Pulse - June 2021 - 26

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
My 60-Year Retrospective
A
Elizabeth Goldstone
couple of weeks ago, the oldest woman in the
world passed away, and I couldn't help but
think, " can you imagine the changes she had
seen in her lifetime? " If you think about what has
changed in the last 116 years, her age at death, it is
mind-boggling to think of the wars, the disease, the
Depression, the television, airplanes, phones, computers
- everything that had developed in that time.
Now that I am almost a month to the big 6-0, the age that
other people are, but not me, I am thinking about everything
I have seen, experienced and what has changed in the world.
Not that 60 is so old, but when I was young, grandmothers
were gray haired and 60, and sat in rocking chairs. That does
not describe ANYONE that I know that is in their sixties,
not even 70s these days, but you know what I mean. People
do not age as quickly these days and their health is probably
better than those who grew up in the generations before us.
A lot has progressed in science, hence new vaccines, and cures
or maintenance for many diseases, and more people work out
and take care of their bodies.
I also think about the changes in education, industry
and the medical field, veterinary included. I have seen so
many changes just in pharmaceuticals, compared to when
I first started, 31 years ago. Human pharma, veterinary, and
the reps calling on them, were predominantly men. Now,
woman are prominent in all of these professions, and in our
industry, women dominating the new practitioners going
through vet school.
Also, as we have seen, the amount of companies servicing
both industries have shrunk, as many pharma companies have
merged or spun off companies. There are now only 4 of the
large pharma companies vying for all the business. There are
still some smaller companies out there, but where you used to
see animal health in every major pharma company, there are
now just a few. Also, distribution has changed, not only merging
with other companies, but now aligning themselves with
corporate entities that are buying up practices right and left
in the veterinary industry. Although there are many smaller,
private practices still thriving out there, many larger practices
have sold to various buying groups and corporations, changing
the landscape of the industry.
Luckily, the veterinary industry did not see the drastic
changes that occurred in human pharma, right before I
left that industry. Because of privacy laws and allegations of
bribery for preferential use and approval of some meds, the
hammer came down heavy in human pharma. Reps were no
longer allowed to go into the back of the clinics, leave food, pens
or anything company related. It went from feast to famine for
the doctors and they were not happy. The reps were not happy,
26
either, as those were drastic measures taken, and it was harder for
them to do their jobs.
But oddly enough, at about the same time, this was happening
in other industries, i.e. insurance, financial institutions,
and other industries where some unethical practices
were occurring.
So, yes, there have been many changes to a lot of industries
I am sure, in the last 60 years. But in 10 years from now, we
are really going to have a lot to say about the changes we saw
last year in our industry. We will be saying " Do you remember
when we closed the clinics to clients in 2020 - 2021? "
This little sliver of time we are experiencing right now, is
going to be the talk of our children, their grandparents (all of
us) and everyone who lived through it.
I try to think of the top 10 most life altering experiences
in my lifetime - 9/11, major earthquakes, 2020 election, cancer,
COVID and the list will change and continue. The good
news is that a lot of the changes have been positive, not all
doom and gloom, and our industry continues to grow and
thrive. Technology continues to change, and we are constantly
learning new ways to do business and communicate.
Luckily, we have not all been replaced by robots, as I think
a lot people predicted 50 years ago, but they are out there,
and being used for all kinds of tasks. Here's to 60 more years
of memories - hey, that's only 4 more than the woman who
lived to 116!! P
Elizabeth Goldstone
Merck Animal Health * 949-379-0201
Elizabeth.goldstone@merck.com
JUNE 2021
PULSE
Pulse - June 2021

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