Veterinary Today Podcast

Kimberly King, CVT, shares her unique path into veterinary medicine and why imaging became her professional passion. Now at Veterinary Diagnostic Centers, Kim helps run the Schaumburg location and is training to become an ultrasound sonographer. She walks listeners through what a fear-free, one-patient-at-a-time ultrasound practice looks like, including how cases are supported and how results get...

Whether you are a veterinary technician student gearing up for the VTNE, a practice owner mentoring a vet tech hopeful, or a CVT who has been putting off licensure, this episode is for you. Channing Benson, Program Manager of the Exams Department at the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB), joins the Veterinary Today Podcast to pull back the curtain on everything VTNE-related. C...

In this episode of Veterinary Today, we’re joined by Dr. Mark Acierno, Associate Dean at Midwestern University's College of Veterinary Medicine. With a career that spans across academia, clinical practice, and business, Dr. Acierno discusses his unconventional path from finance to veterinary medicine, his groundbreaking work in veterinary nephrology, and how he's shaping the future of ve...

In this episode, Dr. Sally Foote dives deep into the world of low-stress veterinary care, sharing techniques that reduce animal aggression and staff injury. As a leader in veterinary behavioral medicine, Dr. Foote offers invaluable advice on creating safe, stress-free environments for both pets and the veterinary team. Don’t miss this insightful conversation about making veterinary practices safer...

Join us for a thoughtful conversation with Alyssa Brown, a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) and Registered Laboratory Animal Technician (RLATg), as they explore the importance of neurodiversity in veterinary teams. In this episode, Alyssa shares their experiences as a neurodivergent professional and offers practical strategies for fostering a more inclusive, supportive environment in veterina...

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Coretta Patterson, an esteemed veterinarian with a passion for teaching and curriculum development. Dr. Patterson walks us through her diverse career journey, from her veterinary education at the University of Illinois to her role in building the future of veterinary education at Midwestern University. We dive into her experiences as an educator, her approach...

In this episode of Veterinary Today, Dr. Addie Reinhardt, Founder and CEO of MentorVet, discusses the evolving role of mentorship in veterinary care. She shares her personal journey of overcoming burnout, the importance of structured mentorship programs, and the innovative strategies MentorVet is using to support veterinary professionals at every stage of their careers. Dr. Reinhardt also highligh...

Join Dr. Shannon Greeley and Dr. Allyson Harris as they discuss the incredible impact of community outreach programs designed to engage high school students in veterinary medicine. From the 4th Annual Veterinary Career Exploration Day to personal experiences with mentorship and career development, these leaders in veterinary medicine share insights and tips on how we can inspire the next generatio...

Dr. Jennifer Quammen, DVM, MPH, AVMA President-Elect (2025–2026) joins Veterinary Today from the ISVMA Annual Conference to talk about leadership that strengthens you and your team. Dr. Quammen shares her path from credentialed veterinary technician to practicing veterinarian, entrepreneur, and chief veterinary officer of Otto, plus how organized veterinary medicine shaped her leadership journey f...

In this special episode of Veterinary Today , we sit down with Dr. Matt Bussan, the outgoing president of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association (ISVMA), and Dr. Kate Brucker, the incoming president, as they discuss their journey in veterinary leadership, the importance of organized veterinary medicine, and the challenges facing the profession today. Dr. Bussan reflects on his tenure, s...

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) continues to impact animal health across the U.S.—and Illinois veterinarians play a critical role in early detection, prevention, and education. In this episode of Veterinary Today , we’re joined by Staci Slager, DVM , Assistant State Veterinarian and Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare at the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Dr. Slag...

One Health is a global, collaborative goal that seeks to understand how everything in our world is connected to each other. One Health as a multi-sectoral and trans-disciplinary approach of achieving optimal health amongst all living things on earth – that the health of people is closely related to the health of animals and plants, and how we share our environment and ecosystems. It’s about co-dep...

Tune in and learn about key issues that affect the veterinary profession in Illinois and, in turn, you and your practice! Dr. Sandra Faeh, President, AVMA, discusses how a bill passed in Colorado in November 2024 now allows the existence of a mid-level veterinary practitioner in clinics and hospitals in that state. It is a position that the AVMA, ISVMA and other veterinary-related organizations ha...

Midwestern University in Downers Grove will be the home of Illinois’ proposed second college of veterinary medicine and teaching hospital. Not since the installation of the University of Illinois’ College of Veterinary Medicine in Champaign-Urbana in 1944 has there been a similar collegiate offering for doctor of veterinary medicine students in the state. Coretta Patterson, DVM, DACVIM-SA, is the...

“You just can’t make this stuff up!” Kevin Fitzgerald, DVM, DABVP, PhD, brings a light-hearted veterinary stand-up comedy Keynote presentation at the 142nd ISVMA Annual Convention this November! Dr. Fitzgerald is a renowned veterinarian and, like many fellow veterinary professionals, has encountered some amusing situations involving pets and their human caretakers over his career that Annual Conve...

Emerging developments surrounding the spread of avian influenza (H5N1) into our nation’s dairy supply are ongoing and ever-changing. Meanwhile, Illinois has a new invasive species of tick, the Asian longhorned tick, confirmed by entomologists at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory. The species is capable of carrying tick-borne diseases, first identified in beef cattle. Advisories on each o...

When you consider wildlife … specifically wildlife medicine and research … that’s a world as big as all of the outdoors! Dr. Matthew Allender, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine’s (UI-CVM’s) Diagnostic Lab, Director at the Wildlife Epidemiology Lab at the UI-CVM’s Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, and Clinical Veterinarian at the Chi...

An innovative veterinary pharmaceutical clinical trials program has been operating at a central Illinois pet clinic for more than 10 years, allowing pet owners to enroll their dogs and cats in breakthrough drug treatment research. Pets benefit from potential life-changing and life-saving medicines being developed, treating such conditions as flea infestations and osteoarthritis afflictions, in add...

Social media is a free marketing tool in which any veterinary clinic or hospital can easily use! Instantaneous outreach and promotion are important to any business, and engaging in social media as part of your hospital's overall marketing strategy is essential to keep in touch with clients and the community. There are also challenges with social media engagement, including what and when to po...

Work/Life balance, and how we handle stress in both personal and professional worlds is always present and, for some, can be a constant challenge. In the veterinary profession, overcoming personal struggles combined with the pressures related to providing animal health care can reach critical levels of anxiety, depression and burn out. Renowned veterinarian and traveler, Brad Ryan, MSc, DVM, MPH,...

Illinois veterinarians have a significant role as mandated by state regulation in reporting suspected rabies cases in pets and humans. Reported rabies exposure cases have been on the increase in the state over the past several months, specifically involving exposure from the native brown bat. That is why Dr. Connie Austin, Illinois Department of Public Health’s State Veterinarian, shares her knowl...

The use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine is prevalent in teaching hospitals, general veterinary practices, field operations and emergency referral clinics every day. Dr. Alexandria Gochenauer, Clinical Staff Pharmacist at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital in Urbana, explains the reasons behind antimicrobial stewardship and why it’s important to hav...

The US Food and Drug Administration Guidance for Industry #263, or GFI 263, goes into effect nationally in the US in early June 2023. The new mandate changes the approved marketing status of certain antimicrobial drugs from over the counter to prescription status. Drugs that were commonly found on retail shelves and through online sources will no longer be available for purchase by the public and...

Inaugural Podcast:  The ISVMA has been working closely with the State of Illinois regarding appropriate language within the update of the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2014. Joanne Carlson, DVM, ISVMA President, Loving Care Animal Hospital, Palatine, interviews Stephen Dullard, DVM, DABVP, Ancare Veterinary Clinic, Mendota, and Ancare Veterinary Hospital in LaSalle, ISVMA's...