WHY I BECAME A VETERINARIAN

WHY I BECAME A VETERINARIAN
by Anne Chauvet, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)

What makes one choose to become a veterinarian? Yes, like everyone who loves animals, I read James Herriott. That was not it. My decision was made much earlier. I think it was because I love my brother so much.

When I was a little girl, in Africa, we lost our dog, Tobi, to a car accident. Late one night we were leaving the community center and my brother wanted the dog in the car. My mom said no. The dog ran home in the night and was hit. I watched my brother’s pain for days. He felt so guilty that he did not insist on the dog being in the car. Even the new pup we got from an African village, Mwendy, did not console him. All my efforts to keep this flea infested animal alive failed and two days later, Mwendy died. Even though he was older, I was about six and my brother ten, I became his big sister and ever since then, have wanted to do all I can to heal the pain that comes with the loss or hurt to our animals and children.

The road was long and hard. I was driven. After three continents, I was in Canada attending the veterinary school in Saskatoon. I almost failed in third year. Clinical work rescued me. I took an unpaid internship in Illinois thanks to my parents support. There, someone believed in me, Dr. Parker, a neurologist. I applied to only orthopedic residencies except for one: UC Davis neurology/neurosurgery, which is where I matched. After finishing my residency in California, I married another neurologist and followed him to Wisconsin where he and I ran the neurology service at the veterinary school. Then I made a life changing decision to live where I could do my job and be in the hot and humid weather that reminded me of Africa. So here I am doing exactly what I set out to do, relieve the physical pain of animals to alleviate the emotional pain of their humans. Even when I cannot, I feel blessed that I at least got the chance to try.

From top student in high school, scholarships in university, almost failing out of veterinary school, to unpaid internship, the best neurology residency at the time, I somehow found my way. Now I am discovering the joys and aches of a growing business and I welcome the challenge because it is all about the animals and their loving humans. Every day I strive to be the best I can be and hope that it helps a little. So follow your dream, it knows where you are going.