Podcast A Vet: Stories, Support & Community From Leaders In The Veterinary Field

If you have been living under a rock these past few years and haven't hopped on the social media bandwagon yet, you could be missing out on huge business and monetary gains. Danielle Lambert has a passion for helping veterinary hospitals market themselves and has created a successful business teaching others how to convert business from the internet into income for your practice. Founder of the Snout School and VP of Business Development at Whisker Cloud, Danielle knows what she is talking about when it comes to monetizing social media and putting your best virtual foot forward.

Today Danielle explains just exactly how social media marketing works, why your website could be one of your biggest assets, and reasons why the online marketing game is not going anywhere. She is providing specific tips on how you could be supplementing your veterinary income with an internet related business, why you need to start with a goal when getting into the social media game, and reasons she is a big believer in paying for online advertisements to increase your ROI.

By putting content out onto the internet, and encouraging your team members to do the same, you could be creating a valuable aspect of your business that you didn't even know existed. The opportunity to retain more clients and increase your average transaction through online marketing tools is possible if you know what to do. Danielle is a wealth of knowledge on an increasingly important aspect of all businesses and is highlighting the necessity to bring this new wave of thinking into the veterinary field.

Does Danielle's perspective make you rethink the amount of effort you spend on your social media strategy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments on the episode page!

In This Episode

• Finding balance in your veterinary practice through social media monetization
• How to measure social media campaigns to track your advertising success
• What constitutes a successful post and how to increase your online popularity
• Creating compelling content with a business strategy for client retention
• Removing the competitive nature from online communities and increasing diversity

Quotes

"I want to develop Snout School into something that not only teaches veterinary hospitals how to market themselves but also helps empower women in veterinary medicine to find their unique career paths and use social media to achieve their goals." (5:08)

"If you put a little bit of hard work and dedication into something, you can create whatever the heck kind of job you want now." (7:28)

"I think that the more we get proactive about our business skills there are plenty of opportunities to do things that are going to help you out financially." (18:33)

"Using social media as a tool and in a positive way, to have a positive impact on this industry and on the lives of pets, it's there, and it can be used to your advantage, you just have to jump on in." (33:35)

"I really wanted to see more, I wanted to showcase these women with these skill sets because I think it is more representative of the industry." (40:04)

Links

Veterinary Social Media: The Snout School Community

Snout School #SnoutSquad

Danielle's Whisker Cloud Website

Snout School Website

Follow Snout School on Facebook | Instagram

Follow Danielle on Instagram | Twitter

Find the full show notes here

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Have you ever considered owning a practice or buying into a practice, but the financial intimidation is keeping you from moving forward? You aren't alone, and Stith Keiser is here to shed some light on the message of financial wellness with the help of First Financial Bank. Stith harnessed his passion for veterinary medicine and finances to become an expert in everything related to veterinary business, monetary literacy and securing financial stability through job satisfaction. Today he is here to explain how to have a positive impact on the field of veterinary medicine through the financial window.

On this Part 1 Episode, Stith shares his own journey to finding ownership in six practices, why he finds excitement in profit margins and the story they tell, and how you can begin to start securing your financial future today. We are breaking down reasons you should be thinking about your long-term goals as early as possible, how you can tackle your student debt while doing something you enjoy, steps you should be thinking about if you want to become an owner, and more.

If you are serious about formulating a plan for a successful career, Stith has some honest and applicable real-life advice for the topic that nobody wants to talk about but everyone deals with. By introducing financial conversations into your decision-making process, you can plan your journey and be where you want to be as fast as possible.

Are you ready to get started on tackling your finances head on? Let us know where you are at in your financial journey in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

• The importance of knowing where your money is going
• Specific action steps to start getting a handle on your finances now
• A look at veterinary school from the financial literacy lens
• Figuring out your 'number' and working towards your goal in reverse
• Why you should be partnering with people that know more than you

Quotes

"What always stood out to me was not the science behind the medicine. It was watching everything that happened behind the scenes to allow for the successful delivery of that medicine." (7:23)

"The numbers tell a story about how everything else we do in practice adds up. That's what I love about the business side. It's not the number itself, its the story the number tells." (13:02)

"There is no right or wrong number, but everybody has a number." (20:15)

"Veterinary medicine provides so much for us if we know what to look for and are cognizant of our financial situation." (28:34)

"When you are ready to say, 'I want to surround myself with a partner or a manager or a team that is in some way better or smarter than I am', that's when you are ready to be an owner." (34:42)

Links

First Financial Bank Website

Blue Heron Consulting Website

Find the full show notes here

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Dr. Andy Roark believes that it is important to constantly try new things, accept failure as a natural growing tool and prioritize growth and development daily. He has taken his can-do attitude and courage to fail to social media and other methods of engagement in order to better spread his message of courage. Today Dr. Andy Roark joins us to help describe the connection he sees between failure and success, how to recognize when you are being spread too thin, and when it is time to drop some of your balls.

The greatest power that you have is choosing how you suffer, and Dr. Roark shares his insights on this topic, in addition to why you should be applying the community planning theory of third space to your life, and how to find enlightenment by recognizing that you do not need to adhere to a consumerist society. Plus, he opens up about why he feels it is important to be transparent in your screw up's in order to create a shared experience around mistakes.

At the end of the day, the world continues to go on despite what you do, and Dr. Roark is an advocate for making mistakes quickly so that you can use these lessons to improve as a doctor and as a person. By acknowledging that nobody is perfect, continually striving for your best, and always encouraging discussion, you too can ensure that you never stop learning.

Do you follow Dr. Roark on and social media platforms? What about his attitude most inspires you? Let us know in the comments on the episode page!

In This Episode

• Avoiding the path to burnout by managing your failures
• Recognizing the good that comes with living through failure and the consequences
• Embracing your ability to choose how you suffer as a sign of leadership
• A realistic time frame for implementing life-work balance changes
• Identifying and balancing your priorities and relationships

Quotes

"My whole career, the takeaway lesson to me has been to just try some stuff. And then figure out what part of 'the stuff' you like to do, and figure out how to do more of that stuff." (4:50)

"I appreciate your time, there are a lot of other things that you could do with your time and I appreciate that you would want to listen to this, so I feel this obligation to try and make it worth your time." (11:43)

"Failure and expertise are just woven together. I have failed more times than you have, so let me share with you what I have learned." (19:32)

"I think we are healthier, happier and more stable and balanced people when we have home stuff, work stuff, and a third thing that we do where they don't care that you are a veterinarian." (28:18)

"When you distill Uncharted down into one word it's community. It's this idea that there is just no need for you to do this alone, we are all in this together." (51:05)

Links

Dr. Andy Roark Website

Uncharted Veterinary Conference

Uncharted Veterinary Conference Facebook Page

Uncharted Veterinary Podcast on Soundcloud

Follow Dr. Andy Roark on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Cone of Shame with Dr. Andy Roark YouTube Channel

Find the full show notes here

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Often the topic of diversity and inclusion is overlooked in veterinary medicine, and Allen Cannedy is dedicated to changing that. The Director of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs at North Carolina State University College of Vet Med, Allen is a mentor and recruiter of students from all groups that are underrepresented in the veterinary world. Today we are diving into racism, socioeconomic status, and how we can do a better job of making the veterinary world, and the world in general, a more inclusive place.

We are touching on sensitive topics that deal with years of oppression and looking to the future and ways we can increase inclusion to better serve all humans and animals. Allen is passionate about bringing the necessity of diversity and the benefits of welcoming someone different than you in. We are reliving my childhood innocence about race, and looking at the modern landscape of how our society operates today and how we can improve going forward.

By recognizing and appreciating that a diverse group is a stronger one, we can continue to expand as a profession. Allen is changing the way we view diversity in the veterinary field and encourages us all to be champions for diversity and inclusion.

What are your experiences with the topics discussed today? Share with us in the comments on the episode page!

In This Episode

• Race, religion, and acceptance in veterinary schools and admissions processes
• Key points that any organization needs to do before bringing diversity change
• How as a society of human beings we need to start helping each other out
• Why Allen chose to specialize in goats, sheep, lamas, and alpacas
• What are HBCU's and why they are important to the American education system

Quotes

"To make diversity and inclusion a reality, you've gotta invest, you cannot just talk about it to make it happen" (4:30)

"Those individuals are telling them things that are wrong. It is up to me and others like me to raise awareness, correct those misconceptions and hopefully correct them with individuals that are different from me so those individuals can correct the thinking in those like them" (11:42)

"Looking at people and appreciating people and accepting people for who they are is really all we need to be doing. And not passing judgment based on what someone looks like and the assumptions that come with those things" (17:50)

"I question them to think about what they are saying because it's highly possible that nobody has ever questioned it before" (44:38)

Links

My Mobile Vet

Find the full show notes here

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We are coming to you live from the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas at the Western Veterinary Conference. Such a wild city requires a badass guest, and Nicole LaForest definitely fits that description. An LVT and RVT and the face behind @VeterinaryTechnicians on Instagram, Nicole has a confident and no bullsh*t approach to being a veterinary technician.

A fellow spouse of a veterinary surgeon, Nicole is diving into everything from why veterinary medicine was her third choice, to how to best utilize your doctor-nurse-patient relationship and why we need to continue to advocate for education in whatever form possible. We are talking about Nicole's struggle with addiction, the need to support our fellow colleagues in the veterinary community dealing with depression, and opening up a conversation that allows both positive and negative spaces in order to heal.

Nicole is passionate about using veterinary medicine as a way to provide public service and uses the platform of Instagram to create transparency on some big issues. She is intuitive, compassionate and quick thinking and is bringing awareness to everyone struggles in order to help lift each other up.

How has an open and honest conversation helped you heal? Was it difficult to initiate? Let us know in the comments on the episode page!

In This Episode

• Bringing awareness to the highs and lows of the veterinary profession
• What addiction has taught Nicole about herself and medicine in general
• How and why we should be utilizing all positions of the veterinary field
• Building a community on Instagram to help others heal and connect
• Tips for those starting out on Instagram and how to be authentic

Quotes

"For doctors, you don't have to do it all. You have qualified technicians and assistants who are there to help you and to bounce ideas off of you" (16:57)

"There is no other greater feeling than seeing the look on your veterinarian's face or your managers face being like, they trust me. This is what I have been working for, for so many years" (21:31)

"Awareness and transparency are really what is going to save our colleagues. And we as a profession and a society need to take a certain type of responsibility" (38:42)

"I would rather see my career fail than risk somebody else's health and life by not talking about it. I want to have that conversation with people and I want them to know they are not alone" (51:05)

"We don't aim for money by any means, but if we can make a difference and raise the standard of care, we can all agree that we are actively working together (1:23:55)

Links

Follow Veterinary Technicians on Instagram

Find the full show notes here

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Join our free community of dedicated vet professionals looking to improve their practices and lives in our free Facebook community!

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Dr. Jeremy Delcambre knew that he wanted to be a teacher of anatomy, but had no idea how to get there. So, after getting accepted into veterinary school with 0 hours of veterinary practice, Jeremy went on to create the program that he wanted to learn and has been thriving ever since.

Clearly, Jeremy is a force to be reckoned with and is as assertive as he is sure of what he wants. Today he is here to share how his tenacity got him to where he is today, what gets him psyched about teaching anatomy, and much more.

Aside from his impressive go-getter attitude, Jeremy knows a thing or two about veterinary school as a first-year anatomy professor at CSU, as well as being married to the director of CSU vet school admissions. Jeremy is here to provide some insight into doing what you have to do, treating your neighbor with kindness, and why it's important to look at the big picture.

Jeremy is a living testament to the mentality "if there isn't a path, make one", and thrives off the ability to share his experiences with others. He is an example of thinking outside the box, making the best of any situation and setting yourself up to become a role model. What most impresses you about Jeremy's career and personal history? Let us know in the comments.

In This Episode

• The importance of networking and trying new fields while in vet school
• Understanding the feast or famine aspects of rotation work
• A look into the day to day life as a veterinary anatomist
• Setting yourself up for a rewarding life in veterinary medicine no matter what field you choose

Quotes

"The things you do in your summer or jobs you have on minimal basis can make your career 10, 15 years down the road, you never know, that's how my career kept going" (14:13)

"Just watching people be amazed at learning the language they are going to speak for the rest of their lives. Its really not the anatomy, its watching other people get the anatomy" (19:35)

"If you can add some other expertise, if you bring one little extra thing to the table, you would almost be guaranteed any of the jobs that get posted on a monthly basis across the US" (38:56)

"We don't expect you to remember 95% of it, but if it makes you a better clinician in some way shape or form from the 5% you do remember, then we have done our job" (43:51)

"It's way more important that we create veterinarians in a sense of personal responsibility than we create people who can name the artery they should have ligated during surgery" (54:15)

Links

PAV 029: Gretchen Delcambre

Find the full show notes here

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Apryl Steele lives a life full of adventure, compassion, and drive. The President and CEO of the Denver Dumb Friends League, DVM, US Army Veteran, and so much more, Apryl has a motivated 'can do' attitude that is as contagious as it is inspiring. Whether she is negotiating million dollar donations or teaching the veterinarians of tomorrow, Apryl is here to help you be motivated by your doubts and truly believe that you can do anything.

Today we are diving into everything from how to harness your inner animal diagnostic instincts, to why shelter medicine is a freeing opportunity that is often overlooked, the meaning behind the term 'dumb friends', and more. Apryl works tirelessly to be the voice for those who do not have one and has become an impactful leader along the way, and she is sharing her recipe for success.

If you are ready to harness the magic juices that let you believe you can do it and capture your imagination, Apryl is the girl for you. This episode is all about putting a different lens on veterinary medicine and embracing the fact that you are enough.

What about Apyrl's leadership inspires you the most? Let us know in the comments on the episode page!

In This Episode

• Understanding animal welfare from a veterinarians perspective
• Relatable advice for the LGBTQ veterinary medicine community
• Differences between the quality of life in defensive medicine and effective medicine
• A look into serving with a US Army Veterinary Squad
• Who are veterinary donors and where do they come from

Quotes

"We are used to being the people that had what we needed and helped others. And to need help was a totally different experience and it changed us" (5:11)

"My advice for anything, whether it's around your identification or it's around struggling in your job or relationship or whatever it is, you just have to know it doesn't have to be that hard" (16:12)

"We all have the responsibility to make sure animals are cared for" (28:58)

"My value to this world, to my family, to my clients, to my employees, it's not what I do its who I am" (37:01)

"What we do for animals as an organization is of course up there on reasons for job satisfaction, but this team is probably even above that. They are just such wonderful people to share my work with" (45:26)

Links

Denver Dumb Friends League

PAV 041: Nate Daughenbaugh

Find the full show notes here

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Sam Romano boasts a dual DVM and MBA, is the past president of the Colorado Vet Med Association, a figure on the State Alumni Board and a past owner and manager of an emergency and referral hospital. From an early age, Sam's father instilled the need for education, and hard work and Sam has taken the later years of his career in order to coach and lead the veterinary students of tomorrow.

Sam is here to answer some real questions about what a career path in veterinary medicine really looks like in terms of debt, lifestyle and where you really see yourself in the future. He is discussing what you should be aware of in the profession, how you should approach it, and the importance of finding the balance between sacrifice and peace.

Everything from anxiety and depression, to the importance of running your practice like a business and defending what you are worth, is on the table today. Sam is providing financial advice for any new student or grad, why empathy and partnership are the two most important skills in the emergency room and the business world, plus much more.

This is an honest discussion about what veterinary medicine is as a career, and gaining a primitive awareness of the constant transition that the veterinary life sets you up for. Sam has done it all so that he can save you the time and share his advice with you today.

Let us know what you think about Sam's journey and mindset in the comments on the episode page!

In This Episode

• Monitoring what you are sacrificing for your career and finding a balance
• Dealing with anxiety, depression and how best to cope with it
• Why it is important to make conscious mindful decisions in your life
• Advice for students worried about their financial wellbeing
• Why the rogue entrepreneur is being left behind in the dust for the teamwork model

Quotes

"You leave thinking, 'wow, man this is really a great profession and it is going to be in good hands long after I'm not here.' It's just really inspiring." (6:59)

"It's not enough to say 'well I have a DVM'. Its how are you going to use that DVM specifically relative to your environment and who you are organically." (20:32)

"Life had to be much more about simplicity and loving your family and being around, not just making an extra buck" (25:14)

"We have to make money in order to be able to do this, and we are worth it" (39:59)

"Its all about community. Its all about what you are building here. It's about getting nowhere with no one else, especially in our culture" (53:39)

Links

Contact Sam on LinkedIn

PAV 024: Laurie Fonken

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Along with being one of my CSU mentors, Rebecca Ruch-Gallie (R-G) has an incredible resume including acting service chief of community practice at CSU since the year 2000, the elected state delegate for the CVMA to the AVMA, the vet of the year in the state of Colorado, plus much more. Today Rebecca is here to share her ever humble knowledge on why sharing information and relying on your peers is one of the best ways to help push the profession forward.

R-G works on a state and national level to mold our profession, help underserved populations and inspire the next generations of veterinarians. She believes in focusing on being in the moment with your client, using communication as the most important tool in the clinic, and supporting students to learn how to be better doctors on their own terms. R-G encourages us to take a good look at what you like about where you are at in veterinary medicine, what you don't like, and how you can empower yourself, to find the right community for you.

If you have ever been curious as to what the differences between community care and specializations really are, why telehealth and the sharing of information can be a good thing, or what it is like to set up a new department from scratch, R-G has all these answers. She is also sharing her passion for providing subsidized care for the underserved, why the restaurant industry prepared her as a veterinarian, and what qualities the CVMA board looks for when electing new members.

R-G is a legend in our industry and it is a thrill to have her here today to share her communal approach to veterinary medicine and inspire us all to learn from one another.

What was your favorite part of R-G's journey? Let us know in the comments on the episode page!

In This Episode

• How primary care has evolved in practice and in teaching
• The changing landscape of competition in applying to vet school and words of advice
• What is an underserved population and what you can do to help
• What Rebecca said to John during his vet training that always resonated with him
• Differences between training as a primary care doctor versus a specific specialization

Quotes

"It really emphasized teamwork for success. And I really enjoyed that piece of it, that working together, that camaraderie, of really helping each other, pulling each other up" (8:57)

"You have a patient in front of you who are suffering right now, for whatever reason that might be, you need to do something that is scientifically and evidence-based to help that patient to the best of your ability" (13:46)

"Most veterinarians think we can do everything, and we can't. Nor should we." (27:50)

"The profession is so fantastic and it gives so much and I like to think it's me but it's really not, it's about all the people around me" (1:01:30)

Links

Veterinary Teaching Hospital At CSU

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Find R-G on LinkedIn

Find the full show notes here

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For Kevin Castle, the passion surrounding wildlife animals latched onto his heart at a young age and never let go. Although it took him a while to find his true calling as a wildlife and ER veterinarian, Kevin took his time and has had an incredible 25-year career to show for it. Today Kevin is sharing his wealth of knowledge and impressive thrill-seeking stories to give us an overall picture of what wildlife ecology is really all about.

If you have ever been curious about what it is like to work in the wild, what the job truly consists of and the risks and rewards of being in the field, this is the episode for you. Kevin is telling us all about how he got into the world of wildlife veterinary medicine, which species he most enjoys working with, relives the time he spent in Kirgizstan researching snow leopards, and much more.

Everything from our ice hockey skills to what it takes to work with the National Parks Service is on the table today, so get ready for a unique perspective on some of your favorite wild animals. Learn what it's like to become an expert on animal welfare, permits, drugs, and being the one in charge of these miraculous animals.

What animal do you dream of working with? Let us know in the comments on the episode page!

In This Episode

• A breakdown of the opportunities available for wildlife veterinarians
• The difference between being a wildlife biologist and a wildlife vet
• Implementing conservation work into wildlife ecology
• Travel from the mountains of Kirgizstan to the National Parks Service in Florida
• Why bats are some of the hardest and most interesting animals to research

Quotes

"I think you can do anything you want to if you put your mind to it that way. And if you look at it as an opportunity and something that is going to be fun, to me that was one of the big things" (10:07)

"To stand in a field somewhere with a pair of binoculars and say 'wow I am getting paid for this' is such a good feeling." (12:11)

"The most important role for the wildlife veterinarian is to be there in case something goes wrong with a capture event" (21:44)

"There's an awful lot more that goes into it than pulling the trigger. And that's the part that I like, I like everything about it. And being part of the team is really fun" (45:02)

"It's just that feeling of, this is what I like doing. Life should be about having fun. It's going to have its downsides, be a drag sometimes, but ultimately it needs to be fun" (48:37)

Links

WildlifeConsulting.org

Follow Kevin on LinkedIn

Find the full show notes here

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