Pathology and I

As the blog name has suggested, I have a passion for veterinary pathology and consider pursuing it as a career path.  At the start of the veterinary medical course, we all just thought about becoming a vet. I definitely didn't know about other fields in the profession, so let alone the thought of becoming a veterinary pathologist. The first glimpse I had of pathology is when we have to study paraclinical subjects eg. parasitology, microbiology: bacteriology and virology, and pathology. The whole field is basically working behind the scene, in a laboratory, and dealing with the diagnostic aspect of medical conditions. Paraclinicians work together with clinicians ie veterinarians, who take primary response of a case, but we are the people who pet owners rarely get to see.

I'm still questioning as to how I became so interested and keen, even though I have yet to complete the veterinary course and get exposed to all the clinical training. First of all thoughts, I have pretty much figured out that treating patients and doing surgeries are not my cup of tea. Dealing with what drugs to used is bearable, but the financial aspect while dealing with the clients is buggering. On the other hand, paraclinicians simply perform the tests, which are requested and believed to be of the most diagnostic value by the prinary-care veterinarians, and are paid by the their clients.

Becoming a surgeon is often what one aspires to be, but the so-called aspiration changes after several times of having to stand,  bend over, and do a surgery through a little hold on a patient hole for hours - for which I respect surgeons. Also not to mention, one has to ingrain the aseptic technique (minimising bacterial contamination) and certain "good" surgical habits while doing a surgery (which I have already done so). That aside, there is a specialist surgeon I know, who has a hilarious sense of humours, said at smiling at me "Surgeries are easy - if in doubt just cut. We don't need to think and we leave thinking to pathologists" And he is right; I have a wondering mind while having a cup of tea or coffee.

I am certainly not the type of person who likes dealing with the general public, in contrary to my mates' belief as I was elected several representative positions: student rep council during high school, a student club secretary, social and educational rep of student society etc. They view me as a socialite, and I have to add that they're right to a certain extent, but their view would change once we start talking about clients behind the scene. Dealing with some clients can be very challenging, and I wonder how many times I said "What the f!@#$?!?" or "Shut the f!@#$ up and listen to me" in my head while I was smiling to them - having my mask on there. Often this leaves me feeling empathic towards our human counterpart - dealing with in-compliant patients. In addition, my family business deals with lots of people and I have witnessed too many funny people, perhaps. My mum is also partially responsible for this as I took after her trait of hate dealing with the general public.

Many of you may think that doing necropsies is disgusting and gory, but veterinarians deal with muddles on a daily basis. For example, a small animal veterinarian treating a moribund sick dog with haemorrhagic (bloody) effusions coming from the front and back ends,  and a large animal veterinarian getting farted and bio-organic materials splashed on their face during a rectal (back-end) examination. Veterinary profession isn't glamourous, and it is full of messes, but as a veterinary pathologist, I know when I'm getting dirty and can be prepared for it at the very least - think lab coats, overalls, gloves, gumboots and masks. Apart form an occasional risk of being exposed to nasty pathogens, all else is under my control - yes, I'm a control freak.

Last but not least, the global demand of young bright paraclinicians succeeds the supply as the majority of work force in the industry is greying away and expiring (exactly as said to me by one of veterinary pathologists, whom I adore) and the number just steadily declines. It wouldn't be hard for a paraclinician to find a job in the near future, which is an added bonus for me :)