THE BEST TIME TO GO OUT ON YOUR OWN AND DO VETERINARY MEDICINE YOUR OWN WAY MAY BE RIGHT NOW.
As one of only 32 CTCVMPs trained by the Chi Institute in the country, I’ve been given the opportunity to mentor other Chi students. Some only by phone or email and others that leave their home state, travel to New York and work with me side-by-side in my Long Island hospital.
One thing far too many have in common?
They are planning on leaving the safety of “traditional employment” and going out on their own… one day.
They want to make more money, sure.
But they also want freedom.
They want the freedom to actually use the alternative treatment modalities they have learned, and love. They want the freedom to prescribe what’s in the patient’s best interest, and not what the boss dictates they prescribe. They want the freedom to take care of themselves, spend more time with family, run that marathon or even adopt their own pets or have their own children.
Most are working 60+ hours per week, making less than they want, and the reality of being a veterinarian is a far cry from what they envisioned when they applied to veterinary school.
So, when’s the best time to go out on your own?
For Chi students learning holistic healing modalities and committed to a balanced approach to pet health, I’ve never personally experienced more favorable conditions to go out on your own.
Veterinary medicine always follows the path of people medicine. More and more people are investing out of pocket for modalities not paid for by their health insurance. They’re demanding access — and investing in— acupuncture, chiropractic care, herbal therapies and ideal nutrition for themselves… at record numbers. These people (now aware of the power of these “alternative remedies”) are seeking similar options for their beloved pets.
Even the “Suits” in Traditional Veterinary Medicine are beginning to acknowledge the validity of TCVM practices. I was shocked and pleasantly surprised to see VIN list acupuncture as a valid treatment.
As big medicine buys out more and more small veterinary clinics, turning former owners into employees, the top 5% of pet owners are looking elsewhere for what equates into “concierge care.” As more and more clinics fall into the hands of big veterinary medicine, appointment times are getting shorter, waits are getting longer, visits to your veterinarian are becoming less enjoyable. The BEST pet parents aren’t putting up with it and are looking for a more “zen” and customized experience. Like for their own medical care, they want practitioners who actually listen to them and care about their pets.
For these reasons and more, now is a great time to consider making the leap into your own, TCVM-inclusive practice. We’re talking all things “practice building” in our new Facebook group, which you can join for free and with no obligation. As Chi students and graduates, it’s critically important that we both offer these services and find a way to offer them profitably. Otherwise, fewer and fewer veterinarians will seek the training you now have, fewer and fewer pet parents will have access to these holistic modalities and more and more “big veterinary” conglomerates will assert their dominion over the care our pets receive.