Do request a letter of intent ... Don't enter an agreement based on a handshake ...

A local high school student who wants to be a veterinarian asked to volunteer in my clinic after school. I could use someone to straighten up the reception area, file, and run errands. But she wants to be a doctor, not a file clerk. If she's capable, should I train her to do simple clerical tasks?

It's not that different from what established practitioners want. We probed to learn what type of practice future veterinarians want to join, what they see as their greatest strengths, weaknesses, and fears.

Owners and new associates, you can see eye to eye. Evaluate your professional survival skills, branch out, and get the monkeys off your back.

As graduation approaches, my mind is a whirlwind of questions, concerns, and hopes. I'm ready to practice?mostly. Yet there's one topic that leaves me wary: salary. While production-based compensation and traditional salary historically have been the only two options, they each have room for improvement. But there's a third choice: the ProSal formula, developed by Hospital Management Editor Mark Opperman, CVPM. To understand why I think ProSal is right for me and other new associates, consider these pros and cons.

Q I'm a recent graduate, and I find that the clients I see have no preference for which doctor examines their pet. How can I develop my own clientele?