Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast

Women are now the majority of practicing veterinarians in the U.S., yet our profession struggles to find women leaders. In this podcast, host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney, and registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor are joined by Dr. Karen Bradly, a pioneer in the movement to inspire and develop women leaders within the veterinary profession. Dr. Bradley shares her story of becoming a veterinarian, recounts her journey becoming an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) officer, and what she’s doing to encourage a new generation of female leaders. Along the way, the quartet lament the way some women are treated by their peers when they attain prominence, what veterinary technicians can learn from the gender and generational shift occurring among veterinarians, and how to inspire change within the profession. This wide-ranging conversation is sure to motivate you to pursue greatness! 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 host Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney and registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor are joined by practice owner and manager, Laura Ward to discuss sexual harassment in the veterinary workplace. What specifically is workplace sexual harassment? Does it exist in veterinary medicine? How can you prevent it from happening? What can you do if sexual harassment occurs in your veterinary clinic? Please share this important discussion with your veterinary healthcare colleagues. We must not accept workplace sexual harassment in any form. Join the conversation on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder. Resources: visit the American Association of University Women Sexual Harassment page www.AAUW.org, or www.RAINN.org, sexual harassment and abuse hotline: 1-800-656-4673

This week we're joined by the Petplan Veterinary Technician of the Year, Purvi Patel from Ontario, Canada! Host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor cross the border to find out what it's like to be a veterinary professional in the Great White North. Purvi shares her story of growing up in Malawi, moving to Canada to pursue veterinary medicine, and finding her ultimate passion as a veterinary technician. Purvi also discusses with the trio the similarities and differences in veterinary practices in Canada and the U.S., her thoughts on the term “veterinary nurse,” and whether or not Canadian pet owners complain about money as much as Americans! 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.

The primary objective of medicine should be preventing disease. If that’s true, why do so many veterinary (and human) healthcare professionals find it challenging to talk to clients about preventive care? This week host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor explore the challenges, myths, and strategies for veterinary preventive care. Dog and cat nutrition, vaccines, parasiticides, oral health and dentistry, and senior pet care are just some of the topics the trio converse about in this week’s podcast. 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.

National Veterinary Technician Week is October 15-22, 2017. This week we’re honored to share the mic with the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) President Mary Berg. Co-host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with veterinary technician Beckie Mossor chat with Mary about how she became a vet tech, the importance of veterinary technician specialists, current progress on the veterinary nurse name change initiative, her greatest accomplishments and the #1 thing she thinks need to be changed in the veterinary technician profession. The group also talk about celebrating National Veterinary Technician Week and why Dr. Ward call vet techs, “the greatest people on the planet!” Share with all your veterinary professional friends! 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.

Ever dealt with a colleague who has lost their passion? Worked for a boss or manager who has lost their enthusiasm? Maybe feeling a little down yourself or not treating loved ones nicely? Burnout affects untold tens of millions of U.S. workers and leads to lost productivity, poor patient care, and illness in the veterinary profession. Host Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor tackle burnout head-on in this important podcast. Real-world stories, the latest data, successful strategies the trio has utilized, and steps any clinic or individual can use to help avoid burnout. Share this episode with your entire team! 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.

Dr. Susan Little is widely known and incredibly respected in the feline veterinary world. This week Dr. Ernie ward and registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor sit down with Dr. Little and explore how she became a veterinarian, her unlikely journey to feline expert, her favorite tips and tricks for practicing feline medicine, and a genuinely good conversation about the trio's shared love of the veterinary profession. Whether you're a feline fanatic or lover of all animals, this episode will warm your heart and inspire your week!

This week we are honored to speak with veterinary pain management pioneer, Dr. Robin Downing. Managing pain in veterinary patients can be a challenge. Recognizing pain, treating discomfort, and keeping current with new drugs and modalities takes tremendous effort. This week Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney speak with a true trailblazer in veterinary medicine, Dr. Robin Downing. Dr. Downing shares her from practicing in a small, rural practice to becoming an early advocate for pain management in animals. The trio tackle pain management for veterinarians and veterinary technicians, emerging pain treatments such as acupuncture and class 4 laser, nutrition, and why the entire veterinary healthcare team needs to focus on pain management for the the pets we serve. This special podcast will serve to heal your achy soul… 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 talk with co-host Beckie Mossor about her recent experience aiding animals displaced by Hurricane Harvey in Texas. Beckie joins Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney for a discussion about Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, how veterinary professionals can get involved with ASPCA and FEMA relief efforts, and the best ways to help animals during natural disasters. Beckie inspires us all and we'd like to thank her and the thousands of animal assistance volunteers everywhere for making the world better! #BeBetter #VetLife #VetTech #Veterinary

Chances are you've at least seen her company's awesome apparel emblazoned with "Dog Is Good," "Cleanliness Is Next to Impossible," and, of course, their iconic "It's All Fun and Games Until Someone Ends Up In a Cone." This week host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney and veterinary technician Beckie Mossor have an incredible conversation with Dog Is Good founder, Gila Kurtz. Gila shares how she founded Dog Is Good with her husband, her best advice for budding entrepreneurs, why she loves working with veterinary healthcare providers, and her future plans for Dog Is Good. This is an episode full of practical tips and heartwarming anecdotes. Join the conversation and share your thoughts on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

Being a veterinary client or patient in the human healthcare system can, well, suck! Why is client and patient service often underwhelming, rushed, and, insensitive in the medical professions? Hosts Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor share some of their most terrible medical appointment stories, common mistakes made in veterinary client service, and tips for making your team better. In this week's episode you'll also learn why Dr. Ward started giving money to his clients over 20 years ago and how any team can change their mindset with a few simple mental tricks. Join the conversation and share your thoughts on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

Chances are, you’ve got plenty of people to thank for helping you attain the goal of working in the veterinary profession. Host veterinarians, Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney, along with registered veterinary technician, Beckie Mossor, share the tales of who mentored them, what mentoring means to them, and how you can become an effective mentor in your clinic. Dr. Ward frankly discusses why many veterinary clinics don’t hire high school students or participate in veterinary school externship programs. The panel shares the ways mentoring has positively impacted their lives and how to find — and become — the best mentor. Finally, the trio ask if virtual or online mentorship counts? What role does social media, internet, books, podcasts, and more play in shaping and developing our careers and professional lives? Join the conversation and share your thoughts on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

You know the saying, “You can’t please everybody?” Well, it’s true. Unfortunately, most veterinary healthcare professionals are pleasers by nature and try to please everybody all of the time, resulting in big problems. This week, host veterinarians Dr. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with registered veterinary technician, Beckie Mossor, talk with Dr. Cherie Buisson about Imposter Syndrome in the veterinary profession. What exactly is “Imposter Syndrome,” how can you tell if you have it, simple steps to overcome it, and how to help those experiencing Imposter Syndrome in your clinic. The quartet also explores the problems with trying to please everybody - colleagues, bosses, and clients - and how to take, and give, constructive feedback. Join the conversation and share your thoughts on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

What do you do when you’re asked to do something unethical, immoral, illegal, or just plain weird in veterinary practice? What if it’s your boss, manager, or co-worker who requests you do - or don't do - something that makes you uncomfortable? Hosts Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor tackle the tough topic of responding to these challenging scenarios in this week’s podcast. Join the conversation and share your thoughts on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

Medical mistakes are estimated to result in over 250,000 human deaths in the U.S. each year. What about in veterinary medicine? What types of medical mistakes do we commonly encounter in our animal patients? What are steps we can do prevent medical mistakes and how should a veterinary clinic team respond when mistakes are made? Host veterinarians Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor discuss real-world problems, their experiences, and offer suggestions and advice on avoiding medical mistakes in your clinic. Dr. Ward also shares a unique program from Australia to help you reduce medical errors. Join the conversation and share your thoughts on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.