Mark Cox, DVM, Retired, El Paso, TX, NMVMA Distinguished Lifetime Member
What inspired you to become a veterinary professional?
(MF) I grew up on a ranch in the Winston area working with livestock. There was no Veterinary service in the area, so, we did the best we could without professional help. During high school I attended a short course with the Hedrick School for stockmen. It was a course in some basic veterinary techniques including C-sections, pregnancy palpation, and some disease recognition. It all interested me and started me on the path to Veterinary School. I was admitted to Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine.
What do you love most about your work in New Mexico?
(MF) After graduation, I practiced in Truth or Consequences, Socorro, and the surrounding area for a while. The clients were hard working “salt of the earth” folks, whom I understood, and they appealed to me. A call to their ranch or home was often accompanied by an invitation to share a meal with them. The beauty of the desert and the mountains is always important to me. Despite the work schedule and demands of practice it was always an enjoyable profession.
What’s one challenge in the profession today that you hope the next generation won’t have to face?
(MF) I do worry about the upcoming generations of Veterinarians. Most of them have high debt loads when they graduate. They come out of school with wonderful educations and they can access a world of information in a computer. That combination pushes them into practices which can afford to pay better salaries. Fewer of the new graduates consider practices in small population areas. They are less likely to own a practice. All of this is detrimental to small town mixed practice. I worry about servicing the small population areas, working the livestock, quality of life, and being happy in the work.
What role do you believe NMVMA should play in shaping the future of veterinary medicine?
(MF) Organized Veterinary Medicine is critical to solving the dilemma. We go through many problems which are common with our colleagues. Having a central body that allows us to share with others is a natural outlet to discuss issues or problems. NMVMA and AVMA exist for our benefit, whether it is continuing education, legislative representation, or as a sounding board for concerns. I believe that our strengths are also our weaknesses. Veterinarians are an independent lot and tend to go their own way, but our greatest strength is in being a united profession. We must sacrifice some independence for the greater good.
The NMVMA unites us all under a single umbrella, it represents us all to the public, provides support to each member, and is the skeleton which holds us together as the Veterinary body.
Why is community – with peers, clients, or NMVMA – important to your success?
(MF) Lastly, I believe that you need to maintain a family type relationship with your clientele. I worked by the motto that “clients don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
