The Whole Veterinarian

TRIGGER WARNING- This episode contains references to and information about suicide which may be upsetting to some people. The purpose of the episode is to educate and bring awareness to the stigma around mental illness and provide resources but if you are not in a position to handle this discussion, please skip this episode. If you are concerned about a friend or colleague, or if you are having th...

TRIGGER WARNING- This episode contains references to and information about suicide which may be upsetting to some people. The purpose of the episode is to educate and bring awareness to the stigma around mental illness and provide resources but if you are not in a position to handle this discussion, please skip this episode. If you are concerned about a friend or colleague, or if you are having th...

Talking about money can be a huge emotional drain; veterinarians are forced to have these discussions all day long with pet owners. You can see why dealing with their own finances is probably the last thing a veterinarian wants to do after work. Dr. Grace Kim of Richer Life DVM joins me on this episode to share ideas on why it is worthwhile to get your personal finances in order, even if you'...

Well-being and personal development habits are not just set it and forget it. Veterinary medicine, and life in general, take a toll on us all...we need to have strong foundations and routines of self-care in place in order to thrive. This episode is serving as my reminder to get back to some healthier habits, even when I get super busy with life.  Since I needed a reminder so badly this week, I th...

 “Great teams consist of individuals who have learned to trust each other.  Over time, they have discovered each other’s strengths and weaknesses, enabling them to play as a coordinated whole.” -Amy Edmondson- I think we can all agree that team dysfunction and a toxic workplace are major contributors to the poor well-being of the individual veterinarian. Today's guest studies and consults on...

Having a good mentor is vital to your veterinary career. Having a great mentor can be life changing. Dr. Addie Reinhard talks with us today about the qualities that set apart the great mentors and she explains how you can easily become one of them. Addie also details how her program, MentorVet, is helping recent grads adjust to life in the real veterinary world. If you've ever found yourself...

There is no doubt that veterinary professionals are beyond overloaded in today's current climate. We need to find ways to think outside of the box in order to lighten our load and create more boundaries. Our personal well-being has to be on our to-do lists if we want to decrease the burnout in veterinary medicine and attract the right people onto our teams. In this episode I speak with Dr. Je...

Today I speak with the Secretary of the NOMV Board of Directors, Caitlin Furlong, about the origination of the Race Around the World and how this fundraising event has helped to shape the growth of Not One More Vet. Why NOMV is Needed 1 in 6 veterinarians considers suicide at some point in their career.  (Nett et al. 2015) Rates of relative risk of death by suicide of veterinary professionals to t...

Today I am wrapping up the August series of Amazing Moms in Veterinary Medicine with the incomparable DermVet (also known as Ashely Bourgeois, DVM, ACVD!) We cover all things mom life and chat about how you really can make veterinary medicine work for whatever part of life you're in at the moment. Here's our collective advice - make sure to be flexible and ask for help! ... Dr. Ashley Bo...

Today you get to meet Dr. Nia Perkins, founder of My Vetamorphosis! ... A graduate of Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine , I dreamed of becoming a vet since I was a child growing up in Chicago. I hadn’t been practicing long before I realized that there were important aspects of the profession that were not taught in school. Not that they could have been. I’m talking about life expe...

Work hard. Take risks. Try new things. Push yourself. Become Your Own Leader. Just a few of the tangible lessons you'll hear in this episode. Meet Dr. Julie Settlage! Julie Settlage joined Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health as an Equine Professional Services Veterinarian in May 2020.  She is a board certified large animal surgeon and has a masters in veterinary education.  Until joining Boehr...

This is the month I celebrate some of the amazing mothers in veterinary medicine. Today you get to meet the co-founder of the DVMoms facebook group. We members know the strength of the community that Jordan Gesimondo has helped to create. If you’re not a member yet, I’d highly recommend joining the over 15,000 of us already there! I wanted to talk to Jordan about her journey into motherhood in hop...

Burnout. We know about it. Many of us live it. Is there a solution? ... For this episode, I’ve invited Dr. Ivan “Zak” Zakharenkov to share with us his research on burnout in veterinary institutions-- all collected from his dissertation and experience in 35 different hospitals across Canada. With his extensive background, Dr. Zak aims to crack the code and build a new methodology to address veterin...

Are you fed up with the way that equine practice has been run for the past... forever? In this episode you will hear the plans for an exciting new equine-focused seminar. If you’re ready to help make changes in our industry, we want you to spend the weekend learning and collaborating with us. We know that it is possible to make equine veterinary medicine a sustainable and fulfilling career. Please...

Dr. Lillie Davis proves that hard work and determination are the keys to achieving your dreams. She also realizes that it's easy to lose yourself in the process. In this episode we cover everything from boundaries and self-care to the difficulties that people of color face when entering the veterinary medical field. Lillie is so genuine and warm; I am so thankful to have gotten the chance to...

While I worry that the burden of student debt weighs heavily on veterinarians throughout their careers, quick repayment is not feasible in many cases. I'm also learning that it may not make the most mathematical sense. In this episode, Meagan Landress, a consultant for Student Loan Planner, helps me understand how to look at income-driven repayment and forgiveness in a new light. If you have...

Amber LaRock, LVT is an amazing human being. She travels the world volunteering for animal organizations and creates helpful content for veterinary and pet companies. She is also gracious enough to share her story of recovery from alcohol addiction with us today. THANK YOU, Amber, for your grace and generosity. ... A little bit about Amber- My name is Amber LaRock and I am a Licensed Vet Tech that...

Have you ever wondered if you will last in this profession of ours? Burnout, compassion fatigue and general overwhelm are amazingly common problems in veterinary medicine. Leaving the industry is not your only option if you are feeling this way. What you might not realize is how well-prepared you are to adapt and create a life you love within veterinary medicine. It might not be the exact route yo...

Well-being might be a word that is thrown around a lot lately, but Renee Machel and Dr. Quincy Hawley are dedicated to educating all veterinary professionals about ways to improve this aspect of their lives. They formed Get MotiVETed with the hopes of ending burnout and dissatisfaction in our vetmed world. Make sure to check out their new E-book in collaboration with Empowering Veterinary Teams, w...

HAPPY EARTH DAY 2021! Do you need easy tips to create a more sustainable lifestyle? Would you love to do more for the planet but have no idea where to start? In this episode I'm speaking with Brandy Heyde Montague. She's the host of the For Animals. For Earth Podcast, which is all about sharing simple and actionable tips on how to change your lifestyle in a way that betters both animals...

How do your boundaries hold up against the daily pressures of veterinary medicine? In this episode, Dr. Danielle Alleman of Empathos Vet shares how her struggles with setting firm boundaries quickly led her down the path toward burnout. Her own self-discovery and personal development has gotten her to a healthier place in veterinary medicine; she is now sharing tools for others to do the same thro...

Veterinarians are leaders whether we are prepared for this role or not. Leadership is certainly not taught to us in vet school but the nature of this profession forces us to learn a few skills on the job. In this episode, I speak with Iggy Perillo of WSL Leadership Coaching about some of the unique ways that veterinarians (especially associates!) might struggle with becoming a leader in the workpl...

Katie graciously spent a bit of extra time talking with me about the psychological and social benefits of gratitude. Gratitude journaling is something that I have done regularly for the past year or so; it has made a monumental difference in my day-to-day outlook. Please have a listen and see if this might be something that you could work into your weekly routine. ... Where to find Dr. Katie Ford...

Have you ever felt like you weren't qualified enough to be treating the animal standing in front of you? You are not alone.  Join me as I chat with Dr. Katie Ford about her experiences with imposter syndrome and why they led her to dive deep into  this topic. She is a wealth of information and I cannot thank her enough for sharing what she's learned along her journey. ... About Dr. Ford...

Isaiah Douglass joins us today to break down some important topics - best ways to choose a financial planner, why you need to know the value of your practice if you own one, ways in which ownership can benefit an individual… and my personal favorite - you are allowed to fire toxic clients! Plus, he gave us a ton of resources and tips on leadership and financial investing. Let me know how this epis...