice, including visits to farms. It is a great program.”
The biggest advantage the students derive from the experience, according to Hagele, is the comfort level they will acquire with the livestock industry – its culture and language – and working effectively in a rural environment.
“Students are expected to submit monthly reports on their progress and, at the end of the summer, we analyze their impressions of the experience. This feedback forms the basis of the report provided to the Minister.
“Once a young veterinarian has overcome the hurdles of dealing with an unfamiliar environment, half the battle is won,” Hagele says. “Lacking exposure to rural veterinary practice leaves students at a disadvantage. By understanding the food animal industry and animal agriculture, they are more prepared to work with the producers and ranchers.”
Dr. Hagele hopes that, over time, the program will have a positive impact on how many new graduate veterinarians choose their first assignment as a veterinarian in a mixed or rural practice, rather than a companion animal practice.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Curt Hagele
Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association
(306) 955-7863
Scott Brown
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-4031
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