Diversifying from clinical practice

Re: Diversifying from clinical practice

Gina Dungworth — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:14:12 GMT

Hi, Anna,

I'm another industry vet, although possibly 'resting' for the remainder of 2011. I'm also Hon Sec of the Association of Veterinarians in Industry, so if you have any questions that can't be answered by folks on here, I can always punt them to our membership for you.

We've got our Autumn Meeting coming up on the afternoon of the 20th (next Thursday), with CPD followed by an evening meal and networking opportunities.

Give me a shout if you want info.

Alex, will you be there?

Gina

Re: Diversifying from clinical practice

Alex Allen — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:57:41 GMT

Hi Anna,

Working for drug companies can be exciting and diverse given the diversity of most companies' portfolios. Don't be under any illusions about the working hours - it's not a 9-5 job although possibly better than some practising vets' hours. You may also have to stay away from home - conferences, distant meetings etc. Also Office vs field based?

Gives a different perspective to the profession and you can head in several directions once you at the drug company. We have 9 vets in our UK subsiderary working in Sales, Marketing and Technical.

For example you can head down the product managing line doing Certificates in marketing, MBA, business management etc. Several top names across our profession went this route before heading back to practice or becoming MDs.

On the technical advisory side you may head in to R&D (but some level of expertise will be required - pharmacology, toxicology, pathology etc) or remain as an advisor for the local subsiderary training internally and also providing support to practising vets. We take between 30-40 calls a day from vets asking about our products and some can seriously get the old brain working!

Clinical trials are often co-ordinated by or involve local subsideraries and a vet that's been practising can provide valuable insight and guidance. Do you have a particular area of interest? Cardiology? Pathology? Medicine?....

Several of us "industry vets" are on Vetsurgeon so feel free to ask us questions.

Keep an eye on the job pages as several companies will use recruitment agencies which periodically post lists of marketing, sales and technical positions. Get a CV sorted and send it off to one of these agencies.

Universities and laboratories regularly post vacancies but expect a dip in the salary department...

Re: Diversifying from clinical practice

Bob Russell — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:55:52 GMT

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

I have an ex-wife fully trained as a lawyer. She works on a pig farm (true enough not at the dirty end of farming). Things are not that much better for the legal profession at the moment!

[/quote]

Bob I had the impression, not sure where from that you had sufficient ex-wives to have one in every profession or am I mistaken?

[/quote]

Yup! - most, I lose track. It must be age! I can look at my bank statement for more accurate numbers in the unlikely event anyone is interested! I am on good speaking terms with most of them, thank goodness.

Been with the present Mrs Russell for 8yrs, met her at WSAVA back in 2003!

Re: Diversifying from clinical practice

Mark Holmes — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:34:10 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

I have an ex-wife fully trained as a lawyer. She works on a pig farm (true enough not at the dirty end of farming). Things are not that much better for the legal profession at the moment!

[/quote]

Bob I had the impression, not sure where from that you had sufficient ex-wives to have one in every profession or am I mistaken?

Re: Diversifying from clinical practice

Bob Russell — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:32:23 GMT

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]

Do you have any ideas how many unemployed lawyers there are right now? The last two years of law graduates have done their LPC and then found it almost impossible to get placements. Universities are producing far too many law grads at present and similarly vet graduates

[/quote]

I have an ex-wife fully trained as a lawyer. She works on a pig farm (true enough not at the dirty end of farming). Things are not that much better for the legal profession at the moment!

Re: Diversifying from clinical practice

Anna Ellams — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:52:25 GMT

Sounds interesting but think I'm more medically minded than Law... it was the kind of thing my mother wanted me to do. Will keep my mind open though.

Re: Diversifying from clinical practice

plantagenet — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:20:47 GMT

No, but I know several very employed veterinary specialist barristers.

Re: Diversifying from clinical practice

Mark Holmes — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:17:42 GMT

Re: Diversifying from clinical practice

plantagenet — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:09:57 GMT

Have you considered law conversion then becoming a barrister?