Blunt Dissection

If 2020 was the year that got away, 2021 was the year where we bounced back. It too came with huge uncertainty and challenges and life in practice was played out against a depressing narrative of burnout and talent loss. With uncertainty still rife, and vet med at what feels like a dangerous tipping point, what can, indeed, what must we do to move forward?

One of the answers I suspect is already in play - hiding in plain sight. Resilience, that of talked about but seemingly elusive quality is borne out of adversity and in the past 2 years you’ve been building yours, perhaps without even realising it. So as we reflect on another journey around the sun, I thought it would be nice to shine some light on how each of my guests refused to let adversity crush them, instead harnessing its painful energy to sling shot out the other side scarred, but stronger. Let’s dive in.

Guests included:

Dr. Molly McAllister

Dr. Lisa Lippman

Dr. Peter Dommett

Dr. Fabian Rivers

Megan Brashear

Dr. Sharon Grossman

Dr. Marty Becker

Dr. Robin Downing

Dr. Mandisa Greene

Prof Liz Mossop

The Street Vet - Dr Jade Statt

We see further and feel so much bigger, when we stand on the shoulders of giants. And that friends, is as positive a message as I can leave you with.

All that remains is to thank all of my guests this year for giving up their precious time to talk. I’ve made some new friends, deepened some relationships and I hope has helped you work through another year in this special world we pet professionals call home.

Thank you for listening and supporting the show. I hope you get some downtime with your friends and family over the festive season. For the last time this year, from all of us here at VetX….. Be safe, be well and be happy.

Today's show was made possible by the VetX Thrive Community. To join this growing band of vets dedicated to building a successful and sustainable career in veterinary medicine visit www.vetxinternational.com today.

On today’s show, I’m joined by Dr. Jade Statt, cofounder of Street Vet a charity caring for the pets of homeless people.

Jade graduated from Glasgow University Vet School with honors in 2002 and initially worked as an assistant in a small animal practice where her innate desire to help others spurred her on to compile and write The Pocket Book of Small Animal Tips For Vets. A book she donated to raise funds for vet mental health and wellbeing charity, Vetlife.

Her own struggles with depression led to her serving on the board of VetLife for three years, before finding her true calling one evening on the way back from a night out in London in 2016.

Stopping to speak with a homeless man, Jade came to realize the importance of pets to homeless people. But it was also apparent that the vet care and support we might take for granted was non-existent for those living on the street with pets.

An idea was born and soon after she took to the streets of London with a backpack stuffed with medicines, food, toys, collars, and leads, and the desire to help. Not long after she met her co-founder Sam Joseph who by happy coincidence was doing something similar and Street Vet was born. Since then, Street Vet has grown rapidly with teams active in 17 locations and a volunteer army of more than 700 dedicated vets, nurses, and support roles nationally in the UK.

Jade, in her role as founder and ambassador for the charity, is a tireless advocate taking on many of the other issues that result in increased homelessness such as the lack of available pet-friendly temporary accommodation and has successfully launched a service of accreditation and training for hostels who wish to change.

In 2019, her incredible work was duly recognized as she was announced as the Animal Star Awards Vet of The Year.

Now, oftentimes we’ll have an advert here…. But today our only ask is that you take a second to visit www.streetvet.org.uk and see what you can do to help. If you are a vet or nurse in the UK then you can volunteer your time. If you are a practice owner you might like to work as a partner practice for operations. And wherever you are, if you can find your way to donate ten bucks to support Street Vet then you’d be putting some spare cash to good use.

For all opportunities head to www.streetvet.org.uk and get involved. You won't just be helping others though, because the act of support is great for your own mental wellbeing too.

Now back to the show...

Jade is incredibly passionate about veterinary mental health and the benefits of volunteering.

And her work is a testament to the power of purpose and collaboration. The tireless dedication that both she and her army of volunteers put into protecting the bond between humans and animals in the most vulnerable of people is incredibly inspiring. A timely reminder when many things seem hopeless that the power of caring for others really is a gift that gives in both directions.

So now, without further ado, I present this, my conversation with the pretty darn awesome, Dr. Jade Statt.

On today’s show it is my pleasure to be joined by one of the most influential and innovative people in steering global veterinary education, Professor Liz Mossop.

Liz graduated from the Edinburgh Vet School in 2000, and following several years in mixed practice jumped, and I do mean jumped, headlong into academia, taking up a new post as lecturer in Clinical Veterinary Education at the University of Nottingham in 2006, the same day as her students arrived!

She was part of the team that created a new model for educating vets and delivered a de novo curriculum based on applied learning with hands-on clinical work from day one. The school has been consistently ranked as outstanding by its students who have gone on to win much admiration from employers across the country since.

On her own journey into academia, Liz has racked up an impressive list of achievements including completing a masters and PhD in clinical education. She has consistently published on topics of interest to anyone who values a happy career in practice and is one of the most cited authors in her field.

In 2016 she was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship from the Higher Education Academy and gained a fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She became professor of clinical studies at Nottingham University in 2017.

Since then, Liz’s career has continued to soar and has taken her away from veterinary medicine altogether. She currently works at the University of Lincoln as Deputy Vice Chancellor for student development and engagement. A role in which she helps 17,000 students studying everything from medicine to music.

Now, just before we jump into the episode, a quick word from today’s show sponsor which today is the Thrive community. If you are struggling with managing time, feeling like an imposter or burnout then you need to make a change. The good news is that you are not broken or a bad fit for the profession, you are simply missing some super-important skills no-one teaches at university. Skills you will learn as part of the VetX community. Thrive is a RACE accredited professional skills course where members receive training, toolkits and one-to-one coaching to develop these skills.

Join hundreds of other vets who have changed their careers for the better as a Thrive member. To learn more and find out if the class is a good fit for you visit www.vetxinternational.com today.

Now back to the show,

This interview was on my radar, literally for years, a first attempt several years ago was aborted as my car broke down en route! After listening in, I hope you’ll see why I was so happy to finally get the chance to talk with Professor Mossop.

As we see more and more professionals falling out of love with veterinary medicine, and graduates feeling disenchanted with and overwhelmed by their vocation, her message and experience couldn’t be more important. Because as impressive as her contributions to education are, it’s perhaps her persistent refusal to stay in one career lane that highlights most brilliantly why having a veterinary degree is worth striving for. If you hold this qualification, the world absolutely is your oyster.

So sit back and enjoy this, my conversation with inspiring educator, and career lane-hopper Professor Liz Mossop.

On today’s show, I’m joined by Dr Mandisa Greene, the first black president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, here in the UK.

Raised in Trinidad, Mandisa grew up surrounded by animals and aspired to become a vet from an early age. However, her path into veterinary medicine wasn’t easy. Mandisa faced rejections from all her university applications on her first attempt. But luckily for us, she didn’t let rejection get in her way and, after first completing a degree in Biological and Medicinal Chemistry, Mandisa was accepted to study veterinary medicine at Edinburgh’s Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies graduating in 2008.

Following four years in general practice, Mandisa then worked in a dedicated emergency clinic covering Birmingham before transitioning to relief vet work to enable her to have a better work/life balance as she raised her family.

Mandisa is a published author, and along with being passionate about her own development, is also a strong advocate for veterinary nurses achieving and being used to their full potential. To this end she has lectured at Harper Adams University educating both student and qualified veterinary nurses.

In 2020 Mandisa was historically appointed as the first black president of Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and having completed her year of office is now serving as senior vice president.

Now, just before we jump into the episode, a quick word from today’s show sponsor which today is the Thrive community.

If you are struggling with managing time, feeling like an imposter or burnout then you need to make a change. The good news is that you are not broken or a bad fit for the profession, you are simply missing some super-important skills no-one teaches at university. Skills you will learn as part of the VetX community. Thrive is a RACE accredited professional skills course where members receive training, toolkits and one-to-one coaching to develop these skills.

Join hundreds of other vets who have changed their careers for the better as a Thrive member. To learn more and find out if the class is a good fit for you visit vetxinternational.com today.

While this episode was fun to record it was also at times difficult to hear and imagine the obstacles that I, as a white guy, did not face. Mandisa, as you are about to learn, is not someone who allows setbacks or ignorance get in the way of her goals. Whether rejection and racism or mixing up both career and family, Mandisa has found a way to overcome the odds and make it work. She’s a role model shining a bright light on a pathway that remains hidden to many - one that leads to the very top of this profession.

Mandisa is many other things: vet, teacher, leader, mother and an outstanding example of how dreams can come true. But her story is also a reminder of how much more work there remains to do to attract talent from all walks of life. And make sure our systems are set up so that anyone with the skills and desire to do so has a fair chance of calling veterinary medicine home.

Listen in to learn, laugh and be inspired by the trailblazing Dr Mandisa Greene.

On today’s show I’m joined by the woman with potentially the new Blunt Dissection record (Sorry Sheilah) for the number of letters after a name, Dr. Robin Downing, DVM, DAAPM, DACVSMR, CVPP, CCRP, CVA, MS in Clinical Bioethics.

Robin, who will be familiar to many of you, graduated from Loyola University of Chicago, (where she obtained a degree in English) in 1981 and later from the University of Illinois: College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986.

Growing up, Dr. Robin had a natural rapport with animals, thanks to her Grandad; and was later pushed towards pursuing her career in veterinary medicine by her partner and now wife.

Utilising her degree in English, Robin wrote a weekly column in The Denver Post, as well as multiple magazine articles, short stories, and two books. Meanwhile, using her veterinary degree to transform Windsor Veterinary Clinic into a Practice of Excellence and create The Downing Center for Animal Pain Management. Alongside, this Robin serves as a Trustee for the Morris Animal Foundation and is an affiliate faculty member at the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

It is no wonder that in 2001, she was presented the prestigious Excellence in Veterinary Healthcare Award by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association in Vancouver, and the winner of the 2020 Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award.

Now, just before we jump into the episode, a quick word from today’s show sponsor which today is the Thrive community. If you are struggling with managing time, feeling like an imposter or burnout then you need to make a change. The good news is that you are not broken or a bad fit for the profession, you are simply missing some super-important skills no-one teaches at university. Skills you will learn as part of the VetX community. Thrive is a RACE accredited professional skills course where members receive training, toolkits and one-to-one coaching to develop these skills.

Join hundreds of other vets who have changed their careers for the better as a Thrive member. To learn more and find out if the class is a good fit for you visit www.vetxinternational.com today.

Now back to the show...

This episode is both a heartwarming and heart-wrenching story of Robin’s life, (she now holds a second record for the first guest to make me cry) as she recalls her struggles of being both gay and a woman in the 1980s veterinary industry, how her dog stopped her from taking her own life, discusses how every vet should use a bioethical framework, and outlines her hopes to influence human medicine.

Expect to laugh, cry, and be truly amazed by the remarkable Dr. Robin Downing.

On today’s show, I’m joining by Dr. Marty Becker.

Also known to the public as “America’s Veterinarian,” Marty is a genuine titan of vet medicine with an incredibly successful career spanning not just the decades, but also the categories.

He was born and raised in potato country on a small family farm in Southern Idaho. Where his family had dairy and beef cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, and, of course, dogs and cats. Back then the cats were mostly feral and lived in the shadows of the haystacks and farm buildings, and the dogs were outdoor-only.

Becker went to veterinary school to become a dairy practitioner, but after listening to Dean Leo Bustad’s introductory talk about the human-animal bond, he switched his attention to companion animals on the spot.

Today, our pets occupy more of our beds than we do, which is part of the reason he founded the juggernaut “Fear Free” practice movement which aims to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets by inspiring and educating the people who care for them.

Over his career, Marty has owned multiple practices and built a national media profile through his TV appearances, national newspaper column, and book publishing deals.

To date, he has written 23 books that have sold almost 8 million copies, including three New York Times best-sellers.

Dr. Becker is an adjunct professor at his alma mater, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and also at the Colleges of Veterinary Medicine at both Colorado State University and the University of Missouri. Additionally, he has lectured at every veterinary school in the United States, and is on the advisory board of World Vets, an international veterinary and disaster relief program to help animals.

Now, just before we jump into the episode, a quick word from today’s show sponsor which today is the Thrive community. If you are struggling with managing time, imposter syndrome, or burnout then you need to make a change. The good news is that you are not broken or a bad fit for the profession, you are simply missing some important skills no one teaches at university. Skills you will learn as part of the VetX community. Thrive is a RACE accredited professional skills course where members receive training, toolkits, and one-to-one coaching to develop these skills.

To learn more and find out if the class is a good fit for you visit www.vetxinternational.com today.

Now back to the show...

I’ve wanted to sit with Marty and ask questions since long before podcasts were a twinkle in Ben Hammersley’s eye! Safe to say, he did not disappoint. This episode is going to blow your mind - by the end of this show, you’ll know Dr Marty Becker like never before. So sit back and enjoy this conversation with one of the most influential people, and perhaps the greatest cheerleader our profession has ever had.

On today’s show I’m joined by Dr Sharon Grossman.

Dr. Grossman is a Psychologist, Life Coach, and Speaker, who is an expert in Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and managing burnout in high achieving professionals.

She graduated more than two decades ago with a Bachelors in Psychology and since has completed a double Masters and a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology from Fordham University.

For the past two decades, Dr Grossman has worked with lawyers, doctors and other high-achieving professionals to help improve mental health and well-being, as all are prone to sacrificing their self-care as a result of work demands. Individuals she describes as having “too much on their mind, no direction, and end up focussing on unimportant items while forgetting about more important ones”. Thus entering a paradoxical downward spiral of perceived-underachievement, and eventually exhaustion.

If you’re thinking this sounds eerily familiar, then you perhaps get why I was so keen to have Dr Grossman on the show!

In addition to her work as a psychologist and coach, Dr. Grossman published her best selling book ‘The 7E Solution to Burnout’ in 2020. A book she hopes will help more high achievers transform their lives from exhausted to extraordinary - a book I strongly recommend you check out.

Now, just before we jump into the episode, a quick word from today’s show sponsor which today is the Thrive community. If you are struggling with managing time, feeling like an imposter or burnout then you need to make a change. The good news is that you are not broken or a bad fit for the profession, you are simply missing some super-important skills no-one teaches at university. Skills you will learn as part of the VetX community. Thrive is a RACE accredited professional skills course where members receive training, toolkits and one-to-one coaching to develop these skills.

Join hundreds of other vets who have changed their careers for the better as a Thrive member. To learn more and find out if the class is a good fit for you visit www.vetxinternational.com today.

Now back to the show...

Veterinarians are no strangers to the subjects of exhaustion, burnout, compassion fatigue and worse. We’re smart, we get that these things are risks. But despite this, too many seem to default to one of two options, collapse and leave a profession altogether, further exacerbating the effects for those that remain. Or grimly struggle on becoming ever more disillusioned with a career they once loved.

What excited me about having this conversation with Dr Grossman was the opportunity to shine a light on a different pathway. To take a deeper dive into what burnout is and how we deal with work pressures. To explore some of the tools available to take control and manage our own experience, so we all have the chance to thrive in our career. One that, if more of us were willing to take, might reduce burnout, resurrect careers, and literally save lives. Vet med is after all for many of us, not just a job, it’s a vocation.

This interview is a bit different from our normal format as it’s more about a subject than person - during the show I share a few of my own struggles in the hope that by doing so, you can find context and courage to get to work on you.

So without further ado, find a couch, lay back, and enjoy this part conversation, part therapy session with the empowering Dr Sharon Grossman.

On today’s show, I’m joined by Megan Brashear.

Megan initially went to college as a History major, with the objective of teaching high school students. But quickly realising that, for her, such a career was potentially an act of gross masochism she quickly pivoted. Instead, she found biology, and shortly after, veterinary technology.

Fast forward several years and Megan gained a BS in animal science from Brigham Young University, her CVT at Oregon in 2000, and became a VTS in ECC in 2004. During her career she has amassed more than 20 years of ER/ICU nursing, along the way working as a senior leader in both private and corporate practice.

Following a period of ‘never-say-no’ induced burnout, Megan took a sideways adventure into online training which was part of her seemingly inevitable 360 back into education, but this time with the right group of students - her beloved vet techs.

And so it is that Megan now works as a member of faculty at Purdue University, a place where she has found her ‘home’ combining her skill and passion as a mentor, trainer, and leader - helping to develop the vet technician talent of tomorrow.

And if you were looking for any evidence that she’s in her element as an educator, the fact she’s won the coveted VMX speaker of the year award, not just once, but twice is probably as good a sign as any!

Now, just before we jump into the episode, a quick word from today’s show sponsor which today is the Thrive community. If you are struggling with managing time, feeling like an imposter, or burnout then you need to make a change. The good news is that you are not broken or a bad fit for the profession, you are simply missing some super-important skills no-one teaches at university. Skills you will learn as part of the VetX community. Thrive is a RACE accredited professional skills course where members receive training, toolkits, and one-to-one coaching to develop these skills.

Join hundreds of other vets who have changed their careers for the better as a Thrive member. To learn more and find out if the class is a good fit for you visit vetxinternational.com today.

Now back to the show,

I loved this conversation with Megan, from the outside she might seem understated and quiet. But make no mistake, this double VMX speaker of the year has seen and done plenty. She’s never shied from opportunity, rebounded from her fair share of knockdown blows and now, in her latest role sounds a lot like she’s finally found her happy place.

There are a lot of important subjects covered in this show and I know that wherever you are on your journey in vet med you are going to find Megan’s story helpful.

So sit back and enjoy this, my conversation with the much funnier than she thinks she is (occasional sofa-hoarding) and entirely wonderful Megan Brashear.

On today’s show I’m joined by Dr Fabian Rivers.

Fabian is an exotics vet, TV personality, social activist, and philosopher.

Hailing from Birmingham in the United Kingdom, Fabian, also known as Dready Vet, took a path less travelled to becoming a vet by undertaking his training in the Czech Republic.

So why did he go overseas to study? The answer perhaps sheds some light on why there is such a glaring mismatch between the ethnic diversity of our general population and the ethnic diversity of our profession.

As an applicant from the black community Fabian found, time and again, doors in the UK closed to him that in all probability would have been wide open to others.

Thankfully for us all, he was not to be denied, and his perseverance and courage saw him graduate in 2018. Since then he has made an impressive impact. Fabian works in exotics medicine and is a tireless campaigner on his favoured topics of mental health, racism, plus new graduate and student welfare.

2020, a year of hell for many, saw his star rise further, first winning the BVA Young Vet of the Year award (for exemplary contribution to the vet community) and also landing a presenter role on the hugely popular Pets Factor children’s TV show.

Now, just before we jump into the episode, a quick word from today’s show sponsor which today is the Thrive community. If you are struggling with managing your time, feeling like an imposter or burnout then you need to make a change. The good news is that you are not broken or a bad fit for the profession, you are simply missing some super-important skills no one teaches at university. Skills you will learn as part of the VetX community. Thrive is a RACE accredited professional skills course where members receive training, toolkits, and one-to-one coaching to develop these skills.

Join hundreds of other vets who have changed their careers for the better as a Thrive member. To learn more and find out if the class is a good fit for you visit www.vetxinternational.com today.

Now back to the show,

We see the violent and sickening side of racism plastered across our news feeds. But what perhaps escapes our attention is the missed opportunity to create a genuinely inclusive profession.

Fabian is a shining example of what we might have lost were it not for his determination. The question is how many other talented people have been denied this chance? How much brilliance have we missed out on as a result? And what work must we do now to make things fair and inclusive?

Because if you believe that opening up opportunities for all today is a key part of creating a better society tomorrow, then doing nothing is not an option.

This episode was an education, it gave me a lot to consider, I hope it does the same for you too.

So sit back and let the awesome Dr. Fabian Rivers take us on a journey with a frequently light-hearted touch about a deadly serious topic.

On today’s show, I’m joined by Dr Pete Dommett. Pete graduated from the Onderstepoort school of veterinary medicine in South Africa.

A born adventurer with a lust for life, he now lives in Scotland managing an organic farm, literally ploughing a new furrow for ethical food production, and a move away from unsustainable monoculture farm practice. Something he firmly believes is detrimental to animal welfare, the planet and even the survival of the human race.

Peter’s convictions derive in no small way from a life lived to the full. Highlights include an entirely harrowing and tragic yachting trip in the wild southern ocean, the rehabilitation and transformation of Waterford Farm a beautiful, non-mechanised cattle farm. Located high in the Drakensberg mountains, his efforts were initially written off as impossible, yet he grafted, innovated and ultimately proved his values-led model of farming worked. One where animals, people and the ecosystems work in harmony.

Each remarkable step of these chapters of his life proceeding with a captivating mix of blood, sweat, laughter and tears. His is a story of one man's journey into the unknown which I'll warn you now, will frequently leave your jaw on the floor.

Now, just before we jump into the episode, a quick word from today’s show sponsor which today is the Leaders program for practice managers. If you are responsible for the management of a vet practice and people more accurately staff dramas are your biggest challenge then Leaders was designed for you. The program is the only complete leadership system developed specifically for veterinary practice that will help you transform your practice from 'Hot Mess', to 'Hot Rod'! During the course, you'll learn how to create a compelling vision, choose the right strategy, hire effectively and lead your team so you create a positive culture that brings results.

Leaders is a unique deep dive into the world of high performance and I will be your personal mentor throughout. This a four-module VHMA accredited training course supported by weekly live coaching sessions and detailed toolkits to ensure you bring your plans to life and take back control of your practice. To learn more and apply to join, then head to www.vetxinternational.com/leaders.

Membership is available for a small monthly fee where you can join and learn with other practice managers who have changed their practices for the better. To learn more and apply visit vetxinternational.com/leaders today.

Now back to the show,

Unlike many of my guests, Pete is not well known, he does not have a CV crammed full of diplomas and he’s not yet published any books, nor, to my knowledge, won any glittering prizes. But his lfe experience inventory column is stacked in a way that few can rival and that, combined with his willingness to take on the issues many avoid make him one of my favourite guests ever. Sit back and strap in, no seriously STRAP IN and enjoy this conversation with Dr Peter Dommett.