Starting your veterinary career can feel overwhelming, but you're not alone in this journey. Every new graduate faces the challenge of translating years of education into real-world practice while building confidence and finding their place in the profession.

We asked three DVMs from Southern California to share their most valuable advice for new graduates entering the field.

Stay open to unexpected career paths; it might lead to your greatest joy. 🌟

“The biggest piece of advice I can give to a new DVM grad is to not get stuck in one idea of what you want to do in your career... I was determined to go into zoo medicine. Not only did that not happen, but I ended up in emergency for many years and then GP with a focus on surgery and dentistry. And I’ve loved every minute of it! There are so many different things to learn and do within this field so if you ever find yourself struggling within the area you first tried, stop and find out about some other options.”

- Dr. Jill Child, Managing Veterinarian at Plaza Del Amo Animal Hospital in Torrance, CA

Work with owners as partners in care. 🤝

"Remember that veterinary care can be a spectrum. Always offer the gold standard, but work with your patients' owners to provide the best care. I present my treatments as a game plan with options for the owner. This includes the owner in their pet's care and can help give the owner a sense of control in a time when things seem to be chaotic and traumatic. This allows your owners to be more receptive when you are going into detail about the reasons why you want to perform certain diagnoses and treatments."

- Dr. John Komlosy, Veterinarian at South Bay Veterinary Hospital in Chula Vista, CA

Don't be afraid to jump in. 🩺

“Learn all you can, ask a lot of questions, and know where to look up information. Although we went to vet school for four years, most of our learning to be a doctor is in practice in the first couple years... Say yes to as many procedures and exams as possible. The more you can do early on, the more comfortable and knowledgeable you will become. We become great doctors by seeing diverse cases (exotics included), challenging ourselves, and getting opinions of other trusted colleagues.”

- Dr. Andrea Bogan, Anaheim Hills Pet Clinic in Anaheim, CA