VHMA Manager to Manager

Join me in welcoming Ericka Taipalus, CVPM CVT to the show for this episode! Ericka is one of the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association's 2026 Emerging Leaders and manages a team of two doctors and eight staff members at Lakeview Animal Clinic in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, and she joins me for this episode to discuss what it really takes to create a healthier workplace culture in veterinary medicine....

Listen in this week as I chat with  Joan McCue, CVPM - Veterinary Hospital Manager at VetCor in Aiken, South Carolina. Joan joins me to explore what it really feels like to step into leadership as an "outsider" and how that perspective can shape both trust and growth within a team. She reflects on her journey across three very different veterinary practices, from being completely new to the field...

Join me this episode as I sit down with Lynsey Mohr, CVPM and veterinary practice manager at  Rehoboth Beach Animal Hospital , to explore how she helped transform a traditional GP clinic into a structured urgent care model! This is a topic that immediately caught my attention after meeting Lynsey at a conference and seeing firsthand how many hospitals, including my own, struggle with unpredictable...

For this episode of the podcast, I am joined by  Varuna Trivedi , Director of Operations at BEAM VetCare . Varuna has worked across dentistry and veterinary practice management in multiple countries, and she discusses what it really means for private practices to stay competitive in a world in which corporate healthcare systems are constantly expanding! We spend some time discussing how convenienc...

I am really excited to have  Karen Hart, CVPM, CCFP , on the podcast. Karen is the Director of Hospital Operations at the Burlington Emergency and Veterinary Specialists (BEVS) and is an MIT-trained engineer turned veterinary practice manager. Leading people through change has taught me something truly humbling: enthusiasm alone doesn't bring others along, and Karen discusses what it actually take...

In this episode of the show, I am happy to bring on  Bethany Bankovich, CVPM, CVT, MHRM, CCFP , Hospital Administrator at Neffsville Veterinary Clinic . We tall about how to be playful and engaging on social media without undermining your practice's credibility. Bethany truly has a wealth of insight from managing practices, leading teams, and experimenting with strategies that actually work in the...

I am really excited to welcome  Carol Hurst , LVT CVPM, of Encore Vet Group to the podcast for this episode! Carol is the kind of person who brings twenty years of hands-on experience and a true passion for growing people and culture. We spend this episode discussing one of the trickiest parts of veterinary management: building and training your client service team. It's a topic that can definitel...

I am joined not by one but by two guests this week - both from  Everhart Veterinary Medicine . Kristy Ballwanz, Practice Manager of the Cross Keys location, and Niki Abendschoen, Director of Marketing and I.T., come on to the show to talk about how they have used their website and social media presence to improve their hiring and recruiting efforts, explaining that they wanted to showcase the cult...

Listen in this week as I sit down with  Michelle Gienger , a seasoned practice manager at Village Veterinary Hospital , to talk all about the art of conducting effective employee surveys. Michelle shares her insights into how to gather valuable feedback from both vocal and reserved team members as well as how to implement that data without letting emotions get in the way. Michelle highlights the i...

Join me for this episode as I happily welcome  Talia Lucernoni CVPM, SHRM-CP at Vetcor . Talia shares how she set up a phase-and-tier training program for both new and existing employees, explaining how when she first joined a clinic that was in the middle of a transition, she noticed a lot of role confusion and no clear guidelines on what different staff members were actually allowed to do. To fi...

Join me this week as I have a great conversation with  Tori Lauro , Veterinary Hospital Manager at VCA Animal Hospitals . Tori shares her journey from becoming a customer service supervisor to being promoted to hospital manager in 2018. Having faced challenges early on, she reflects on feeling like she needed to have all the answers and make changes quickly, without first understanding her team wh...

Join me for this episode of the show as Melissa Stedman, CVPM of Brandywine Valley Veterinary Hospital , discusses some unique ideas for providing veterinary care despite rising costs. She shares that her practice has unfortunately seen a significant drop in certain services like dentals, spay/neuters, and preventative care as clients struggle with increased financial pressures. To help address th...

Today's episode is a must-listen for any veterinary practice manager considering a transition to a new practice management software system. Joining the podcast to help us take this on is Heidi Traylor from Covina Animal Hospital . Heidi is a seasoned CVPM and PHR and talks all about her practice's journey in selecting and implementing a new PIMS. Heidi shares the pivotal moment that pushed her tea...

Joining us this week is Amy Brauns , Practice Manager, RVT at Everhart Veterinary Medicine located in Baltimore, Maryland. People management can truly be the hardest part of veterinary leadership, and in this episode, Amy, who brings nearly two decades of experience and a deeply thoughtful approach, gets real about what it means to "coach up or coach out." She shares how she and her leadership tea...

Joining us this week is Joshua Blakemore, CVPM, RVT, FFCP of Onion River Animal Hospital in Burlington, Vermont to talk about what it really takes to prepare the next generation of veterinary technicians not just for graduation but for the day-to-day demands of clinical practice. Josh is a standout practice manager and longtime technician advocate who was recently named VHMA's Practice Manager of...

We are joined for this episode by Kaitlyn Behling-Mikesell , truly a rising star in veterinary hospital management. We are talking about practical strategies to enhance efficiency and team dynamics, beginning by discussing the value of fresh perspectives and the importance of understanding the why behind procedures that are already in place. Kaitlyn also shares her approach to taking on change, st...

Join us in welcoming Esteban Sotomayor to VHMA for this episode, coming on to help us address multiculturalism in the workplace. Esteban is a veterinary business consultant with an extensive background in Latin American veterinary practices, and he sheds some light on some of the differences between the veterinary practices in Latin America and the United States, including the role of veterinary t...

Welcome to the latest episode of VHMA in which we are happy to have Alex Flinkstrom ,  Practice Manager at Lunenburg Veterinary Hospital in Lunenburg, Massachusetts. Alex has managed to combine his background in sound recording with his deep-rooted passion for veterinary care, successfully leading the practice while retaining 100% of his staff, and outside of work, he enjoys saxophone repair, audi...

Welcome to the latest episode of the show in which we welcome Debbie Hill! Debbie is a seasoned hospital administrator who has truly helped shape my journey in the veterinary world, and we explore the complexities of career growth for practice managers, discussing things such as imposter syndrome and the power of saying yes to new opportunities!   Debbie shares her experiences in overcoming self-d...

Welcome to today's episode, where we're diving into one of the trickiest but most essential topics for all practice managers—KPIs and the numbers that drive practice success. Financial goals can be a sensitive subject with the team, leaving managers hesitant to address the topic for fear of being seen as "only caring about money." However, achieving financial health and efficiency is a team effort...

Conflicts are inevitable in a busy work environment, and misunderstandings or drama can quickly drain energy and impact everyone's day. However when managers are equipped with strong conflict-resolution skills, they can steer these challenges toward positive solutions, enhancing team cohesion and overall morale. Joining the podcast today is Rebecca May, a Practice Manager from Greensboro, North Ca...

Welcome to today's episode, where we are diving into building and maintaining cohesive teams in a busy veterinary practice, especially one with multiple teams and shifts. In some practices, it's common for staff members to barely see each other, which can make it challenging to stay aligned with practice goals. How can we ensure everyone is on the same page, even when they work at different times?...

As practice managers, we know how crucial it is to get our teams on board with compliance goals, ensuring we offer the best patient care possible. Our vendors often provide education and training year after year, and while the content is informative and valuable, many practices still struggle to see real progress. What's missing? Today's guest, Lindsay Shelton Webb, believes the key to unlocking t...

Welcome to today's episode, where we explore the impact of technology and apps on veterinary practices. While new tools often seem like the perfect solution for modernizing operations, it's essential to ask whether they truly benefit our clients or are just shiny distractions.   Our guest, Kyle McAllister, a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager from Charleston, South Carolina, has been in the fie...

Welcome to today's episode of the VHMA Manager to Manager Podcast, where we are diving into leadership tips. Today's guest, Erika Pease, LVT, CVPM, is the Practice Manager of a small private practice and is passionate about leading her team to success. In this episode, Erika shares the best leadership lessons she's learned through trial and error. She'll discuss the challenges of balancing managem...