Long before I started veterinary school, I had a stereotypical image of what it would be like to be a vet student and, eventually, a veterinarian. I pictured spending hours a day with puppies and kittens, wearing a fancy white coat, and studying a lot of science and math. Although these things may be part of a veterinary education or career, there are many different aspects of veterinary medicine, and a million different and exciting career paths. I have learned, however, that regardless of which path you choose, one skill is necessary: leadership.

Because veterinary school is so vigorous and demanding, there is not much time, if any, in the curriculum to discuss skills like leadership. It is our responsibility as students to gain leadership experience. With this in mind, I decided to apply to attend the AVMA’s annual Veterinary Leadership Conference, hoping to leave with a better understanding of leadership within veterinary medicine.

The conference took place January 12-14 in Chicago. I arrived a bit later than expected (thanks to a little ice storm that morning), but just in time for the first evening of networking. I spent two hours meeting veterinarians and veterinary students from all over, and then went to another event at which students met members of the AVMA Political Action Committee (PAC). The PAC, I learned, is an organization that makes our voices heard when it comes to legislation or other government affairs. This is so important to our profession, particularly with today’s political climate. What the PAC does and stands for demonstrates what being a leader in veterinary medicine is all about. 

The next day started bright and early with another networking event, this time with the Women’s Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative. It was exciting and encouraging to meet so many female veterinarians excelling in their careers as leaders, and so many male veterinarians supporting them. The rest of the day was filled with workshops about leadership development, professional development, and health and wellness. I think the most valuable lessons were those about effective communication. I experienced how differently people express similar emotions, and how to appropriately work through these emotions together, even when we may not want to. While many of us joke that we got into this field because we like animals, not people, a major part of our job involves human interaction. I learned that good leaders should strive to improve their communication skills every day, and I think I took a step in the right direction by attending this conference.

The last day of the conference was filled with more workshops, networking, and speakers. When it was over, we had time to explore the beautiful area of downtown Chicago. We walked all over Millenium Park and got our picture with “The Bean.” Our student group also had some famous Chicago pizza for our last meal together. Overall, I had a great time at the AVMA’s Veterinary Leadership Conference, met many wonderful people, and gained some invaluable leadership experience. I highly recommend the conference to other students, and I think anyone could benefit from attending. Even if it sounds like something that you wouldn’t normally do, try it! Step out of your comfort zone. Trust me, you will be very glad you did.