© 2021 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinary Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. all rights reserved.

© 2021 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinary Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. all rights reserved.

How a veterinary technician opens a path to a useful career, and why he opens the door to others behind him.

"In this industry, what I want most is for us to survive...success and thrive," said Stephen Cital of RLAT, SRA, RVT, VCC, CVPP, VTS-LAM (Res. Anesthesia). In the keynote speech on the last day of the Fetch dvm360® conference in San Diego, California, Cital tried to inspire veterinary technicians to live consciously to break the glass ceiling, maintain health, and prevent burnout.

Cital addresses the well-known fact that the average professional life span of veterinary technicians is 5 to 7 years. He talked about the level of trauma and burnout that a person must go to school and have debts, and then leave their profession after such a short time. He pointed out that the inability of veterinary technicians to make progress in their careers and earn more income is one of the main reasons.

How can one break this glass ceiling that greatly contributes to burnout? Cital said he believes that veterinary technicians need to be more open to their career choices. He talked about how many people think that working in a veterinary hospital is their only way out, but emphasized the importance of knowing what else is available for a person who is passionate about animals and finds himself in trouble.

Cital said: "People who only follow their passions in their careers will burn out faster and die faster." "What allows them to survive in their careers with their passion is to find the intersection of what they are also good at. ."

Cital says there are other industries or other parts of the veterinary industry that may be at the intersection of skills and passion. He talked about his own path, wanted to be a paramedic at first, and then realized how little money they made. He said that although helping others is a passion, low pay will eventually lead to burnout. Next, he received training as a nurse, but because he did not like the less hygienic aspects of human health care, this drove him to work as a veterinary technician in a professional clinic. Finally, he was attracted to the University of California, Davis as an animal researcher. Although he initially thought he would hate it, "this is where my passion intersects with what I am good at," he said.

Since then, Cital has used his research opportunities to enter zoo medicine and other fields, obtaining a fulfilling career, paying bills without burnout. Cital urges viewers to use his path as a driving force and constantly reassess their passions and professional ambitions, including salary, in order to achieve their ultimate goals.

"[Enthusiasm for animals] does not necessarily mean that you have to administer injections on the floor, monitor anesthesia, or hold [pets] for ultrasound examinations," he said. "Some of the most amazing technicians work in industry, and they make more money than mine."

He added that these technicians are "hidden", which troubles him, and it makes it difficult for other technicians to understand that they have other available ways.

Cital concluded his speech by providing actionable wisdom to help veterinary technicians achieve the success he has experienced. His suggestions are as follows:

Cital emphasized the importance of the network. He not only talked about the value of career opportunities (as he mentioned in the audience some people who are helpful to his career), but also talked about the value of emotional bonds and network support.

"Through the Internet, we have built a family across the country," Cital said. "When we felt so exhausted that we thought we couldn't continue, we saved each other's lives."

"We need to understand that once we break through some glass ceilings, the atmosphere is still there," Sitar said. "Once you leave the atmosphere, there is no air."

He advises viewers not to always try to move, but to find their happy place in this industry, and continue to do whatever is necessary to maintain this happiness.

Cital said that veterinary technicians should not be ashamed of pursuing high salaries.

"The whole idea of'We didn't do this for money' is no longer cute," Cital said.

He pointed out that the FDA's marketing director is a veterinary technician, and their salary is much higher than in the clinic. He said that everyone should be aware of these opportunities to work in their passionate fields without having to settle for low income.

As Cital puts it, “It’s not cute when you live in the California Bay Area, earn $17 an hour, and try to start a family.”