Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast

This week we welcome third-year Missouri veterinary school student Seth Williams. Seth is host of the popular vet school podcast, “Vet School Unleashed,” and has quite an interesting story on how he became a veterinary school student. Seth joins host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney with Beckie Mossor, RVT to share his convoluted and circuitous route to veterinary school, and why he started a podcast aimed at veterinary school students. Seth shares that most of his classmates aren’t concerned with student debt (yet!), there's a sense of camaraderie and lack of intra-class competition (yay!), that the #MeToo movement hasn’t affected his veterinary school (yet!), and gives us insight into what veterinary students are looking for in future jobs and mentors. We’d like to thank Seth for being a guest on the Veterinary Viewfinder podcast and sharing his candid opinions and experiences as a veterinary school student. Thanks again, Seth! Good luck in school! HELP US GROW! Please leave us a review on your favorite podcast site, ESPECIALLY iTUNES. We love making this podcast, but we need to hear from you. You can follow us on FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM. join the conversation and share your thoughts about these topics and what you’d like to hear us tackle on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder, Twitter @VetViewfinder and Veterinary Viewfinder on the Insta. C’mon, we’re not asking for much!

Does National Pet Dental Month Matter Anymore? Since 1995, veterinarians have celebrated National Pet Dental Month each February. But has the "holiday" lost its luster? Veterinary dental specialist Dr. Heidi Lobprise weighs in with host Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with Beckie Mossor, RVT. The group discuss why veterinary dentistry still isn't being prominently featured in most veterinary school curricula, the role and future of veterinary technicians in pet dentistry, Dr. Lobprise's 2-week dental recheck strategy, and why veterinary professionals should be talking more about chronic inflammation (CI) in our pet patients. WE NEED YOUR REVIEW! Please leave us a review on your favorite podcast site, ESPECIALLY iTUNES. We love making this podcast, but we need to hear from you. You can follow us on FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM. join the conversation and share your thoughts about these topics and what you’d like to hear us tackle on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder, Twitter @VetViewfinder and Veterinary Viewfinder on the Insta. C’mon, we’re not asking for much!

You know what we’re talking about because you deal with them, too. Angry, upset, threatening and irate veterinary clients can damage team morale, cause unbearable stress, and adversely affect patient care and client service (for our nice clients). This week, our hosts tackle how they deal with irate clients, how to spot a “secretly angry” client, and steps your team can take to help prevent conflict in the future. Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with Beckie Mossor, RVT share stories from their practice lives (Dr. Ward’s gun battles! Beckie witnesses trashed lobby TV’s!), offer advice on addressing anger in the exam room, and explain why “Firing Clients” may not be the correct terminology nor professional mindset we should be using. This is a wide-ranging, highly informative, and provocative conversation your entire practice team should consider listening to as a group. Bonus points if you identify and explain Dr. Ward’s musical choice this week! WE NEED YOUR REVIEW! Please leave us a review on your favorite podcast site, ESPECIALLY iTUNES. We love making this podcast, but we need to hear from you. You can follow us on FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM. join the conversation and share your thoughts about these topics and what you’d like to hear us tackle on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder, Twitter @VetViewfinder and Veterinary Viewfinder on the Insta. C’mon, we’re not asking for much!

This week we are thrilled to be joined by the extraordinarily talented and accomplished registered veterinary technician, Stephen Cital, RVT. Stephen shares his journey from human medicine to laboratory animal medicine, how he got into veterinary anesthesia, and why he loves his job more than ever. We also discuss the issues faced by the LGBT community in the veterinary profession, solutions and suggestions to help make our profession more inclusive, and how to spot — and avoid — some of the common everyday pitfalls practitioners fall into with a diverse workforce. This is a high energy conversation you do not want to skip! THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!! PLEASE LEAVE US A REVIEW! Please leave us a review on your favorite podcast site, ESPECIALLY iTUNES. You can also join the conversation and share your thoughts about these topics and what you’d like to hear us tackle on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

With the 2018 Super Bowl this weekend, we decided to take a deep dive into what makes the best veterinary teams successful. Hosts Drs. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT review some of the common characteristics of the best teams, how to integrate new employees into your clinic team, what are some of the pitfalls of overstepping professional or personal boundaries in the workplace, and more. Learn what "Book Clubs and Bars" have to do with establishing appropriate professional relationships in your clinics. The trio offer advice on what to do with a toxic team member, Dr. Ward shares his love for personality testing his staff, and why written job descriptions, evaluations, mission statements, and appointment scripts are incredibly important for success. This wide-ranging conversation is sure to inspire you to make your team ready for the Big Game... and beyond! THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!! PLEASE LEAVE US A REVIEW! Please leave us a review on your favorite podcast site, ESPECIALLY iTUNES. You can also join the conversation and share your thoughts about these topics and what you’d like to hear us tackle on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

Finding good employees is a challenge for any clinic. Finding good veterinary technicians is even harder! This week Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney, along with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor are joined by “MKA from Minnesota,” or Michelle Krasicki-Aune, MBA, BS, CVT, a credentialed veterinary technician who has a company dedicated to providing clinics with relief veterinary technicians, mentorship, and much more. Michelle tells how (and why) she became a veterinary technician (canine heartworms are involved), how the profession has changed, and where she thinks the future of veterinary technicians lies. Along the way, the quartet chat about the Veterinary Nurse Initiative (VNI), her best advice for staying motivated in clinics, how managers and owners can learn from RVT/CVT/LVT’s, and some of the challenges she sees in daily practices. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!! PLEASE LEAVE US A REVIEW! Please leave us a review on your favorite podcast site, ESPECIALLY iTUNES. You can also join the conversation and share your thoughts about these topics and what you’d like to hear us tackle on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

Nearly 2 billion people, including veterinary professionals, are using Facebook in 2018. This week Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with Beckie Mossor, RVT talk with Dr. Caitlin DeWilde about social media and her business, The Social DVM. The group discuss Caitlin's story of becoming a veterinarian, the recent changes to the Facebook News Feed algorithm, and practical advice for managing a veterinary clinic's Facebook Page. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!! PLEASE LEAVE US A REVIEW! Please leave us a quick review on your favorite podcast site, ESPECIALLY iTUNES. You can also join the conversation and share your thoughts about these topics and what you’d like to hear us tackle on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT talk with large animal veterinary nurse an equine nursing specialist Heather Hopkinson about the differences - and similarities - of large and small animal veterinary care. Heather shares her story of a young girl working at stables to earn horse riding lessons to becoming a pioneer and leader in the large animal veterinary technician world. Beckie and Heather recount their days together in veterinary technician school, how the veterinary nurse initiative (VNI) may affect large animal veterinary professionals, and the shared struggles of all animal advocates. The trio explore how compassion fatigue and burnout are different in the large animal world, how language and words affect emotions, and Heather explains why all veterinary nurses are at risk for attrition and unhappiness if they don’t find meaning and purpose within - and outside - the veterinary profession. This is a great conversation that applies to anyone working in the veterinary industry. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!! PLEASE LEAVE US A REVIEW! Please leave us a review on your favorite podcast site, ESPECIALLY iTUNES. You can also join the conversation and share your thoughts about these topics and what you’d like to hear us tackle on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

The veterinary profession is now dominated by women. This week, the Veterinary Viewfinder tackles the topic of veterinary professionals having children, bringing our kids into the clinic, and handling clients’ children during veterinary appointments. Co-hosts Drs. Ernie Ward and registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor share tales of crates used as cribs, a mother who demands Dr. Ward share EVERYTHING with their child during an appointment (and then dramatically changes her mind), Beckie talks about vet techs being used as “babysitters” during clinic visits, and Cyndie reviews her experiences as a "new mom" intersects with "practice life" over the past few months. Dr. Ward discusses the importance of paid maternity leave for veterinary professionals, and the trio offer advice for anyone planning a pregnancy or wondering how to tell their boss. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!! PLEASE LEAVE US A REVIEW! Please leave us a review on your favorite podcast site, ESPECIALLY iTUNES. You can also join the conversation and share your thoughts about these topics and what you’d like to hear us tackle on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

This week we're joined by friend and colleague, Dr. Alex German from the University of Liverpool. Alex joins Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney, along with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor, to share his story of becoming a veterinarian, his experiences as a mixed animal practitioner, returning to academia to pursue his PhD and Internal Medicine Board Certification, and finding his passion in clinical research. Alex and Ernie discuss their combined efforts combating pet obesity, Cyndie prompts a discussion on weight bias, and Beckie relates the pressures veterinary nurses often encounter when dealing with pet obesity. The group discusses Alex's latest research publications, his work on dog and cat growth curves, and how these tools may help veterinarians prevent pet obesity. This is a wide-ranging conversation that touches on many issues veterinary professionals may struggle with during daily practice life. Do yourself a favor, and listen to this one all the way through! Growth Charts mentioned in podcast: https://www.waltham.com/resources/puppy-growth-charts/ Dr Alex German: ajgerman@liverpool.ac.uk THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!! PLEASE LEAVE US A REVIEW! Please leave us a review on your favorite podcast site, ESPECIALLY iTUNES. You can also join the conversation and share your thoughts about these topics and what you’d like to hear us tackle on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

This week we're thrilled to share the podcast with "Vets Against Insanity" card game co-creator, Dr. Sarah Wooten. Sarah sat down with Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT at the recent Fetch dvm360 Conference in sunny San Diego and was joined via the magic of the internet by Dr. Cyndie Courtney. Ernie and Beckie gave Sarah the better microphone, and apologize for the reverb and echo-y sound in this podcast (they were in a cavernous hall, but still, Ernie left a certain mic cord at home...3,000 miles away...and had to improvise. Cie la vie.). Sarah shares her story of becoming a veterinarian, confronting burnout, leaving the profession, her latest professional reinvention and invention of the game "Vets Against Insanity." Sarah and Ernie swap triathlon tales, Cyndie discusses veterinary mother-guilt and pressures of raising children, and Beckie tackles compassion fatigue and burnout in this wide-ranging and insightful conversation. You don't want to miss this one!

At the end of each year, many veterinary professionals begin reflecting on their accomplishments, experiences, and goals. For many veterinarians and veterinary technicians, this time of year is one to consider changing jobs. In this week’s podcast, Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor discuss all aspects of quitting or starting a job. What’s the appropriate amount of notice; should owners or managers allow staff to continue working after giving notice they’re leaving; and what are some of the best ways to handle losing a team member? What about starting a new job? What can you do to start your new employment off on a positive note? The trio offer tips and real-life experiences to help you and your team develop better training and employment policies, as well as creating a culture where team members want to stay. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!! PLEASE LEAVE US A REVIEW! Please leave us a review on your favorite podcast site, ESPECIALLY ITUNES. You can also join the conversation and share your thoughts about these topics and what you’d like to hear us tackle on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

This week we're honored to have a true veterinary innovator, entrepreneur, and leader, Dr. Justine Lee. Dr. Lee joins co-host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor to discuss her story of becoming a veterinarian, writing books, creating VetGirl, and her latest projects, the VetGirl Wellness App and her upcoming veterinary continuing education conference. This is a great conversation about finding work-life balance, starting and raising a family, and how anyone can find their passion and meaning. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!! WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please be sure to leave us a review on your favorite podcast site. Join the conversation and share your thoughts on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

This week we discuss the emerging role veterinary technician specialists are playing in the veterinary profession. Host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with co-host, Beckie Mossor RVT, are joined by National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) President-elect Kara Burns, LVT, VTS (Nutrition). Kara shares her story from beginning as an Emergency Psychologist, to finding her passion in veterinary medicine, to founding a veterinary specialty. Learn Kara's best advice to help veterinary technicians deal with stress, expand their roles, and find happiness in their work. You don't want to miss this episode! THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!! WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please be sure to leave us a review on your favorite podcast site. Join the conversation and share your thoughts on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

It's our ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY! Thank you so much for OVER 25,000 DOWNLOADS! Host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor, look back on their past year of weekly podcasting, share the stories behind the episodes, recall some of their favorite and most controversial guests and topics, and look at some of the stories they'll be covering in 2018. WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Your support means so much to us. If you like what we're doing, please subscribe and leave us a review. Join us on social media at Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.