Dr. Aziza Glass on finding purpose in life

It’s a rare thing to find your calling in life, but Dr. Aziza Glass has done it. 

As a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and graduate from Cornell University, she now owns Personal Touch Veterinary Clinic, where her focus is on integrative medicine with an emphasis on acupuncture and other alternative modalities.

But above all, it’s about helping others and remaining true to herself. 

“My mission in life is to make sure I utilize the gifts and talents God has given me, maximize them and in turn, take care of my family and help my community while He receives all the glory,” she says. 

In the ______ issue of My Pet Candy, we are thrilled to interview this amazing veterinarian. 

Let’s talk self-determination and work culture with Dr. Glass! 

Fresh out of veterinary school? Here’s Aziza’s take on finding your true path 

Dr. Aziza Glass opened her own practice in 2018, and since that time has carved out a very unique path in the field of veterinary medicine. Her practice (Personal Touch Veterinary Clinic – or PTVC, for short) is unlike anything else you might expect to find at an ordinary vet clinic. 

For one thing, it’s a mobile practice. 

Dr. Glass sees pets in their homes. This removes a lot of the stress and environmental pressures that come with transporting cats, dog, or larger animals like horses. 

By blending eastern and western medicine, she offers treatments including acupuncture, herbal medications, and food consultation in addition to all the routine services a veterinarian carries out for their four-legged patients. 

However, like many new vet grads, Dr. Glass didn’t find her calling right away. 

“As a young veterinarian fresh out of school, I had to navigate a lot of challenges new graduates overcome,” she explains. “From growing in confidence to learning how to navigate vet medicine in the real world.”

Unfortunately, one of these “real world” challenges had to do with a toxic work environment. Feeling the joy being sucked out of her job and struggling with ongoing microaggressions from clients, co-workers, and company executives who made her question the longevity of her profession, Aziza admitted her discontent to a mentor. 

The advice he gave?

Lifechanging. 

She recalls, “He advised me to create my own space, my own lane. It was empowering to hear this from a veteran in the field because it confirmed I was not crazy, my feelings were valid, and gave me permission to embrace my interests outside the immediate scope of veterinary medicine. It also helped me to prioritize my mental health and in turn, improved my work life balance.”

So, to all the veterinarians out there who may be struggling…

Take Dr. Glass’ words to heart. 

Sometimes, the path you are on is leading to a greater destiny. 

Big problems in the veterinary field require big solutions 

The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted a lot of problems in healthcare, both for humans and animals. 

The biggest one, according to Dr. Glass?

A resistance to change toxic work culture. 

Before, veterinarians were often expected to commit to 60 hours a week for below average pay, with subpar benefits and high student loans. On top of this, it could be difficult (if not downright impossible) to book time off or get support for mental health issues. Which is incredibly important, seeing as compassion fatigue can quickly lead to burnout. 

And while there is a significant push toward improving mental health in the workplace, vets must ask themselves: is it enough? 

Luckily, Dr. Aziza points out that these giant problems actually have quite straightforward solutions! 

She advocates for a holistic approach to veterinarians’ mental health, earned respect, and an acknowledgement of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Also don’t forget, we are human beings – not workhorses! 

With incredible veterinarians like Dr. Aziza Glass in our corner, we can’t help but feel excited about the future of veterinary medicine!