Yola Ketelaars
"I like the AniCura thought of working and growing together; that’s something unique within the veterinary world. It’s been amazing these first few months, and I look forward to getting to know even more people and grow my international network. It gives me even more opportunities for transfer in the future."
Say hi to Yola Ketelaars – the Belgium based veterinarian and AniCura graduate with a love for rabbits and a dream to one day work with wildlife.
– I grew up in the southern part of The Netherland, and ever since I was a child, I wanted to help animals. I moved to Belgium to study at the university in Ghent. I have several role models as a veterinarian, and one is a friend of mine who graduated two years before me and is now working as a wildlife veterinarian in Namibia.
At the moment Yola lives with her boyfriend Simon and their cat. She works at a veterinary centre near Ghent in Belgium, the place she started at immediately after her studies. The centre is a referral and AniCura clinic, and if a veterinarian wants to transfer here from any other AniCura clinic, it’s possible.
– The centre is just a short bike ride from my home. In my last year of university, I did a voluntary internship of one year in the same centre where I work now. Everyone was so kind, and I felt like I wanted to work here. I ended up pushing hard to get myself into the centre, and I guess it worked! If I ever transfer to another clinic here in Belgium or any other country, I want to stay within AniCura family. Working here gives me that advantage.
Like many veterinarians, she says the biggest challenge in her work life doesn’t come from the animals themselves.
– The owners and money are always a struggle. Sometimes I deal with really sick cats where the owners won’t pay for treatment, and those situations you need to handle with care. As a veterinarian, you need to understand that the owners don’t always follow your suggestions, and things like diagnostics can be too expensive for the owner. Of course, there are still exceptions. Yesterday I examined a chihuahua with patella luxation where the owner was prepared to do anything to treat the dog. Ultimately, owner-veterinarian communication can be more challenging than the actual treatment. Communication is something you acquire with time, but also something we learn about during the graduate programme.
After an email from a colleague, Yola applied to join the graduate programme, and in August 2020 it was time to start.
– My colleague sent me an email saying that this might be something you would like. Even though I’m on my third year as a vet now, I still feel fresh, and this was an opportunity to develop even further for me. Also, I like the AniCura thought of working and growing together; that’s something unique within the veterinary world. It’s been amazing these first few months, and I look forward to getting to know even more people and grow my international network. It gives me even more opportunities for transfer in the future.