Gender & Generation

Micaela Z. Shaughnessy, VMD

Latest Posts

Part 2: How High Are Veterinary Medicine's Standards?

Micaela Z. Shaughnessy, VMD, September 13, 2010

VETERINARIANS, WE GET WHAT WE PAY FOR.

I say we need to look at ourselves as a profession and ask ourselves why do we have zero minimum educational or certification requirements of anyone in a clinic who is not a veterinarian?

Part 1: How High Are Veterinary Medicine's Standards?

Dr. Micaela Z. Shaughnessy, VMD, September 2, 2010

Blogs are the opinion of the author and should not be construed as medical advice or as being the opinion of the publisher.

Invest in Your Future, Not in Your Nails

Micaela Z. Shaughnessy, VMD , August 27, 2010

I was surfing the web recently when I saw a cover article on the front page of msn.com. It showed three women sitting in beach chairs and the article was discussing the latest advances in topical tanning creams. This is news? This was accompanied by an advertisement for eyelash enhancing mascara and followed by a photo picture of a slender woman tanning on a tropical beach in the bright sun.

Stop Volunteering

Micaela Z. Shaughnessy, VMD, August 19, 2010

Just recently I was working in a larger practice when the owner came to the back stating he had just received a request from a Brownie Troop for a tour of the hospital. He was “too busy” to do it and asked which one of his doctors would be up for the task. There were two male doctors in the room and three female doctors. No one wanted to do it.

After a long silence one of the women reluctantly put her hands in the air and said that she would take the time to do it -- on her day off. The owner said “Thank you” and left.

10 Scary Things Female Veterinarian Do: Part 2

Micaela Z. Shaughnessy, VMD, August 17, 2010

(Click on the link to read Part 1 of the blog series "10 Scary Things Female Veterinarians Do")

6. Failing to divide and delegate:

Okay, the baby’s father was home for a glorious seven days during and after the birth of the baby. Everyone congratulated him for his commitment and devotion to the family, and for his modern involvement during the birthing process. They have even praised his courage in actually taking the paternity leave his employer offered. He even gave you a Push Present.

Congratulations! Your Baby Arrived...

Micaela Shaughnessy, VMD, August 9, 2010

A healthy, happy baby.

The most recent statistics show that 80% of women in the United States will eventually give birth. Most will do so before the age of 30. If one extrapolates these statistics to the modern veterinary profession, one will discover thousands of new moms trying to balance the demands of a newborn infant or young child with the demands of a veterinary practice.

The Case For an "Old Girls" Network

Micaela Z. Shaughnessy, VMD, June 21, 2010

Recently one of my two daughters often began interrupting me when I was speaking to someone else. She felt her thoughts and ideas were so important that they needed to be expressed at that moment no matter who else was having a conversation. Needless to say, this behavior quickly became irritating. I wanted a solution to the problem. On the one hand, I wanted my daughter to be more respectful of other people and other peoples’ conversations, but on the other hand, I did not wish to suppress her enthusiasm for sharing her ideas.

10 Scary Things Female Veterinarians Do

Micaela Z. Shaughnessy, VMD, June 11, 2010

1. Not understanding educational debt.

Women! Wake Up!! According to 2009 AVMA research we have approximately $10,000 more in educational debt than our male counterparts. On what are we spending this money?

Compassion: The Enemy of Female Veterinarians?

Micaela Z. Shaughnessy, VMD, June 8, 2010

During a recent day shift, an owner brought in an older, sick cat that she had found as a stray. The pet was clearly ill. It presented with upper sinus congestion and nasal discharge, weepy eyes, a distended abdomen and generally poor body condition. A colleague of mine saw the appointment. The client stated that she wanted “everything” done for the cat and that “money was of no concern”. My colleague examined the cat and prepared for the owner an estimate for the services that she recommended.