Meet Del Anderson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Del Anderson.

Hi Del, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Since I was about seven years old, animals were, and have always been a big passion of mine. Becoming a vet and being able to save and work with animals on a daily basis has always felt like something I was called to do. Much of my childhood hobbies and interests revolved around animals: I grew up with pets, collected animal figures, watched nature documentaries, read books and encyclopedias, and volunteered at humane and wildlife shelters. Throughout my academic career, I had a knack for science and mathematics, which helped peak my interest in medicine. I went to Auburn University for undergrad, and that’s when I really got to dive into my passion more. I really enjoyed my anatomy and physiology courses and had the opportunity to explore some unique experiences through research and volunteer work. I graduated vet school in 2018 and practiced in Florida for two years at a small practice before moving back to my home state to join a larger practice. I’ve come a long way since graduating vet school, yet I feel like this is just the beginning of my career journey and am excited for what the future holds!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not. Getting accepted into vet school is extremely challenging. In addition to maintaining at least a 3.6 GPA (while taking rigorous courses such as Organic Chemistry and Physics), you need at least 400 hours of volunteer experience, a good GRE score, and multiple reference letters… And that’s just to get an interview. Surviving vet school was one of the toughest challenges of my life: many all-nighters studying for exams, boards, case studies, and skill assessments.

Since graduating from vet school, I have definitely endured my share of struggles. Being a veterinarian is a tough job; everyday, I’m forced to make difficult decisions and solve complex problems, all while facing adversity from compassion fatigue, difficult clients, and sometimes even my own hospital staff. I’ve worked in hospitals with toxic work culture, dealt with issues such as theft and drug abuse, and even been taken advantage of by my superiors and “support” staff. So, again, to answer the question, no, it has not been a smooth road; however, I am thankful for all the adversity I endured because it forced me to work harder and molded me into who I am today. I feel much of the success I’ve gained up to this point is largely due to the struggles I endured along the way.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am what you would call a “primary care” or “general practitioner” veterinarian, which means I have no specialization or distinct certification in a particular field; rather I have a general understanding in all areas of medicine: internal medicine, surgery, anesthesia, dermatology, you name it. I really enjoy the work I do because it allows me to be sort of a “jack-of-all-trades” kind of doctor. On any given day, I will treat patients for cardiac, neurologic, dental, and orthopedic issues, just to name a few. I will also see patients for routine checkups and vaccines. It makes the job a lot of fun because every day is different and you never know how the day is going to go, which keeps me on my toes.

My biggest passion is surgery. I enjoy cutting and fixing things with my hands and finding creative ways to put things back together. I also really enjoy orthopedic medicine because it allows me to really get in tune with my patients by relying on my physical exam techniques to find sources of pain. I’m very proud of my ability to communicate and connect with clients on a personal level. Trust plays a huge role in being able to provide best patient care and deliver successful outcomes. One of the most rewarding feelings is when someone tells me how grateful they are for saving their loved one and trusts me as their pet’s primary doctor for life. Perhaps what I’m most proud of however, is the fact that I am just one of a very small percentage of Black male veterinarians. Less than 2% of vets in America are Black, and even fewer are Black men, so being able to represent Black men in an overwhelmingly White profession is something I do not take for granted. I feel like representation is so important for our youth. It wasn’t until my second year of vet school when I met another Black male veterinarian. I hope I can serve as a role model to any young minorities who have an interest veterinary medicine or any science/medicine-based career.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Finding a good mentor is so important for any new grad or even for those interested in stepping into the vet field. I’ll address vet students first: my advice would be to try and network with as many people as possible while in vet school. Get involved in organized veterinary medicine, seek leadership positions in clubs and organizations because these will connect you with valuable resources and notable people in the profession. Even if you’re not in any clubs, get engaged in class, talk to your professors because they are also well-connected. Veterinary medicine is a small profession, where almost “everybody knows everybody,” so you’d be surprised how quickly you can find a good mentor just by networking with different people in the profession. As for those aspiring to go to vet school, I encourage you to start reaching out to local vets about shadowing opportunities or volunteering at shelters. In-person mentoring may be tough since we’re in a pandemic, but there’s vets you may be able to connect with virtually (myself included) who’d be willing to point you to resources to help you in your journey.

Contact Info:

• Email: dranderson.vet@gmail.com
• Website: www.townelakevets.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dranderson.vet/?hl=en