June 25 is fast approaching—the one-year mark since Pets In Stitches, my former surgery-only veterinary clinic, closed its doors. The transition to a multi-doctor general practice has brought many thoughts and emotions.
The Question I Never Expected to Ask
While my surgery schedule fills, I now provide wellness care and treat simple common illnesses. Ear infections, skin infections, lameness, and urinary issues have not been a regular part of my practice for nearly two decades. Recently, I found myself asking my 2025 veterinary school graduate colleague, “Can you explain, in simple terms, the difference between Cytopoint and Apoquel?”
She stared at me for a moment. I could almost see the question behind her eyes: “Is she serious?”
For most general practitioners, Apoquel and Cytopoint are familiar tools for managing allergies. In my world of surgery and anesthesia, they simply never came up. In return, I have found myself helping my new colleagues navigate surgical and anesthetic challenges. It is rewarding to share skills that are uncommon in many general practices.
When Knowing Everything Becomes Impossible
Last week, while attending an advanced orthopedic surgery course, I reflected on how much veterinary medicine has changed since I graduated in 1998. Then, veterinarians were mostly expected to know and do nearly everything. Specialists existed, but general practitioners often carried responsibility for every aspect of care.
The reality is that no veterinarian can know everything about every species, disease, treatment, medication, procedure, and surgery. Eventually, something gives. Information is missed, mistakes happen, and standards of medical care become harder to maintain.
I recognized that early in my career and chose to focus on surgery and anesthesia. Knowing a lot about a little felt more valuable to my patients than knowing a little about a lot.
Measuring Ourselves Against Impossible Standards
Over the past 25 years, a middle ground has emerged. Veterinarians increasingly develop focused areas of expertise without becoming board-certified specialists, bringing advanced skills into general practice. This improves access to care, lowers costs, and allows pet owners to stay with veterinary teams they already know and trust.
Still, I felt a thread of embarrassment when I asked my colleague to explain something general practice veterinarians would consider basic knowledge. Imposter syndrome runs rampant in our profession, and I am no exception. The expectation that a veterinarian should be everything to every pet and pet owner is one I continue to work through in my new professional home.
Finding Where You Make the Greatest Difference
As I learn new surgical techniques and continue to share my knowledge, I am beginning to reframe my perspective. My value is not diminished because I do not know the latest dermatology medications. My value comes from the skills I have spent decades developing in surgery and anesthesia, skills that remain both valuable and needed.
Perhaps veterinary expertise is not about knowing everything. It is about knowing where you can make the greatest difference and continuing to grow in that space.