The Uncharted Veterinary Podcast

When a new graduate veterinarian joins your team, they bring fresh energy, curiosity, and hope for the future. But what happens when an experienced associate begins to undermine that confidence? Veterinary workplace bullying isn’t always loud or obvious, yet its impact can be devastating. Toxic behavior drives away bright new grads, damages team morale, and creates long-term retention challenges for practice leaders. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss dig into a tough mailbag question: “Help! My associate vet is bullying the new grads.” They unpack how leaders can recognize patterns of toxic workplace behavior, the importance of documenting incidents, and strategies for protecting new graduate veterinarians while addressing associate veterinarian conflict head-on.

Do you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag

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Care is Your Calling

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When your clinic goes through a veterinary practice sale, it can feel like the ground shifts overnight. Associates wonder what their future looks like, owners face the weight of transition, and teams question whether the culture they love will survive. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, host Dr. Andy Roark talks with Dr. Gene Bauer of Blue River Pet Care about what really happens when a practice changes hands, how leaders can ease fear, and where hidden opportunities may be waiting. Curious about how to find stability and even growth in the middle of uncertainty? Let’s get into this episode!

This episode is brought to you by Blue River Pet Care

Step into the future of veterinary leadership at the Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026, taking place live at VMX on January 16th in Orlando. This one-day, high-energy event is designed for practice owners, managers, and leaders who want more than ideas, they want results. You’ll walk away with actionable strategies, renewed clarity about your next steps, and meaningful connections with innovators shaping the profession. Attendance is intentionally capped to keep conversations impactful and personal, so spots are limited. Secure your registration now to guarantee your place at this exclusive leadership experience. Register here: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/about-uncharted-veterinary-conference-2026

Elevate your impact at the Uncharted Team Leads Summit 2025, a one-day program built for veterinary team leads and supervisors ready to step confidently into leadership. This interactive summit blends RACE-approved CE with practical tools you can use right away, including strategies for redirecting team venting, AI resources that make daily tasks easier, and frameworks for leading with authenticity. With small-group workshops, hands-on practice, and the support of a like-minded veterinary community, you’ll strengthen your communication, grow your confidence, and design a leadership role that feels sustainable and effective. Seats are limited, so register today to reserve your place at the Team Leads Summit 2025. Register here: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/products/live_events/team-leads-summit-2025

Upcoming events: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/events

All Links: https://linktr.ee/UnchartedVet

Do you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag

Gene Bauer, DVM, is the Medical Director of Bay Country Veterinary, which has locations in Annapolis and Crownsville, Maryland. When not in clinic, he channels his passion for animal welfare through his Business Development Specialist role at Blue River PetCare, where he builds relationships with practice owners who are interested in furthering their practice by joining the Blue River network.

When your clinic hits chaos, nothing hurts morale faster than a disappearing team member who slips away from the treatment floor when they are needed most. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss tackle a real mailbag case about “Brenda,” a well-meaning but frustrating employee whose habit of vanishing during busy times leaves teammates overwhelmed and resentful. They dig into why this happens, how leaders can respond with compassion and accountability, and what veterinary managers can do to reset expectations and protect team culture. Let's get into this episode!

Do you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag

Mentioned in this episode:

Care is Your Calling

Get the Protocol Training Game Here!

Join us for the Medical Director Summit!

When you’re the one constantly picking up the slack in your practice, frustration can quickly turn into resentment. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark sits down with Dr. Saye Clement to tackle the all-too-common struggle of feeling overworked while others seem to move more slowly. Together, they dig into why resentment creeps in, how to recognize it early, and what leaders can do to shift their mindset and protect their wellbeing without sacrificing patient care or team culture.

Dr. Saye Clement brings more than 28 years of veterinary experience to the conversation, including her time as Co-Owner and Medical Director at Carling Animal Hospital in Ottawa and her current role as Manager of Clinical Learning and Mentorship with NVA Canada. With a career dedicated to mentoring, teaching, and building sustainable clinic culture, Dr. Clement offers grounded, practical advice that busy practice owners and medical leaders can put into action right away. Let's get into this episode!

Do you have something that you would love to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag

Dr. Saye Clement is a veterinarian with over 28 years of clinical experience. Aside from stints as an emergency veterinarian and self-employed locum, she spent the majority of her career at Carling Animal Hospital (in Ottawa, Canada) as a Co-Owner, Medical Director and Clinician. In late 2021, she stepped down from her leadership role within the hospital and assumed a role as an associate veterinarian. Outside of practice, she was honored to serve as the Director for Learning for Vet Alliance (an organization which supports independent practices in Canada) and enjoys giving the occasional lecture or workshop. She is passionate about helping others to develop great clinic culture and operational processes, and strives to provide information that can be easily implemented by busy professionals. Her current position is with NVA Canada, as Manager of Clinical Learning and Mentorship, where she is pursuing her passion for the on-going education and development of clinic teams.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for the Medical Director Summit!

Care is Your Calling

Get the Protocol Training Game Here!

Are you struggling to bring doctors on board after a hospital acquisition? In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss tackle the challenges of onboarding an acquired hospital, from resistant associates to the cultural shift that comes with moving from independent practice to corporate structure.

They break down how leaders can build trust, create buy-in, and preserve a sense of autonomy while still implementing necessary systems. If you are navigating change in your practice group or considering how to support veterinarians through transitions, this conversation offers practical strategies and a new perspective on making onboarding successful. Let's get into this episode!

Uncharted Team Leads Summit 2025

Step into leadership with confidence at the Uncharted Team Leads Summit. This one-day event was designed for veterinary supervisors and team leads who want to strengthen communication, tackle tough conversations, and guide their teams with purpose. You will practice how to handle venting in healthy ways, explore AI tools that actually save time, and clarify your leadership role so it works for you. With small-group workshops, RACE-approved CE, and a supportive network that understands the reality of veterinary leadership, this is your chance to grow without going it alone. Reserve your spot today: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/products/live_events/team-leads-summit-2025

Get Sh*t Done: Financial Edition 2025

If managing money in your practice feels overwhelming, it does not have to stay that way. Join Uncharted’s Get Sh*t Done: Financial Edition on October 29, 2025, for a highly interactive virtual conference built for veterinary professionals who want clarity around their numbers. Learn how to streamline inventory, price your services with confidence, and set goals that drive your team forward. Through expert-led workshops, peer discussions, and CE credits, you will walk away with practical tools you can implement immediately. Spots are limited, so secure your seat now: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/products/live_events/gsd-2025

Upcoming events: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/events

All Links: https://linktr.ee/UnchartedVet

Do you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag

Stephanie's Bio:

Stephanie is a former practice manager who lives on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. With over 20 years of experience both on the floor and in the office, Stephanie is passionate about staff education, team culture, management and training. Stephanie loves to geek out about technology, especially Practice Management Software. She has experience as a practice manager in both private and corporate practices, ranging in size from one to seven doctors. She has experience as a consultant and trainer with AVImark software, paperlite/paperless transitions, practice management and staff training.

Mentioned in this episode:

Care is Your Calling

Join us for the Medical Director Summit!

Get the Protocol Training Game Here!

Veterinary medicine is evolving faster than ever, and many leaders are struggling with the same challenge: how do you guide your team, embrace technology, and still protect the heart of our profession? In this episode of the Uncharted Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark welcomes Dr. Dave Nicol, veterinarian, practice owner, and international thought leader on veterinary leadership. Over his 20-year career, Dave has led multi-doctor teams on different continents, owned and managed four practices, and built a reputation for helping veterinary professionals find success and happiness in their work. He is also the founder of the Vet Leadership Academy and host of the Blunt Dissection Podcast, where he’s interviewed Olympians, cancer survivors, and some of the most transformative voices in and outside of veterinary medicine.

Do you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag

Mentioned in this episode:

Get the Protocol Training Game Here!

Care is Your Calling

Join us for the Medical Director Summit!

When hospitalized patients don’t have clear veterinary handoffs, treatments get delayed, communication breaks down, and teams end up frustrated. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss tackle one of the most common workflow headaches in veterinary hospitals: who takes ownership of hospitalized cases after day one? They dig into why confusion happens, how it impacts both patient care and client trust, and what leadership can do to put better systems in place. From separating doctor and nursing responsibilities to building buy-in and using rounds effectively, Andy and Stephanie share practical strategies that any hospital can adapt. If you’ve ever felt like your patients were getting “lost in the shuffle,” this conversation will give you clarity and tools to create consistency. Let’s get into this episode!

Do you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag

Mentioned in this episode:

Get the Protocol Training Game Here!

Care is Your Calling

Join us for the Medical Director Summit!

When you’re stuck working under a difficult veterinary leader, it can feel like the practice culture is unraveling and your team’s future is on the line. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Jenn Galvin dive into a mailbag letter from an office manager grappling with the fallout of a destructive practice owner. Together, they explore the reality of managing up, setting boundaries, deciding when to push for change, and knowing when it’s time to walk away. This conversation brings practical strategies and headspace resets for anyone facing leadership challenges in veterinary medicine. If you’ve ever questioned how to protect your team, your sanity, and your career in a difficult workplace, you won’t want to miss this one. Let’s get into this episode!

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Jenn Galvin is a spreadsheet-loving Veterinary Practice Manager with over 25 years of experience in the field. Growing the hospital and helping the team succeed through hard work, positive leadership, and humor is what gets her up in the morning. She's an introverted inventory nerd that loves bratty beagles, dungeons and dragons, and the outdoors. She loves sharing the mistakes she's made, and the things she's learned, with other hospital owners and managers so they can grow their hospitals, teams, and themselves!

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for the Medical Director Summit!

Get the Protocol Training Game Here!

Care is Your Calling

When veterinary clinics run on a sink or swim culture, new hires are tossed into the job after just a few days of shadowing and expected to keep pace in a high-pressure environment without the tools or confidence to succeed. In this episode, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss dig into why this outdated approach persists and how it fuels turnover, burnout, and inconsistent client service. They share practical strategies for building smarter, more supportive onboarding programs that work even when the clinic is short-staffed. From defining what “success” looks like in the first weeks to role-playing real client scenarios, you’ll learn how to create a culture of continuous development that keeps great team members for the long haul.

Do you have something that you would love for us to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag

Mentioned in this episode:

Get the Protocol Training Game Here!

Care is Your Calling

Join us for the Medical Director Summit!

When veterinary professionals can’t afford to work because childcare costs rival their paycheck, the entire clinic feels the impact. This episode tackles one of the most under-discussed yet critical challenges in veterinary medicine: how the lack of childcare support is pushing talented team members out of the field. The result is burnout, high turnover, and lost potential in an industry that already struggles to retain staff. Enter Jenni George, CVPM, co-owner and practice manager of Deerfield Veterinary Clinic in rural New Hampshire. With a passion for leadership and team development, Jenni didn’t just notice the problem, she addressed it head-on by opening a daycare for her team’s children. In this episode, Jenni shares how her clinic created an in-house childcare solution, from licensing questions to liability coverage to tax strategy. She walks us through the real costs, what’s worked, and what other practices can learn from her experience. Whether or not you’re ready to build a daycare, this conversation offers practical ways to better support working parents, reduce turnover, and strengthen your clinic’s culture.

Do you have something that you would love for us to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for the Medical Director Summit!

Care is Your Calling

Get the Protocol Training Game Here!