When I was about 4 years old, I told my parents that I was going to be a guitar player and an animal doctor, and that's exactly what I've done. I played professional guitar until I finished veterinary school at 29.

When I applied to veterinary school in 1967, it was during the Vietnam War. There were only 17 veterinary schools in the entire United States, and it was very difficult to get into a school if you weren't from that state. I had transferred while I was an undergraduate to the University of Georgia, with the hope of going to veterinary school there. But since I was from out of state, it was very difficult. So, I actually studied podiatry for one year. During that year, I made up my mind to go wherever I needed to go to graduate. So I packed my bags and moved to Italy the next year. While I was there, I played music professionally to help me get through veterinary school. I was also an interpreter for the medical school from Italian to English and vice versa.

We as veterinarians are probably the unsung heroes of any medical discipline because of our knowledge base. There is no profession in the world that can compare to the vast amount of knowledge that a veterinarian must possess. I'm very proud of the fact that we are in such a unique profession.

I think the AVMA is the gold standard of veterinary medicine, not only in the United States, but worldwide. The AVMA sets standards, establishes policies and guidelines, and provides the profession with a strong, cohesive, unified voice.

Personally, I think JAVMA is wonderful. I have always been enthusiastic about the "What Is Your Diagnosis" and the "Your Radiological Diagnosis" sections from the time I graduated from veterinary school. I like the diverse nature of the articles that go into JAVMA. From small animal medicine to avian exotic to food animal, the variability of the content in JAVMA is perfect. It offers practical advice and insights that every veterinarian can use. JAVMA content is cutting-edge, and I use the knowledge I learn from it every day.

JAVMA/AJVR
Like you, Dr. Wyler receives JAVMA twice a month - which amounts to over 4,000 pages of veterinary education and in-depth analysis delivered to your doorstep year-round.