Podcast A Vet is taking a break, but don't worry, we'll be back with more stories and insights from our incredible veterinary community soon!

In this episode, I wanted to share some of the reasons why we're taking this break - don't worry, nothing serious, life is just full right now. I'm guessing you can relate, and hopefully this episode will be a reminder to look after yourself and do what you need to do to look after yourself and ensure you're showing up for your family, colleagues, friends, and community.

We'll be back with more stories soon.

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This week we're doing something a little different! 

If you tuned in last week to our episode with Dr. Seth Williams, you heard the first half of our talk. 

This week, you can catch the second half of our conversation over on Seth's podcast, Vet School Unleased.

Check out part two of this conversation here.

If you haven't checked it out, you can listen to part one here.

Links

Listen to part two of our conversation here!

Listen to part one

Follow Dr. Seth The Vet on Instagram

Vet School Unleashed Website

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Seth Williams is the mastermind behind Vet School Unleashed and a DVM who plays by his own rules. After graduating with a music business degree Seth went back to veterinary school when he realized his passion could bring him closer to a job he could never have dreamed of.

Tackling everything from looking on the positive side of a career change to the importance of work ethic and investing in your future, Seth is here today to share his perspective on the veterinary world. If you have ever been curious of what goes on behind the scenes of some of your favorite veterinary social media accounts or podcasts, are hoping to gain insight from those who have come before you, or just want to join in the conversation of sharing both your good and bad days in the field, this is the episode for you.

By having confidence in yourself and the work that you are doing you can help the animals you seek without taking everything so personally. Instead of living a life full of the status quo, which eventually will lead to boredom and burnout, Seth wants to encourage you to take each opportunity to stretch yourself and grow as a person.

You are not alone, and Seth is here to let you know that you shouldn’t be afraid to fail. Stocked with advice for everyone from a new grad to a seasoned clinic owner, Seth’s attitude and dedication to self-improvement is something you can’t miss. 

What did you love most about Seth’s can-do approach to veterinary medicine? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section on the episode page.

In This Episode 

• How to figure out what sets you apart when applying to veterinary school
• The importance of having an outlet and finding a work-life balance
• Tips for becoming successful on social media as a veterinary professional
• Recommendations for dealing with irrational or emotional patients
• Get into the head of a new veterinary school graduate, their concerns and expectations

Quotes

“I realized that I could fulfill my business interests, medicine, and work with some pretty kick-ass animals and be a vet.” (6:48)

“You get on a plane and you say you are a veterinarian and you get into this whole conversation about either their pets or that they wanted to be a vet and it didn’t work out, it’s the job that almost everyone seems to want to have.” (17:47)

“The world needs vets now, and good vets. This is just a good way to show why it’s so awesome to be in this profession.” (18:28)

“You’re human, you are going to make mistakes, everybody does. If you expect that you are going to be perfect, you are just going to be set up for a life of disappointment.” (30:20)

Links

Follow Dr. Seth The Vet on Instagram

Vet School Unleashed Website

Find the full show notes here

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If you want to get to the top of any niche in the veterinary world, you probably know it's going to be a tough slog at times. You might not realize, however, the impact of our career pursuits on other areas of our lives. Dr. Jon Congdon shares his insight into how to navigate your way to the top of a specialized field while maintaining your relationships, and sanity.  Dr. Congdon started from the bottom cleaning cages and worked his way up to being Director of Anesthesiology at one of the top 3 schools in the country, NC State Veterinary.  He is one of only 230 board-certified veterinary anesthesiologists in the country, one of my former classmates and a personal friend.

Recorded live on location at the 2018 AVMA Convention in Denver Colorado, we discuss the progression of veterinary medicine, the highs and lows of being a specialist, and how to accept vulnerability in your knowledge. Dr. Congdon lays out his pragmatic practical approach to how to make everybody’s veterinary experience better with anesthesia.

Getting into the meat of his veterinary story, the struggle of residency and the toll his career had on his relationships, Dr. Congdon relays his advice for those starting out on their journey and anyone interested in anesthesia. Putting importance on learning to think for yourself, searching for information and being prepared, Dr. Congdon brings a no judgment attitude to the field of anesthesiology.

In This Episode

• An overview of the path to becoming an anesthesiologist
• Take home tidbits from Jon’s AVMA 2018 Lecture
• Making the veterinarian experience better for fractious cats
• The 4 major mechanisms for low blood pressure
• Relationship advice for anyone going into a residency
• Being satisfied without recognition

Quotes

“You go to a conference and how much of it is really applicable? How much can you take home and use the next day? And that’s really the probably driving idea behind lectures that I do, is what do they really want to know, I mean I’m guessing but you know, and what might they take home tomorrow and actually do something with?” (6:40)

“We get so worked up about our little niches, but there is a bigger world out there. And as I have heard many many times at NC State, believe in good intentions, take faith that people have the best of intentions. And they may make mistakes and it may look bad from the outside, but it's not like any of us are trying to make mistakes or are trying to be lazy, we're just busy. And cases come to us that we think are straightforward and then they are not and we have to adapt on the fly. This idea of community and this podcast is a huge part of that.” (40:46)

“Anesthesia is super cool for me because I can identify a problem, I can administer a treatment, and I get to fix it right away. Anesthesia, it’s real-time physiology.” (1:04:54)

“You will never get the credit. You will never be at the forefront of the story. But it shouldn't matter. We are not here to get accolades, we're here to get them through. We're not here to judge if they should be anesthetized, we're here to get them through. Other doctors are having those conversations with the clients, it's not our role to judge. If they need us we should be here, we are service specialists, we are here to serve the other doctors.” (1:17:50)

Links

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AVMA Convention

PAV 017: Jeanne Ficociello

Invisibles Book

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go through veterinary school with a new baby? Erika Berra is doing just that, currently in her third year of veterinary school and crushing it as a super mom with her 14-month-year-old, Teddy. Today Teddy and Erika join us to give us a real, honest look at what it looks like to be a new parent in vet school.

Everything from planning her final exams around Teddy’s birth to balancing clinic hours with a sick child is on the table today as Erika dives into the hard truths around being a parent. If you are wondering if it is the right time to have kids, want a realistic look at the balancing act of veterinary school and parenthood or just want to hear some adorable background baby gurgles, this is the episode for you.

A proponent for makings things work no matter what and proving to yourself that you are stronger than you think you are, Erika dreams of doing it all and is well on her way there. Are you thinking about having kids during veterinary school, or have already had some? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section on the episode page.

In This Episode

• Tips for balancing new motherhood and veterinary school pressures
• Advice for future moms or those who are struggling to keep it together
• The importance of having a support network when becoming a new parent
• Explore the advantages of having children during veterinary school 
• Addressing the misconceptions around having a child in veterinary school 

Quotes

“People always tell me they don’t know how I do it either, and I don’t have a good answer. But I think it is one of those situations where you can do more than you think you can when you are in a situation where you need to do it.” (6:41)

“If somebody is in vet school and is at the age where they are thinking that they want kids, just make sure that you have that support system. I’m sure you could do it without it, but it makes a huge difference.” (9:34)

“I actually want to mixed animal, I want to do it all.” (18:24)

“No matter what is going on, most things that are like terrifying, in the grand scheme of things they are not that big. But you can’t see that far until you are past it. So I think that is the thing, to try and keep everything in perspective.” (22:30)

“If you learn how to balance life and school and work now, then theoretically by the time I am out in practice I will be really good at it.” (26:17)

“If you can do vet school and be a parent, I know a couple of people that are planning to have a kid or two kids in vet school, and if you can do more than one man, you are truly superwoman.” (34:28)

Links

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For a lot of people unfamiliar with the pet oncology space, it comes as a surprise that pets can develop the exact same strains of cancer that humans do. Perhaps even more surprising however is that in many cases, research into cancer treatment for dogs in particular could be the missing link between mice and humans. At the forefront of this research which has already boasted many breakthroughs into both human and animal treatment, is today’s guest, Dr. Christine Hardy.

Christine has done enough already to fill multiple lifetimes, with masters degrees in both business and public health, she was formerly the Co-Director of the DBM/MBA combined program at CSU, has served as Senior Director of professional veterinary medicine student services at CSU, and is not the Director of Operations and Strategy at the Flint Animal Cancer Center at the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Oh, and she’s also an entrepreneur, and has worked in human health education as well as international wildlife conservation.

Phew!

Today she shares her personal story of what led her into cancer research and treatment, the links between animal and human diseases, and how veterinarians and physicians are working together extensively to improve outcomes for both human and animal patients.

In this episode:

• How research into cancer in pets leads to breakthroughs in human cancers
• How vets and physicians are working together to treat and cure cancer
• Why getting rejected from vet school initially was actually a blessing in disguise
• Why deciding to get her MBA was one of the best career decisions she ever made
• How volunteering at cancer camp helps keep Christine grounded
• What we can learn from kids about dealing with cancer

Quotes:

“Most of the things that I’ve done, haven't necessarily been part of the plan. Opportunities just presented themselves or there was a fork in the road and I took it, and it's been an incredible privilege honor and a tremendous amount of fun.” (3:26)

“We’ve asked [pet owners], ‘why do you enroll your pets in a clinical trial?’ for the most part, they all do it for altruistic reasons. They want to do something to contribute to the science. Everybody's been affected by cancer.” (24:20)

“I think a lot of times we don’t necessarily know what other people see in us. He must’ve seen something, I sure knew that it was a great opportunity and that I wasn’t going to let him down.” (41:25)

“To get to veterinary medicine, there’s a path that you have to go down, there are certain things that you have to achieve to get where you’re going, so I think so many of us are really goal-oriented. And I think at some point I’ve learned to actually be ok with not knowing exactly where I’m going and that opportunities will present themselves.” (43:15)

Links:

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One Cure

Sky High Hope Camp

Camp Dost

Episode 24 with Laurie Fonken

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It's no secret that the most common career path in the veterinary field is the one that leads to small animal care. But that's not every vet's calling. Today we talk with Dr. Myra Barrett about what it takes to break out of that track and specialize in an area that really lights you up.

Dr. Myra Barrett is a board-certified radiologist specializing in equine radiology, as well as President of the Large Animal Diagnostic Society, founding partner of Inside Information Radiology a telemedicine radiology company, Assistant Professor of Radiology at Colorado State University, and head of Equine Radiology. On top of all that, she’s also a skier, mountain biker, and super mom.

Today we talk about her journey from operating on her stuffed animals to a Stanford degree in Psychology to her now trailblazing the official specialization of equine radiology. She discusses the work-life balance and how to manage a relationship while going to vet school and doing your residency. We also talk about the importance of boundaries and knowing what kind of lifestyle you need as an individual.

How to you navigate the work-life balance? Do you have any activities or rituals that help? Leave us a comment below and let us know on the episode page!

In this episode:

• How she built her own residency to specialize in equine radiology rather than small animals
• The importance of give and take in managing a relationship as a vet school student
• Managing personal priorities and building your work lifestyle to fit your needs
• Dr. Barrett’s past as a girl riding horses bareback in Montana

Quotes:

“There’s nothing better for the soul than time at the barn” 8:20

“The traditional residency is very heavily small animal weighted… [which] takes away that time where you could be becoming an expert in that field where you really want to train.” 27:38

“You can’t be excellent at everything, and we put this pressure on ourselves to be excellent at everything and we can’t be and we need to back that down a little bit” 37:43

“It’s not always the internship or the residency. There are a lot of roads that can lead to happiness and success.” 1:01:54

Links

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Sir Isaac Newtown once said that in order to see further than others you must stand on the shoulders of giants. Simon Turner is an equine surgeon originally from Australia who lives this philosophy every day. Through the mentorship, he has received, and in turn, the mentorship he provides others, Simon is a pristine example of the beauty found in the veterinary profession.

After a successful career in equine surgery, Simon has leaned his hand into everything from orthopedic research in human labs to traveling the world and being a conductor of a 100+-year-old trolley. Always in training for ‘The Olympics of Life’, Simon is proof that you don’t have to settle no matter your perceived limitations. 

Today Simon is here to provide insight into everything from staying fit, to hosting a dinner party, and the importance of developing a specialty for new grads entering the field. A humble giant who is as dedicated to his craft as he is modest, Simon is here to provide you with a vision of the potential wonders that veterinary medicine has to offer.

Do you have a giant who you’d like to thank for allowing you to stand on their shoulders? Tag them in the comments on the episode page and let us know what is most special to you about your memories.

In This Episode 

• The importance of being part of the close-knit veterinary family
• Why you should be donating plasma cells and red platelets if you can
• How to guide yourself to retire to something instead of from something
• What you should be looking out for in a mentor and vice versa
• Advice for new graduates and the necessity of finding a modern niche

Quotes

“There were a few giants in Australia, I stood on their shoulders, but I had to come to the good old USA to stand on a few more giants shoulders, and look where I am! I stood on giants’ shoulders and saw farther than others.” (9:38)

“I don’t do things halfway, I go the whole hog. That is why I have lived in Fort Collins for most of my life but I am still very Australian. But I go, pardon the expression, ‘balls out’ on everything.” (26:14)

“The Olympics of life, that is what I am training for.” (29:01) 

“I am very proud to get up as a veterinarian and to say ‘hey, I am not a physician, I am a veterinarian, look at me now, look at what I have done. And I am very quick to say that MD does not stand for ‘major deity’.” (49:09)

Links

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Find the full show notes here 

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Dr. Sarah Wooten is a veterinarian who believes in pushing boundaries. An advocate for women in veterinary leadership roles, a writer for Pet MD and DVM 360, restaurant owner as well as the creator of Vets Against Insanity, a ‘cards against humanity’ style game for veterinarians, Sarah is a woman of many hats. 

Today we are putting the fun back into vet medicine as Sarah gets real on everything from getting over your fear of rejection to eliminating your negative self-talk and expectations. Join in on the discussion around where the veterinary medicine industry currently stands and where it is going, why you need to listen to the messages your body is sending you and explore veterinary medicine from a non-traditional angle. 

Even if you don’t know what you are doing, Sarah is here to encourage you to keep showing up and trying your best because you are worth it. Are you ready for a roadmap to taking control of your fear and following the doors that open for you? Share your favorite part of today’s episode in the comments on the episode page. 

In This Episode

• Techniques to help you put yourself out there and face your fear head-on
• Common themes in the professional veterinary medicine world right now
• The importance of conflict management in the workplace to avoid fatigue
• A look at the amount of quickly changing diversity in veterinary leadership roles
• How to become more present and increase your recreational time enjoyment

Quotes

“I didn’t realize that it was a problem for me because I just pushed through it, I would feel dread and anxiety before I was going into the surgeries and I would feel dread and anxiety when I was scrubbing or I would feel it in the morning as I was driving to work because I didn’t know what I had on my board for that day, and I would feel it Friday afternoon about having to go to work on Monday morning. And it just became such a nightmare for me, and I didn’t know that that was not normal.” (11:19)

“It’s not ‘wait until you have the courage’, its ‘do it when you are scared’ anyways.” (16:50)

“You get to a place where you just don’t really care anymore. I mean you care, but you don’t care in such a way that you let it get in the way of what you are on this planet to do.” (23:45)

“A lot of us have forgotten that we are badasses, that we actually got into vet school, that we’re amazing, strong, resilient, powerful people, superheroes, and we’ve accepted another story about ourselves.” (28:00)

“Vets need to be making more money, we need to have better balance within our work lives and our personal lives, and we gotta figure out how veterinary medicine looks in this new world we are creating. Because I guarantee you, the world that my children live in is a very different world than I live in.” (40:03)

Links

Purchase Vets Against Insanity Here

Dr. Sarah Wooten website

Enjoying these stories? Consider supporting Podcast A Vet on Patreon & check out our awesome patron-only perk

Find the full show notes here 

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Happy New Year Podcat A Vet family! While we can barely believe that 2020 is already upon us, it is an exciting time of year here at the Podcast A Vet headquarters. As we look forward to Season 3 of Podcast A Vet and reflect on the past year, we want to say thank you to our wonderful community and Patreons. This show wouldn’t exist without you and it is our pleasure to recognize all you do for your profession and each other. 

What are your goals for 2020 and how can Podcast A Vet help support you in achieving those goals? Share with us in the comments on the episode page or through a direct message!

In This Episode

• A look at the goals for Podcast A Vet and the PAV Community in 2020
• Meaningful and heartfelt shoutouts to our Patreons and guests from the past year
• Behind the scenes peek at what goes into the Podcast A Vet Instagram

Quotes

“We have got lots of goals as a podcast, we have got lots of goals for our community, we’re obviously pushing forward with a whole new set of episodes starting in Season 3 starting next week, we can’t wait for your guys to meet all of these storytellers. It seems like every episode just gets better and better and people are just so excited to share with us and we are excited to share that with you.” (2:24) - Kelsey

“We found a niche in the podcats world, in the veterinary world, and you can bet that we are going to run with it.” (4:01) - Kelsey 

“Its really great to see guests contributing in so many ways, not only did they share their story but really believing in what we are doing here.” (5:07) - Dr. Arnold

Links

PAV 015: Tim Hackett

PAV 026: Christine Hardy 

PAV 025: Erin Crawford

PAV 005: Mike Suit

Enjoying these stories? Consider supporting Podcast A Vet on

Patreon & check out our awesome patron-only perk

Find the full show notes here 

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