In this extended episode of the 20 Minute Consult Podcast, Glenn Martin interviews Alan Robinson, founder of Vet Dynamics, discussing the current state of the veterinary industry. 

They explore the challenges faced by veterinary practice owners, the importance of leadership, and the balance between altruism and profit in veterinary care. 

Alan shares insights on the need for transparency in veterinary costs and the emotional challenges faced by veterinary professionals. In this conversation, they delve into the complexities of veterinary education, the challenges faced by veterinary professionals, and the innovative subscription model being implemented in veterinary practices. 

They discuss the need for a shift in how veterinary care is delivered, emphasising the importance of compassion, client communication, and the potential for subscription models to alleviate financial barriers for clients. 

The conversation also touches on future trends in veterinary care and offers practical advice for independent veterinary practice owners.

Key takeaways include:

• Leadership is crucial for managing the complexities of veterinary practices.
• Veterinary professionals often struggle with the balance between care and profit.
• The veterinary profession is facing a cultural shift towards corporate ownership.
• Communication skills are essential for veterinary professionals to succeed.
• Veterinary practices need to address the emotional well-being of their teams.
• The cost of veterinary care is often misunderstood by clients.
• Veterinary professionals experience compassion fatigue and burnout.
• The recruitment process for vets still favours certain personality types.
• Subscription models can provide predictable income for veterinary practices.
• Trust between clients and vets can be rebuilt quickly.
• Investing in people and their environment is crucial for practice success.
• Future trends may include more subscription models in veterinary practices.

One Expert. One Topic. 20-minutes of Vet Wisdom.

In this episode of the 20 Minute Consult Podcast, Glenn Martin and Andy Green delve into the essential qualities and tools needed for modern veterinary leadership. 

They discuss the evolution of leadership styles, the importance of mindset, and the necessity of vulnerability in leadership roles. It includes practical tips for enhancing leadership effectiveness are also shared, making this a valuable resource for anyone in the veterinary profession.

The conversation emphasises the need for leaders to adapt to change, foster team dynamics, and cultivate a growth mindset while being aware of their own leadership style. 

Key Takeaways include:

• Leadership isn't easy, or everyone would do it.
• It's important to be kind to yourself as a leader.
• Leadership and management are not the same thing.
• We live in a VUCA world, requiring adaptability.
• Perfectionism can hinder effective leadership.
• The purpose of a leader is to create other leaders.
• Curiosity is essential for effective leadership.
• Focus on what you can control as a leader.
• Understanding your team's strengths is crucial.
• Regular check-ins and support are vital for leadership growth.

One Expert. One Topic. 20-minutes of Vet Wisdom.

In this episode of the 20 Minute Consult podcast, host Glenn Martin speaks with Noah Lancelott, a third-year veterinary student at Harper Keele Vet School.

Noah shares his unique journey into veterinary medicine, discussing his background, sporting career, and the challenges he faced in balancing academics and sports. 

He emphasises the importance of communication skills in the veterinary profession and reflects on his vision for the future of veterinary medicine, including the need for transparency and diversity in the field.

Key takeaways:

• Noah's passion for veterinary and combining that with his sporting career in rugby league.
• How he overcame his own initial doubts to successfully secure a place at Harper Keele Vet School. 
• He emphasises the importance of resilience learned from sports in his veterinary studies.
• He offers advice in how to balance academics and sports learned through his own challenges to navigate these two all-consuming passions. 
• Noah highlights the importance of communication skills in the veterinary profession.
• Noah shares his own approach to managing his mental health and motivation in high pressure situations, through active self-reflection. 
• He shares his professional goal of establishing his own veterinary practice to promote transparency and quality care.
• Noah wants to inspire young people from diverse backgrounds to pursue veterinary careers.
• How he sees social media as a tool to increase diversity in the veterinary field.

One Expert. One Topic. 20-minutes of Vet Wisdom.

In this episode of the 20 Minute Consult podcast, host Glenn Martin speaks with Laura Shaw, Veterinary Surgeon and Development Consultant at Training-Progress. 

They discuss how effective SOPs can enhance consistency, improve customer experience, and ensure compliance with legal standards. 

Laura emphasises the importance of keeping SOPs updated and integrating them into team training to foster a culture of quality improvement; she also highlights the need for team involvement in the development and review of SOPs to ensure they remain relevant and effective.

They also explore Laura's perspective on the broader technology landscape within the veterinary profession, as rapid tech innovation presents both opportunities and challenges for ways of working inside and outside the consult room. 

Key takeaways:

• Document management is essential for all businesses, especially in veterinary practices.
• SOPs help ensure everyone is aligned and following the same procedures.
• Outdated SOPs can lead to inefficiencies and poor patient outcomes.
• Consistency in procedures improves customer experience and team dynamics.
• SOPs should be integrated into training for effective implementation.
• Regular reviews of SOPs are necessary to keep them relevant.
• Team involvement in SOP development fosters ownership and accountability.
• SOPs serve as a benchmark for performance management.
• Document management systems should balance accessibility and restrictions.
• Quality improvement should be a collaborative effort among all team members.

One Expert. One Topic. 20-minutes of Vet Wisdom.

In this episode of the 20 Minute Consult podcast, host Glenn Martin speaks with Sarah McVey, Practice Owner and active Veterinary Surgeon from the Woolton Veterinary Practice in Woolton Village, South Liverpool. 

They discuss her journey in the veterinary field and the importance of the Art of General Practice, the challenges and rewards of running a veterinary practice, and the significance of communication and client relationships.

Sarah focuses on why the Art of General Practice is a dynamic pathway for veterinary professionals and how this career path can be a source of continuous improvement and growth. 

They also explore Sarah's thoughts on the emergence of a more entrepreneurial mindset among new graduates, and she emphasises the need for a holistic approach to veterinary care and the value of continuous learning and adaptation in the profession.

Key takeaways:

• The art of general practice is often underestimated in veterinary education.
• Communication with clients is crucial for effective veterinary care.
• Veterinary professionals often face a lack of direction after graduation.
• The entrepreneurial mindset is becoming more prevalent among new graduates.
• Building strong client relationships can enhance team dynamics.
• Veterinary education needs to focus more on client interactions.
• General practice offers diverse challenges and continuous learning opportunities.
• Practices should have a clear vision for growth and development.
• Asking for help and collaboration is essential in veterinary practice.

One Expert. One Topic. 20-minutes of Vet Wisdom.

In this episode of the 20-Minute Consult podcast, host Glenn Martin speaks with Alex McVey, Practice Owner and active Veterinary Surgeon from the Woolton Veterinary Practice in Woolton Village, South Liverpool. 

They discuss the importance of human skills in veterinary practice, the changing demographics in veterinary education, and the challenges of recruitment and retention in the industry. 

Alex also shares his own journey into veterinary practice ownership and he shares his own opinion and experience of adopting a growth mindset, being adaptable, as well as the significance of communication and honesty. 

The conversation concludes with advice for Practice Owners and Veterinary professionals about the future of the industry, as Alex reminds us all, "This job is a people job". 

Key takeaways:

• The veterinary profession is experiencing a demographic shift.
• Human skills are crucial for success in veterinary practice.
• Recruitment should focus on communication and interpersonal skills.
• Honesty and integrity are key values in veterinary practice.
• The veterinary profession faces high attrition rates among new graduates.
• Adaptability is essential in the changing landscape of veterinary care.
• Veterinary education needs to prepare students for real-world challenges.
• The art of veterinary science is as important as the science itself.
• A growth mindset is vital for long-term success in the profession.

One Expert. One Topic. 20-minutes of Vet Wisdom.

In this episode of the 20-Minute Consult podcast, host Glenn Martin speaks with Enid Frantilla, a Veterinary Surgeon and Practice Owner at Elston Veterinary Clinic. 

They discuss the importance of sustainability in the veterinary industry, Enid's personal journey towards embracing sustainable practices, and the impact of education on fostering a commitment to environmental responsibility. 

Enid shares practical steps that veterinary practices can take to reduce their carbon footprint and emphasises the importance of biodiversity. 

The conversation concludes with advice for new graduates entering the veterinary field, encouraging them to seek out practices that prioritise sustainability.

Key takeaways:

• Sustainability is crucial for the veterinary industry.
• Education, such as the Carbon Literacy course, can ignite passion for sustainability.
• Small changes in practices can lead to significant environmental impacts.
• Veterinary practices can adopt refurbished equipment to save resources.
• Low flow anaesthetic machines can reduce harmful gases.
• Biodiversity is an important consideration in veterinary treatments.
• Talking about sustainability can spark important conversations.
• Collective small actions can lead to large-scale change.
• New graduates should seek practices that prioritise sustainability.
• The veterinary community has a responsibility to address climate change.

One Expert. One Topic. 20-minutes of Vet Wisdom.