VETchat by The Webinar Vet

Joining Kathryn for this episode of VETchat by The Webinar Vet is Rosie Allister, manager of Vetlife Helpline, a 24-hour support service for everyone in the UK veterinary community. In this episode, Rosie shares with Kathryn insights into her work with Vetlife, focusing on suicide prevention, mental health support, and creating safer veterinary workplaces. She discusses the development of a new suicide prevention guide for veterinary practice managers and the importance of a collective effort in reducing mental health stigma.

Vetlife

Webinar Information

Joining Anthony for this episode of VETchat by The Webinar Vet is Josh Schmitz, leadership strategist, speaker, and culture builder with over 20 years of experience leading teams in the retail, educational and veterinary industries. In this episode, Anthony and Josh talk about how nearly 40 years of wrestling shaped Josh’s leadership. He explains how his inverted leadership model goes beyond servant leadership by acting as an architect who gives people the tools to grow, with accountability paired with psychological safety. He also shares his view on where corporate versus independent vet practice is heading in America.

Joining Anthony for this episode of VETchat by The Webinar Vet is Stephanie West, Cornell University trained veterinarian and author. In this episode, Anthony and Stephanie speak about her career across feline practice, veterinary technology education, emergency clinic administration, academic leadership, and corporate practice. The conversation centers on her book S.O.A.P. for Success : A Simple Method to Manage Your Business and Revitalize Your Mission and how veterinary clinicians can apply the S.O.A.P framework to business, leadership, and decision-making. They discuss why veterinarians already have the diagnostic mindset needed to lead, how Dr. West used data and triage to uncover embezzlement in an emergency clinic, and why mission-driven businesses benefit from clear problem lists, prioritization, and sustainable thinking.

Stephanie's Book

Joining Anthony for this episode of VETchat by The Webinar Vet is Sean McDonagh, an Irish Columban missionary priest, ecological theologian, and author of To Care for the Earth: A Call to a New Theology. In this episode, Anthony and Sean discuss the intersection of ecology, theology, and the urgent need for environmental action. Sean shares insights from his life as a Columban father, his work on ecological theology, and the importance of individual and collective responsibility to protect the planet. Anthony and Sean speak about the origins of his ecological thinking, how his book For to Care for the Earth helped push early conversations about faith and the environment, and why biodiversity loss is not just a scientific issue but a spiritual and moral one.

To Care for the Earth: A Call to a New Theology

Joining Anthony for this episode of VETchat by The Webinar Vet is Caroline Allen, founder of Pet Lighthouse, a consultation service providing whole-animal second opinions and quality-of-life assessments, working transparently alongside GP vets to support owners navigating complexity or difficult welfare decisions. In this episode, Anthony and Caroline discuss animal welfare, the realities of modern general practice, and why contextualised care needs time and nuance. They explore how vets can advocate for animals while supporting owners facing difficult decisions. The conversation follows Caroline’s path from general practice to welfare-focused work and the launch of Pet Lighthouse. Anthony and Caroline also discuss the Animal Welfare Act, the five domains of welfare, complaints, trust, and how better communication can improve outcomes for pets.

Joining Anthony for this episode of VETchat by The Webinar Vet are Richard Sanderson, Director of Sanderson Vet, SaraSheppard, RVN and Practice Manager at Sanderson Vet, and Hannah Mortlock, RVN. In this episode, Anthony, Richard, Sara, and Hannah speak about how the Sanderson Vet has turned sustainability into a practical, team-wide effort. They discusssmall changes that made a measurable difference, from waste segregation and greener purchasing to low-flow anaesthesia and reducing parasiticide use. The big theme is simple: start small, make it easy for staff, and let honest communication build client trust.

Joining Anthony for this episode of VETchat by The Webinar Vet is Dan Tipney, co-founder and Training Director at VetLed. In this episode, Anthony and Dan discuss Dan’s insights from his unique journey from airline pilot to veterinary human factors expert, exploring how lessons from aviation and healthcare can informveterinary practice, sustainability, and climate action. Dan also shares how human factors, non-violent communication, and Climate Fresque are being used to help teams talk about difficult issues and turn concern into action.

Joining Anthony for this episode of VETchat by The Webinar Vet is Luke Michel, Director of Coastal Vet Collective Animal Hospital. In this episode, Anthony and Luke discuss locuming between Australia and the UK, differences in veterinary workacross the two countries, and Luke’s move from corporate-owned practice to independent ownership in Wollongong. Luke also shares what it took to build a new clinic from scratch, grow through word of mouth, support a team, and make sustainability investments such as solar panels, batteries, and waste reductionwork for the business.

Joining Kathryn for this episode of VETchat by The Webinar Vet is Navaratnam Partheeban, Regional Head of Farm at IVC Evidensia and Co-Founder of British Veterinary Ethnicity and Diversity Society (BVEDS). In this episode, Kathryn and Navaratnam (Theeb) talk about the 10-year journey of BVEDS. The conversation centres on discrimination and racism in veterinary medicine, why belonging matters in practice, and what real inclusion looks like in day to day work. Theeb shares how BVEDS began from lived experience, what has changedacross the profession, and why young people give him hope for a more inclusive future.

Learn more about BVEDS on their website

“It shreds me from within”: thematic analysis of the impact of racism on veterinary professionals and students in the United Kingdom

Joining Anthony for this episode of VETchat by The Webinar Vet is Níamh Byrne, Director and Chairperson of Veterinary Sustainability Network Ireland. In this episode, Anthonyand Níamh talk about how Níamh’s love of nature led her intosustainability work. They discuss burnout, climate anxiety, practical ways veterinary practices can reduce their environmental footprint, and how small changes can create a ripple effect across the profession. Níamh shares how reconnecting with nature in the UK changed the direction of her career, why she started the Veterinary Sustainability Network, and what veterinary teams in Ireland are doing to make sustainability more practical. The conversation also covers survey findings, barriers such as time and cost, and Níamh’s part-time master’s in environmental sustainability.

More on Veterinary Sustainability Network Ireland