Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast

This week host veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward and veterinary technician Beckie Mossor welcome veterinary nutritionist and University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine professor, Dr. Julie Churchill. The three review the latest Association for Pet Obesity Prevention Survey results, explore the reasons behind some of the survey responses, dispel many nutritional, diet, and exercise myths, and...

There are approximately 900-2,000 cases of animal hoarding in the U.S. each year, affecting over 250,000 animals. Dr. Jill Kirk is on the front lines of the war against animal abuse, neglect, and hoarding. Host Dr. Ernie Ward along with Dr. Cyndie Courtney and Beckie Mossor, RVT, talk with Dr. Kirk about animal hoarding, how to recognize the common signs of abuse and neglect, and steps any veterin...

This week we meet an OG veterinary entrepreneur and innovator, Dr. Philippe Moreau from France. Dr. Moreau is double-boarded in Neurology and Internal Medicine, published author and award-winning speaker, serial entrepreneur, and has pioneered much of the technology, telemedicine, and apps that claim to be “new” today. Veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney discuss Philippe’s story, his visi...

Cancer. Amputation. Two words that strike fear in many pet owners' hearts. This week we're joined by the founders of Tripawds.com, a website community dedicated to helping pet owners facing limb amputation and other ambulatory challenges in dogs and cats. Host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney, along with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor, talk with Jim Nelson and René Agre...

With the recent Facebook/Cambridge Analytica controversy, many veterinary professionals have been concerned and confused about their online safety and the privacy of their client communications. This week veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney, and veterinary technician Beckie Mossor explore Facebook usage by veterinary clinics, whether or not Facebook Messenger and other social media intera...

This week we’re delighted to share the microphone with registered veterinary technician specialist, Liz Hughston, MEd., RVT, CVT, VTS (SAIM, ECC). Host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney and registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor embark on a wide-ranging discussion about veterinary staff unionization and collective bargaining, Liz offers her perspective on the Veterinary Nurse In...

Cooperative Veterinary Care is the latest concept to help make veterinary patients more comfortable during examinations, testing, and treatments. This week host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney, and registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor are joined by Monique Feyrecilde, LVT, VTS (Behavior). Monique is co-author of a new book debuting this week, Cooperative Veterinary Care with...

Imagination, curiosity, and creativity are essential traits, attributes, and skills for successful veterinary professionals (and people). This week host veterinarians Ernie Ward an Cyndie Courtney along with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor explore the creative side of veterinary medicine. The trio traverse Thoreau’s take on inspiration and creativity, share tales of imaginative solu...

MONEY! What do veterinary professionals do when a client can’t afford the cost of pet care? Are we providing the best veterinary medical care at an affordable price? How do we deal with situations when a client can’t - or won’t - pay for “gold standard care?” Do payment plans work? Should veterinary technicians discuss billing and pricing with clients? Those are a few of the topics our trio tackle...

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 st...

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 veteri...

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 confli...

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 s...

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...

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 tec...

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...

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...

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...

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 p...

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 t...

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...

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...

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,...

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 i...

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...