My Journey To Becoming A Veterinarian
My path in Medicine was set. I was 6 years old when I knew I wanted to be a Doctor because I wanted to heal. I grew up around human Doctors, fascinated by discussions of patient care and figuring out medical mysteries. Medicine seemed to be natural in our family - a career that held respect and honor.
Dr. Priya Bhatt with her parents, medical doctors, Dr. Bhatt and Dr. Bhatt!
The sight of blood grossed out my brother, but didn’t bother me at all. It only drew me closer because it was a clue to help solve medical questions. Not every person knows with strong determination what their life goal is going to be. I knew. I knew I could heal, but I didn’t know how, and if I would ever be smart enough to do it. My brother is the smarter one; he was able to learn almost like through osmosis. I had to work harder to achieve and to be recognized.
So, my path towards human medicine was laid out. Then I went into high school and everything changed, kids were cruel and adults did nothing. I visited third world countries only to see people being cruel to each other, animals and the land. People were creating their own pain and disease.
Tasha
Around the same time, my parents finally relented in gifting my brother and me someone we always longed for - a dog. This was not just any dog - this was the dog who ultimately changed the course of my life at the age of 13. She became my salvation.
Dr. Bhatt with Tasha
Tasha was a white furball of a Shihtzu, purchased from a pet store because we didn’t know any better. She was stubborn but a lover. She taught me to work on my frustrations from people, gave me undeniable support and love when kids were cruel, and forgave me if I laid a bad hand on her or gave her a tongue lashing. Tasha is the reason I am who I am today. One day I embraced her, after a bullying bus ride home, and cried. “Why are people so cruel?”
That’s When I Knew…
It was then that I knew veterinary medicine was going to be my calling - it was worth me working hard for animals because they are closer to what humanity should be like. Humans create their own paths - they can choose to be supportive or they can choose to be cruel, and I was starting to see humanity for what it is — tortured, not willing to change, not willing to be better, not willing to think of others less fortunate than themselves.
Little did I know that I was to walk down an arduous path to reach salvation. Getting to veterinary school, and then getting through veterinary school, wasn’t a cake walk. There were plenty of people with their own ideas of what animal care involved - some continuing to believe that animals are on this earth to serve us, and not believing that they are here to help us better our morals.
It Was Tough and Challenging
With many tears and resistance from others (may they have been racists or jealous or sexist), I pushed through veterinary school - of course with the support of my family and friends. When I graduated my Dad cried and said, “I’m proud of you. Veterinary school is harder than medical school, and you did it!” It still wasn’t over.
Starting clinical medicine opened up the door to so many other issues prevalent within our industry: depression, suicide, bullying from each other or the public, chronic abuse from clients or employers, demands to do medicine the way people wanted it instead of how it should be done. There was no salvation from the demands of people.
I found myself angry with the world. I was angry with my employers - all of them. My first employer promised me mentorship and instead left me to figure out emergency cases and surgeries on my own - and embraced a client for her pet dying under my hands when the client was unaware that the boss had avoided all the requests to come in and help me in surgery, and I watched the animal bleed out. I will have to carry that - forever. My second employers were awesome until they burned out and didn’t support me anymore, thereby practically pushing me out of the hospital. I was angry at people not helping me be the best Doctor I could be for these innocent animals.
I was angry at clients - people who spoke as if they had gone through 10-years of medical training and were pushing me to do their medicine. When I refused to practice medicine for the lay people, I started finding my voice. I started standing up against bullies, standing by high-quality medicine taught to me in the University. I started to remind myself WHY I went into veterinary medicine - it wasn’t for the people, it was for the animals. My anger fueled me to push to be a better Doctor for Tasha, and all the other animals out there. I started to transform my anger into power - the power to persevere and to achieve salvation for the animals who come to me.
My power was the anger fueling me to do better for all the Tashas out there - fueling me to be the Doctor I would want for my pet. I decided to be the best for the animals, and when I refocused to be better for them — I found people flocking to me. People were finding me, being drawn to the energy I was emitting. I promised people, “I will fight for your pet as if he/she is my own.” This is my philosophy today.
Helping My Patients and Pet Parents
Today, I’m not angry, instead I’m hurt. I’m hurt that there are people hurting each other. I’m hurt that there are people hurting animals. I’m hurt that people cannot see through their own pain to see how life can be better with love, understanding and acceptance.
I became a Veterinarian because I was hurting, and Tasha was my salvation.
I continue to be a Veterinarian because every animal I can help often comes with a person connected to that animal whom I can help. I found my calling, my voice and my strength.
Not all people are cruel. There are so many people out there who are hurt, and they turn to their pets for strength and love. We have an energetic connection with animals - if we are willing to see it - and they can teach us so much, and save us from so much, but we must be willing to give them, and each other, undeniable, unrelenting support, love and understanding.