By Shirin Modaresi, D.V.M. – At-Large Director My “must have” is my AirPods, I always travel with my AirPods because I use them so often during my trips. If I’m flying, I use them to watch a show or listen to music if I’m working. I also use it in my hotel’s gym while I work out. If I’m on the road or in an airport and I need to join a work call, my AirPods are a great way to tune in while in public places to listen in. Do you have a “must have?” If so, we would love to hear about it! Email us at industryvets@gmail.com .
By Jim Lowe, D.V.M. – Vice President of External Communications and Marketing My “must have” is not a cutting-edge piece of IT, the latest travel-chic packing solution, or a favorite snack. It’s a bit tattered and worn, both from age and miles, and far removed from the newness it once possessed. It’s multi-colored, stuffed, and is approximately 10 inches tall. It is packed for every trip, and when forgotten, it is immediately noticed upon checking in to the night’s hotel. It is a teddy bear, more specifically, it is Peef. Peef came to our family when our daughter was very young and accompanied a book by the same name. My wife and I lived and practiced side-by-side for over 12 years. Every minute of every day we knew where we each were and how each of our days was going. So, the decision to leave private practice for industry disrupted not only our professional lives, but, most importantly, it turned our personal lives upside down. Our daughter was two years old when I began the life of a traveling technical services veterinarian, and leaving a young family at home did stimulate a lot of self-reflection as to the kind of dad- and husband-material I was. Peef represented the part of my family that got to travel with me and he’s been my travel companion since those early days. He’s a reminder of what’s most important, a symbol of how fast our daughter is growing up and someone to talk to upon returning to the hotel room. He has coffee with me in the mornings and is in-charge of the hotel room when I’m not around. Travel with something sentimental. Something that has no utility but reminds you why you do what you do and who you do it for. Do you have a “must have?” If so, we would love to hear about it! Email us at industryvets@gmail.com .
By Carolyn Luther, D.V.M. – AAIV At Large Director Things I can’t live without when I travel, Part 2: Tech Items I have been working in animal health for 12 years now, and some of these items have been with me almost as long!
By Carolyn Luther, D.V.M. – AAIV At Large Director Things I can’t live without when I travel, Part 1: Personal care and travel items I have been working in animal health for 12 years now, and some of these items have been with me almost as long! The biggest ”lifestyle” recommendation I have is to keep a carry-on suitcase that has everything you need for travel in it all the time, and then you only have to add clothes for each trip.
By Ann Korbel, D.V.M. – AAIV President-Elect When I made the transition from general veterinary practice to industry, I became a road warrior. Over the years I’ve developed a long list of travel essentials, but today I’d like to share a fun one. I never leave home – for work or for play – without a Turkish cotton towel. You might be wondering, “Why?” Let me share with you all the reasons I love these cozy little marvels. First, I am one of those people who always feels cold. My Turkish cotton towel is pretty enough to pass as a scarf or shawl in a chilly conference room and warm enough to serve as a blanket on an airplane or in a hotel room. It also rolls up into a comfy neck rest if I need to catch a few ZZZs on the plane. My towel is incredibly absorbent, rinses easily and dries super fast. Airplane turbulence spilled your drink? Those tiny cocktail napkins aren’t going to help, but a corner of my towel wipes everything up in a flash. Have you or your equipment ever been rained on during an outdoor event? My towel is right there to the rescue. I can toss it over a car seat and it will be dry in a few hours. Finally, my towel works great as, well, a towel. Hotel service ever forgot to restock your room? No worries – you brought your own towel! I purchased my very first Turkish cotton towel for a beach vacation. It didn’t disappoint. It shed sand much better than regular beach towels. It also made a comfy seat cover and/or pretty table cloth when the cleanliness of the only available park bench was questionable. A quick Google search will introduce you to many companies that sell Turkish cotton towels. I’ve purchased most of mine from Teema because I’m fond of their neutral patterns and color schemes. Try one and I’m sure you’ll find as many unique uses for it as I have. Do you have a “must have?” If so, we would love to hear about it! Email us at industryvets@gmail.com .
By Jennifer Kasten, D.V.M. Industry veterinarians are busy people. For most of us, our days are filled spent in airports or driving down highways, attending dinners that extend late into the night, sleeping in hotel rooms and squeezing in email and admin time wherever we can get it. Our office-based colleagues frequently spend their time in front of multiple screens, where meetings and phone calls tend to dominate their time. Each of us has a few products or items that help us get through our days just a little bit more comfortably and easily. With that in mind, AAIV is starting a new series in our newsletter: “My Must Have.” Quarterly, one AAIV Board Member will highlight a product that they simply can’t live without or makes their day-to-day much more manageable. Whenever possible, we will include links to the product so you can get it for yourself. As your vice president for external communication, I will kick us off with the L.L. Bean Personal Organizer Toiletry Bag . I first acquired this bag in 2014 before an extended backpacking trip in Europe, 18 months before I became an industry veterinarian. I liked it then because it seemed to have a pocket and place for everything, including a little caddy to take into the shower. Zippered pockets kept my mini pharmacy clean and away from my toothbrush and razor. Similarly, I fit my makeup into one of the side pockets and brushes in the other. The center compartment has plenty of room for the TSA-approved 1-quart plastic bag for liquids. The hook is handy for hanging in hotel bathrooms (there is always somewhere to hang it), which makes accessing things very simple. The handle on the top makes it easy to carry. The medium-sized bag fits nicely in my roller board suitcase. I also can get it into a backpack or tote bag, if needed. Since that first trip to Europe 10 years ago, my toiletry bag has traveled over 400,000 miles on airlines, survived countless road trips, and been hung up in more hotel rooms than I care to think about. It has held up perfectly for all of it and looks as good as the day I bought it. I take tremendous pride in mentoring aspiring industry veterinarians. Whenever one of my mentees lands their first position, I send them one of these toiletry bags. At the very affordable price of just $35, it makes an easy “welcome to industry” gift for field veterinarians. For all these reasons, this bag is my “must have!” Do you have a “must have?” If so, we would love to hear about it!
