career connection
veterinary medicine
Reach Your Pet-tential
We’re willing to bet that almost everyone reading this wanted to be
a veterinarian at least once as a child. It’s not an easy path, however,
so how do you know if veterinary medicine is right for you?
Mandy Shelby graduated from the Tuskegee School of Veterinary Medicine and is
currently doing a small animal rotating internship at Carolina Veterinary Specialists
and two of their other hospitals in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. We talked to
her about what she loves about her work and what tips she’d pass along to students
who may want to work in veterinary medicine too.
Mandy says, “As soon as I understood what a veterinarian was, it was always my
primary career choice. It may be a cliché answer to some people, but it was my
connection with animals that brought me down this path rather than one profound
experience. My grandmother's passion for helping people is also what contributed to
me wanting to pursue a career in the medical field, so those two influences together
are why veterinary medicine was the correct place for me.”
Mandy’s main specialties are surgery, internal medicine, and emergency, but she also
gets to work alongside cardiology, neurology, and ophthalmology. She says, “There
are a few rewarding things that come with being a veterinarian. The first one is actu-
ally being able to put what I learned in veterinary school into practice and being able
to witness patients benefit from the education Tuskegee University provided me.”
that Tuskegee University
offers a Pre-Vet Med Honors
Program? PVM scholars can
choose from two pre-vet
degree options- the Science
Option (4 year undergrad
curriculum) and the
Veterinary Sciences option
(3 year undergrad.)
For more information visit
www.tuskegee.edu
QUICK FACTS
The second, she says, is working with people as well as animals. “Some may think
we are in this field so we do not have to directly communicate with people, but that
is far from the truth, as client communication is one of the main skills we must
develop. It is satisfying knowing there are other people in the world who are just as
concerned about the welfare of animals as you are. Most of all, I enjoy being able to
collaborate with other doctors to help develop a treatment plan for each patient in
regards to their own individual case.” 2016 Median Pay
When it comes to school choice, Mandy says to students who choose Tuskegee, “I
would automatically say they are making one of the wisest decisions they've ever
made in their lives. There are many opportunities that Tuskegee provides for its
students that I'm thankful for now, including networking with
alumni, traveling experiences, and great mentorship. I will
always thank Tuskegee for contributing to a large portion of
who I am today…and it will always be my second home!” Job Growth Through 2024
9% (Faster than average)
When asked for what advice she would give aspiring
veterinarians, Mandy said, “Gain experience! The key is not
just being able to obtain as much textbook information as
soon as you can, but actually gaining physical involvement
with different cases. If I could go back in time, I would tell
my younger self to dedicate less time trying to memorize in-
formation and get physically involved with a variety of clinics
because that is how I genuinely retained what I know now.”
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DID YOU KNOW
Winter 2017
Mandy Shelby,
Veterinarian
$88,770/yr • $42.68/hr
Typical Entry-Level
Education
Doctoral or professional
degree
Source: www.bls.gov