Dr. Emily Singler, the author of Pregnancy and Postpartum Considerations for the Veterinary Team, a content specialist for the American Animal Hospital Association, a certified parental leave coach, and a mother herself, is our guest this week. She will be speaking on the topic of pregnancy and parenthood in veterinary medicine at this year's AVMA Convention, July 10-14 in Anaheim, California, and we hope to see you there! 

In this episode, Dr. Singler reflects on the evolution of her career from shelter and private practice to writing, consulting, and advocacy work focused on supporting veterinary professionals and working parents. She also shares the story behind her book, including the research process, key topics covered, and the real-world impact it has already had on veterinary workplaces. This conversation offers practical insights, reassurance, and encouragement for anyone balancing a veterinary career with family life.

To participate in the research Dr. Singler mentions on parental leave in veterinary medicine, start here.

Thank you to our podcast partner CareCredit. You can learn more about Veterinary Patient Financing for Providers through CareCredit by visiting: https://www.carecredit.com/providers/animal-healthcare/

Remember, we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a rating and review. You can also contact us at [email protected].

Follow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

Dr. Katherine Quesenberry, chief medical officer at the Animal Medical Center, joins us for our "Mistakes Happen" series this week.

In this series, we are talking with brave colleagues about the parts of their career stories no one likes to talk about. We hope that this series empowers you to share more openly about your own mistakes— both for your benefit and for the benefit of those around you— and gives you some ideas on how to approach future mistakes more positively based on the stories you hear.

Thank you to our podcast partner CareCredit. You can learn more about Veterinary Patient Financing for Providers through CareCredit by visiting: https://www.carecredit.com/providers/animal-healthcare/

Remember, we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a rating and review. You can also contact us at [email protected].

Follow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

Dr. Jim Orsini, an associate professor of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania and co-editor of Equine Emergencies and Comparative Veterinary Anatomy: A Clinical Approach, for our "Mistakes Happen" series this week.

In this series, we are talking with brave colleagues about the parts of their career stories no one likes to talk about. We hope that this series empowers you to share more openly about your own mistakes— both for your benefit and for the benefit of those around you— and gives you some ideas on how to approach future mistakes more positively based on the stories you hear.

Thank you to our podcast partner CareCredit. You can learn more about Veterinary Patient Financing for Providers through CareCredit by visiting: https://www.carecredit.com/providers/animal-healthcare/

Remember, we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a rating and review. You can also contact us at [email protected].

Follow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

Dr. Courtney Campbell, a board-certified small animal surgeon, practice owner, author, and media correspondent, opens the personal stories for our "Mistakes Happen" series this week.

In this series, we are talking with brave colleagues about the parts of their career stories no one likes to talk about. We hope that this series empowers you to share more openly about your own mistakes— both for your benefit and for the benefit of those around you— and gives you some ideas on how to approach future mistakes more positively based on the stories you hear.

Thank you to our podcast partner CareCredit. You can learn more about Veterinary Patient Financing for Providers through CareCredit by visiting: https://www.carecredit.com/providers/animal-healthcare/

Remember, we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a rating and review. You can also contact us at [email protected].

Follow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

Dr. Jen Brandt, AVMA's Director of Wellbeing, provides a research-based foundation for our exciting new series, "Mistakes Happen," on this week's show. She explores the neuroscience behind mistakes, explaining how our brains are wired to perceive errors as threats and how that impacts learning, resilience, and performance. Through personal stories and practical strategies, she helps us move beyond blame and toward meaningful improvement.

For additional resources, browse the following titles on AVMA Axon:

• Self-Compassion for Veterinary Professionals
• Psychological Safety: Heart of Successful Teams
• Rebuilding Self-Belief in Veterinary Professionals

And on Journey for Teams:

• What to Do When You Say the Wrong Thing
• Self-Awareness

Thank you to our podcast partner CareCredit. You can learn more about Veterinary Patient Financing for Providers through CareCredit by visiting: https://www.carecredit.com/providers/animal-healthcare/

Remember, we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a rating and review. You can also contact us at [email protected].

Follow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

Dr. Mark Penning, Vice President of Animals, Science, and Environment at Disney Experiences, is our guest this week and the speaker for the 2026 AVMA Convention keynote, hosted by Hill's Pet Nutrition and AVMA PLIT and AVMA LIFE. Dr. Penning shares how a non-linear career path led him from veterinary practice in South Africa to overseeing animal care and conservation efforts across Disney Experiences. He reflects on leadership, teamwork, and the importance of creating a culture rooted in purpose and trust. He also offers a preview of the message he’ll bring to the AVMA Convention keynote: that the skills veterinarians develop can open doors to extraordinary opportunities and meaningful impact.

Thank you to our podcast partner CareCredit. You can learn more about Veterinary Patient Financing for Providers through CareCredit by visiting: https://www.carecredit.com/providers/animal-healthcare/

Remember, we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a rating and review. You can also contact us at [email protected].

Follow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

Dr. Rosemarie Rossetti, an expert in disability inclusion, universal design, and accessibility, is our guest on this week's episode. Building from last week's introduction to Journey for Teams 3.0, Dr. Rossetti gives us a preview of some of the principles and key takeaways from her THRIVE session, Championing Universal Design. She shares real-world challenges pet owners with disabilities face and outlines practical design changes that can make clinics more inclusive and easier to navigate, improving both patient care and the overall success of a practice.

Visit https://www.journeyforteams.org/thrive/ to start your journey with the THRIVE sessions!

Thank you to our podcast partner CareCredit. You can learn more about Veterinary Patient Financing for Providers through CareCredit by visiting: https://www.carecredit.com/providers/animal-healthcare/

Remember, we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a rating and review. You can also contact us at [email protected].

Follow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

Dr. Latonia Craig, AVMA's Chief of Veterinary Engagement and Belonging, is our guest on this week's episode. She introduces us to the THRIVE Sessions, the latest installment of Journey for Teams, focused on transforming workplace culture in veterinary medicine. She shares how teams can move beyond awareness to address systemic disruptors, improve inclusion, and build a true culture of care. Learn practical, case-based strategies to create healthier, more engaged teams that benefit all of our veterinary lives.

Visit https://www.journeyforteams.org/thrive/ to start your journey with the THRIVE sessions!

Thank you to our podcast partner CareCredit. You can learn more about Veterinary Patient Financing for Providers through CareCredit by visiting: https://www.carecredit.com/providers/animal-healthcare/

Remember, we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a rating and review. You can also contact us at [email protected].

Follow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

Dr. Kristin Welch, a board-certified emergency and critical care specialist, is our guest on this week's episode. She takes us through her career path from specialty training to private referral practice to founding DVM STAT, a teleconsultation service expanding access to real-time specialist support. You'll also hear how a pivotal personal experience during vet school shaped her approach to empathy and client communication and how she navigated starting her family during her residency training. It's an episode full of action and insights, and you won't want to miss it! 

Thank you to our podcast partner CareCredit. You can learn more about Veterinary Patient Financing for Providers through CareCredit by visiting: https://www.carecredit.com/providers/animal-healthcare/

Remember, we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a rating and review. You can also contact us at [email protected].

Follow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

Dr. Olivia Patania, a Senior Investigative Pathologist at StageBio and a Consulting Hepatobiliary Pathologist at Texas A&M University, is our guest on this week's episode. She discusses her training through vet school, residency, and PhD, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, research experience, and aligning career decisions with long-term goals. The way Dr. Patania lives her own advice to "make time for the things you're passionate about" with consulting and volunteering with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists is an inspiration for us all. You won't want to miss this episode!

Thank you to our podcast partner CareCredit. You can learn more about Veterinary Patient Financing for Providers through CareCredit by visiting: https://www.carecredit.com/providers/animal-healthcare/

Remember, we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a rating and review. You can also contact us at [email protected].

Follow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast