The 'So You're A Vet... Now What?' Podcast

In this week’s episode of ‘That Vet Life podcast’, Dr. Moriah interviews the lead didactic mentor for VMS (Vet Mentor Solutions), Dr. Dan Phillips.

Dr. Dan Phillips began his journey into mentorship after he graduated from North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011 and began his first rotating internship. This internship, at Tufts Cummings College of Veterinary Medicine, gave Dan the opportunity to experience training and teaching veterinary students.

After finishing his internship, Dr. Dan went on to work in both general and emergency medicine in Chicago for four years, before joining the Animal Care Clinic as a medical director. As a medical director, Dan gained more experience as a mentor and began to notice several common characteristics of new graduates, including a lack of confidence and a lack of mentors to get them where they aim to be. It was then that Dr. Dan decided to launch VMS in 2019, an online organization “committed to helping young veterinarians gain confidence and clinical skills through online, video-based mentoring”.

In the episode, Dr. Dan discusses his journey into mentorship, from his own mentoring to that he delivers. Tune in to understand the true meaning of mentorship and how to find it.

In this week's episode of That Vet Life Podcast host, Dr. Moriah McCauley is joined with vet techs, Peter Carlos and Jaycee Leonardo.

Over the past 2 years, the dynamic duo has been utilizing social media (in particular TikTok and Instagram) to educate both pet owners and people within the veterinary industry. On their TikTok account, which has over 2 million followers, Peter and Jaycee have created a space to educate all on what veterinary techniques do and offer up their best tips and tricks when caring for their patients.

The duo's entry into vet tech took slightly different routes and offer an important reminder that no one way is best. Whilst Peter’s career in the animal and veterinary industry began at Petco - which he started working at during his junior year of high school and continued after graduating - it wasn’t until later when Peter decided to pursue veterinary technician courses. After becoming a Registered Veterinary Technician, Peter began working at Taylor ER Veterinary Emergency Hospital. It was here that he first met Jaycee.

Aforementioned, Jaycee’s journey into veterinary medicine, took a different route. Jaycee aspired to be a veterinarian from a young age, however, once at high school Jaycee enrolled in local veterinary technician classes and Jaycee decided to pursue a career as a veterinary technician. Jaycee joined Taylor ER Veterinary Emergency Hospital as a volunteer aged 16, before being offered a full-time job there 2 years later.

Since then, the pair joined forces to create educational content through social media.

In this episode, Dr. Moriah, Peter, and Jaycee discuss the role of a veterinary technician, how clients view them differently, and how we can push for veterinary technicians to be seen as having the same level of importance as veterinarians.

Our first podcast episode of 2022, is brought to you by Dr. Moriah McCauley as she and fellow 2020 graduate, Dr. Danny Sack, reflect on their first year in practice.

Dr. Danny Sack is “a small animal veterinarian with a special interest in orthopedic and minimally invasive surgery, as well as rehabilitation. [His] research focuses are in canine athlete iliopsoas strains and the genetics and pain management of osteoarthritis.” Currently working as a surgical intern in Maryland, America, Danny aims to eventually become a small animal board-certified surgeon and own his own practice.

Although Dr. Moriah and Dr. Danny have both taken different routes in their veterinary career, this episode offered an interesting insight into how their first years in practice have differed and yet still offered similar experiences.

In today’s episode of That Vet Life, Dr. Moriah McCauley interviews her former adviser and Clinical Skills lecturer from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Caroline Mosley.

Caroline Mosley started her career as a Veterinary Nurse at a practice on the west coast of Cumbria in 1998 after being raised around animals. Caroline went on the travel and work in Australia for a year before moving to Edinburgh to join the Hospital for Small Animals, working in various departments including surgery, exotics, ICU, and medicine. Before returning to the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies to take up teaching, Caroline worked in the pet food and pharmaceutical industry working as a territory manager for leading small animal, equine, and farm animal products covering Scotland.

Now a Clinical Skills Teaching Fellow at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Caroline teaches a variety of practical and clinical skills to undergraduates as well as leading on their Objective, Structured Clinical Exams.

In the episode, Dr. Moriah McCauley asks Caroline how teaching has changed over the last ten years from gender ratios to student expectations. Tune in to learn about veterinary education from a clinician’s perspective.

How can we assist new graduates to avoid burnout?

For today’s episode of That Vet Life Podcast, Dr. Moriah McCauley is joined by the former podcast host, Dr. Dave Nicol to discuss saving graduates from burnout.

In the episode, Dr. Dave talks about the findings from his latest leadership and culture study, and how this has helped shape the culture of his own clinic, Roundwood vets. Dave discusses how the evidence from the study can help support graduates whilst Dr. Moriah discusses how she has been supported at her first job in practice.

Tune in to learn more about what support you should be asking for as a new graduate, how to learn emotional intelligence, and how to support graduate students at your clinic.

In today’s episode of That Vet Life Podcast, Dr. Moriah McCauley is joined by small animal veterinarian Dr. Katelyn Jones.

Both Dr. Moriah McCauley and Dr. Katelyn Jones graduated in 2020 at the peak of the pandemic. Katelyn graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine after working as a veterinary technician while obtaining her bachelor’s degree. After graduating, Dr. Jones returned as a veterinarian to the same practice where she had previously worked as a technician. 

In the episode, Dr. Moriah and Dr. Katelyn talk about the consequences Covid had on their final rotations and the end of veterinary school. As well as talking about how not having graduation impacted them. Mo and Katelyn also outline the importance of outlining mentorship expectations when applying for graduate jobs and how this has helped them stay at their first practice compared to their peers.

In today’s episode of That Vet Life Podcast, host Dr. Moriah McCauley is joined with Dr. Lauren Smith.

Dr. Lauren Smith graduated from Penn State University in 2004 where she gained her bachelor’s in Animal Sciences. She then went on to gain her Doctor of veterinary medicine from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. Since graduating, Lauren has been working as a small animal veterinarian in New York, alongside writing veterinary content as a freelance writer and creating ‘The Vetitude’.

Using ‘The Vetitude’, Lauren ​​creates content aimed to help veterinary professionals have a happier more sustainable career.

In this episode, Dr. Lauren outlines the steps needed to deal with difficult clients. Tune in to learn her top tips today!

In today’s episode of That Vet Life Podcast our host, Dr. Moriah McCauley interviews Dr. Danielle Alleman, a relief veterinarian, and mental health and wellbeing advocate from Washington, USA.

Danielle graduated as a doctor of veterinary medicine from Cornell University in 2017, and since then, has been on a pathway of wellness alongside being a veterinarian. Dr. Danielle is a coach and can be found on Instagram at Empathos Vet where she helps vets early in their career find their place in veterinary medicine. On her website, Danielle offers empowerment and career coaching, online veterinary educational courses, and helpful resources. “I empower veterinarians feeling uncertain, weary, and broken to grow into the confident, dynamic, incredible doctors they are meant to be.” - Dr. Danielle Alleman.

Dr. Danielle also curated Eudaimonia Conference, a free virtual veterinary wellbeing conference for all members of the veterinary profession.

In the episode, the two veterinarians discuss wellbeing and why it’s so important as a veterinary student and new graduates. Tune in to learn what really is wellbeing, what does it mean for vet students, and how to advocate for it.

Exciting things are happening! In today’s episode of The Veterinary Career Success Show, we have a special announcement, VetX International has acquired the 'That Vet Life' Podcast. The podcast, curated by Dr. Moriah McCauley will be combined with our 'The Veterinary Career Success Show' to make our very own 'That Vet Life' podcast.

In this episode, Dr. Dave Nicol is officially handing over the podcast ‘baton’ to Dr. Moriah McCauley.

Dr. Moriah has been a regular co-host on 'The Veterinary Career Success Show' and hosted her own podcast 'That Vet Life' in 2018 whilst a student at the Royal (dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Now a graduate, and practicing small animal veterinarian, Dr. Moriah will be stepping up as our new podcast host and joining the VetX community.

We are so thankful for the work Dr. Moriah has put into this podcast and are so excited to have acquired it as a part of VetX.

Similar to 'The Veterinary Career Success Show', in 'That Vet Life' podcast, expect to be inspired, challenged, and encouraged from stories of those in the veterinary profession.

This episode covers what ‘That Vet Life’ Podcast will consist of, when the episodes will be launched, and what to expect.

This episode of The Veterinary Career Success Show is a lighthearted conversation between VetX International CEO and Founder, Dr Dave Nicol, and small animal veterinarian Dr Moriah McCauley.

In the episode, they list the three ways that help them get through a day of practice.

Dr Moriah’s being:

- Dancing

- Tea

- Jokes

And Dr Dave’s being:

- ‘The Top Five’ game

- Coffee

- Driving/commuting

Listen in to find out more about Dr Dave and Dr Moriahs “The little moments of desert oasis in the maelstrom of a day in the life of a vet”.