In this episode of VetMed Mind, hosts Rachel Teichberg and Shawn McVey sit down with Dr. Leslie Bauer—Medical Director at Thrive Pet Healthcare Specialists in San Antonio. A dvm360 Veterinary Hero Award winner, Dr. Bauer shares her journey from a second-grader who dreamed of becoming a veterinarian to a 23+ year ER career devoted to elevating emergency medicine and the people who practice it.

Dr. Bauer opens up about early imposter syndrome, working solo overnight shifts, and the long road to confidence—and why normalizing vulnerability is essential for retention and growth. She also details how she helped transform a “broken” hospital into a collaborative, training-centered center of excellence, and how Thrive is building a university-style ecosystem of interns and residents across multiple specialties (including ER as a true specialty track).

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How to navigate imposter syndrome without losing your love for the work
2. Practical steps to build confidence: mentorship, movement, community, and reflection
3. Why ER medicine deserves a seat at the governance table—and how advocacy changes culture
4. How Thrive’s House Officer programs and ER Academy are shaping career-long ER vets
5. Hiring and retention wisdom: set expectations, avoid crisis hiring, overcommunicate
6. A powerful reframing: work is part of life—find joy in the profession you worked so hard to join

To learn more about Dr. Bauer's work:

Website - https://www.thrivepetcare.com/

The VetMed Mind is a podcast project about sharing inspirational stories, lessons, and successes from the fantastic people of the veterinary industry.

Key Topics Discussed:

Background & career path

1. Early calling to veterinary medicine (second grade)
2. UGA College of Veterinary Medicine; dairy cattle focus early on
3. ER “bug” during first-year vet school while working nights
4. Rotating internship at UPenn; move to San Antonio, TX

Early-career challenges & mindset

1. Imposter syndrome; fear of mistakes and outcomes
2. Overnight solo ER shifts; perfectionism; confidence gap
3. Difficulty separating case outcomes from self-worth

Coping strategies & growth

1. Walking/exercise; “walkabout” as stress management
2. Mentors/peers/therapy; normalize talking about doubt
3. Focus on wins to counter negativity bias

Leadership & ER advocacy

1. Elevating ER from “stepchild” status in vet med
2. Advocacy with data (surveys) to leadership/shareholders
3. Push for parity in benefits, governance, and collaboration

Hospital turnaround & culture building

1. Joined Thrive; repaired a “broken” hospital via ownership mindset
2. Strong MD–PM partnership; accountability and continuity
3. Visibility of value (P&L, intern impact) to avoid being “sold again”

Thrive roles & programs

1. Medical Director, Thrive Pet Healthcare Specialists–San Antonio
2. Director, House Officer Training Programs (interns/residents)
3. National Director, ER Academy

Training ecosystem & cohort methods

1. ER-track internships at 4 sites; mentorship safety net
2. ~95 house officers across specialties (IM, surgery, cardio, radiology), plus exotics and equine interns
3. “University-style” model across locations with connected cohorts
4. In-person orientation; weekly didactics; case presentations

Symposium & continuing education

1. House Officer Symposium: RACE-approved CE, specialty-level content
2. Cross-site networking; build relationships likely to carry into careers

Professional fulfillment & recognition

1. Joy in client communication and emergency decision-making
2. dvm360 Veterinary Hero Award (Emergency category)
3. Team’s celebratory prank when award announced

Mindset & resilience guidance

1. Be kind to yourself and staff; avoid snark
2. Remember your “why”; work is part of life—find joy in it
3. Confidence comes with reps and support; don’t leave before it gets better

Hiring, retention & management practices

1. Set and model clear expectations; avoid crisis hiring
2. Continuous communication to surface issues early
3. Choose the right people to prevent churn

Culture rituals & operating cadence

1. “Best business/best personal” check-ins (24 doctors)
2. Pathway/strategy planning cadence for continuity
3. Daily use of VGP tools and frameworks

ER’s position in specialty hospitals

1. ER often contributes 30–50% of revenue but historically underrepresented
2. Need for integration, respect, and leadership seats for ER