I want to be a medic but I am afraid of sticking people with needles and starting iv's...any advice?

Would love suggestions on how to overcome this fear. If you are in the medical profession and have stories about overcoming a fear of needles, please share!

When I did my training, most folks were somewhat hesistant to stick their partner. And yeah, that's how you learn. You have a partner and you learn to stick each other. As a rule you start with a simple injection in the arm, and then try to get blood from the elbow. Once you have mastered getting blood out, then you start IV's. By then you are past the needle fear, though you still tend to anticipate the "stick". We walked around looking like druggies or the victims of a wild vampire for a few weeks. Actually, I think it's better if you have a well developed respect of sharp pointy objects, I don't know I'd want somebody poking me who didn't. Actually, you'll find it a lot easier to calm your nervous patients in the future, if you confess you too had the fear and still understand. You also tend to get good with them, so you spare your patient unnecessary pain. And needless to say, you usually keep in mind that it is better to be on the giving end than the recieving end, at least with respect to needles. Just swallow hard and give it a try. Everyone in the medical field has had to do that first stick, and most get past it just fine. Chances are you will too.

be a vet

You will never know if your fear is true or not until you get around to doing it. You should try volunteering at a hospital and seeing how you feeling being up close and you will know whether your fear is conquerable or not.
Usually the fear goes away as you see people getting injections enough times (even if you yourself dont give it)
I had friends in med school who fainted first time they saw surgery and they are surgeons today....