FlightPlan: Quick Consults

We've talked about what burnout looks like and why managers feel stuck in the middle. Part 3 is where we get to the part that actually matters: what do we do about it? Backed by the same VHMA research that sparked this series, we close out Beyond Burnout with a forward-looking conversation about what sustainable veterinary leadership actually looks like in 2026 and beyond. From the simplest o...

Practice managers are accountable for results they don't always have authority to control, caught between what their team needs and what leadership is asking for. It's a setup that breeds burnout — and according to a recent VHMA study , it's pushing nearly half of managers to consider walking away from their roles. In Part 2 of our Beyond Burnout series, we dig into what it feels li...

A recent VHMA study found that 48% of veterinary practice managers are considering leaving their role. That number should stop us in our tracks — but for many practices, the warning signs go unnoticed until it's too late. In Part 1 of our Beyond Burnout series, we get into what burnout actually looks like in practice managers before they hit the wall. It doesn't always arrive as a dramat...

Handing someone a skills checklist isn't mentorship. It's a starting point! In this episode, our panelists dig into why the veterinary profession has long conflated training with mentoring, and what it actually looks like to invest in someone's growth beyond the checklist.  From the value of having a mentor outside your direct chain of command, to why safe spaces to fail matter more...

AI is everywhere — but what does it actually look like in a veterinary clinic? In this episode, we get practical: where AI is genuinely saving time (we're talking hours per vet), how it's transforming medical records and reducing cognitive load, and what real-world experience with AI in lab equipment looks like. We also tackle the risks — over-reliance, the fear that saved time just mean...

Inconsistent PIMS codes don't just create an organizational headache — they undermine every financial, clinical, and operational decision that flows from your data. In this episode, we dig into what it actually costs your practice when everyone's coding differently, and why fixing it matters more than most teams realize. From the classic dental coding dilemma (does that x-ray live under...

In this episode, our panelists unpack the leadership behaviors that can quietly erode trust, even when intentions are good, from inconsistency in communication and accountability to the impact of favoritism and the importance of leaders admitting their own mistakes. They also share practical, repeatable ways leaders can build stronger, higher-performing teams every single week — including creating...

Veterinary practices often promote their best people and then wonder why things aren't working. Sound familiar? In this episode, Brenda Tassava Medina, Amy Brauns, Melissa Mauldin and Angela Gainey dig into one of the most overlooked problems in practice leadership: what happens after the promotion. Too often, new leaders are handed a title and left to figure the rest out on their own. No coa...

Months of conversations. Dozens of perspectives. And some very clear patterns! In this solo episode, Brenda Tassava Medina shares the themes she keeps hearing from high-functioning veterinary practices and what struggling ones consistently miss. The best practices aren't running on hustle. They're intentional about how work flows, how culture gets built, and how their teams are set up to...

We say it all the time...you can't pour from an empty cup. So why does everyone in veterinary medicine keep pouring anyway?! In this episode, we get honest about burnout: what the early warning signs actually look like (cynicism, apathy, dehumanizing clients — and they're different for everyone), and why psychological safety through regular one-on-ones is your first line of defense. We a...

"Work-life balance" might be the most overused phrase in veterinary medicine, so if balance isn't the goal, what is? In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Tate, a veterinarian and practice owner who has never fully bought into the myth, and Ron Sosa, a neuro-inclusive leadership coach who has held nearly every role in a veterinary practice. Together, they get real about what sus...

In this episode, two veterinarians and a practice manager share how teams can balance high standards of care with the financial realities clients face. The conversation highlights the importance of reading client cues, offering clear options along the spectrum of care, and meeting clients where they are without compromising medical integrity. The panel also dives into practical strategies to impro...

In this episode, we explore what high-functioning veterinary practices do differently, and what consistently sets them apart. Our panel breaks down the systems and behaviors that drive success, from clear operational rhythms and defined accountability to proactive communication, aligned expectations, and shared ownership across the team.  To close, we share simple but powerful habits that struggli...

In this episode of FlightPlan: Quick Consults , we tackle a critical challenge for veterinary practices: overburdened practice managers. Our panel breaks down the avalanche of responsibilities—admin, HR, bookkeeping, inventory, client complaints, and more—that keep managers from truly leading their teams. We explore practical solutions, including delegating tasks, outsourcing, and structuring lead...

In this episode of FlightPlan: Quick Consults , our panel dives into one of the biggest efficiency challenges in veterinary practice: the exam room bottleneck. We tackle a bold question—what tasks really need a vet in the room?! Learn how empowering your staff, clarifying patient care standards, and strategically redesigning exam rooms can make a huge difference in workflow. We also explore the ga...

Veterinary practices are almost always busy...but does the P&L reflect that? In this episode of FlightPlan: Quick Consults , our panel explores the disconnect between how busy a practice feels and what the financials actually show. They discuss common issues like unclear responsibility across teams, inefficient use of technology, high payroll despite feeling understaffed, and rising inventory...

Veterinary practice leaders, are you looking at your numbers often enough to truly lead in real time? In this episode, our panel answers a practical question: Which 5 to 7 KPIs give you the clearest picture of practice health each week? From staff hours per doctor hour and inventory spend to revenue per DVM hour, percent of new clients, average daily revenue, appointment fill rate, COGS, income by...

In this episode of FlightPlan: Quick Consults , a panel featuring the CEO of VetBooks, a CPA, and a veterinary operations leader discusses common sources of inaccuracy in veterinary P&Ls—from misclassified expenses and incorrectly coded services and inventory to using the wrong accounting method. They explain how these issues can quietly undermine decision-making. The conversation also explore...

Veterinary practice owners, welcome back! In Part 2 of " Your Leaders Are Exhausted, and So Are You ," the same panel of practice owners answers a tough question: How do you build accountability without becoming the bottleneck or the bad guy? If everything has to run through you, here is the hard truth discussed in this episode: if you are the bottleneck, you are the problem. This conver...

If you're a veterinary practice owner, this one is for you! In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, three practice owners share an honest look at leadership overload and answer a powerful question: What responsibilities should owners stop carrying themselves? From running staff meetings and handling client complaints to coaching team members and serving as the default Medical Director, many...

In this episode, our panel examines which veterinary staffing benchmarks still provide meaningful insight and which ones may be leading practices in the wrong direction. From labor as a percentage of revenue to client experience metrics and total human cost, they discuss what is still worth measuring and what may no longer deserve center stage. The conversation also focuses on how to better align...

If your veterinary hospital feels nonstop and your team feels drained at the end of the day, this episode is for you. Three panelists explore how practice owners can assess whether they are genuinely overbooked or if hidden inefficiencies are creating unnecessary strain. They discuss what to look at behind the scenes, from performance indicators to the full client experience, and share a few pract...

Difficult employee conversations are unavoidable, but avoiding them can cost your practice far more in the long run. In this episode of FlightPlan: Quick Consults , Conversations That Count: Leading Through the Hard Talks , our panel explores the employee conversations leaders tend to avoid and how to handle them with clarity and intention. Topics include addressing toxic behavior even when an emp...

In Episode 5 of FlightPlan: Quick Consults , our panel digs into how practice leaders can tell when phone systems are truly falling short versus when it’s just a gut feeling. From call data, staffing patterns, and abandoned calls to client feedback and team stress signals, we explore the real indicators that phones may be working against you. The conversation also covers how to create better phone...

Great client care starts with great communication. In this episode of FlightPlan: Quick Consults , our panel explores how veterinary teams can build trust while clearly communicating value. Topics include creating buy-in around forward booking , positioning it as a standard of care, and using subtle communication strategies to avoid sounding pushy. The discussion also addresses how to respond when...