What We Bring

Dr. Rick DeBowes co-founded the Veterinary Leadership Experience, where he worked with veterinary students and professionals to improve their longevity in and satisfaction with the field. This episode discusses the early experiences that led him to develop the program and the lessons he imparted to participants.

In this episode, we meet Dr. Christina Tran, Clinical Relations Lead Veterinarian and an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona’s College of Veterinary Medicine. She is also the immediate past president and a founding board member of the Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association. 

She explores how she stumbled on her passion for teaching, how small everyday actions affect diversity and inclusion, and more.

After taking time off for her own mental wellness, technician Sarah Stowman made it her mission to elevate the conversation about compassion fatigue and mental health at her clinic. After training as a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional (CCFP) and Certified Trauma Professional (CTP), she was able to create a shared language and resources at her own clinic, while also doing outreach at a local college. In this episode, she shares how she's trailblazing new initiatives on her team, the importance of awareness, and leading with curiosity.

The second part of our two-part episode about the experiences of Doctors Paula Baya and Miranda Bean during their veterinary internship year. In this episode, we discuss the lessons learned along the way and advice for future interns.

Veterinary internships have been a hot topic in recent years. In this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of pursuing internships, "The Match" process, and more through the eyes of two doctors who have gone through it: Doctors Paula Baya and Miranda Bean. 

Still a relatively new field, veterinary social work is gaining traction in clinics and shelters across the country. (The host of this show, Debrah Lee, LCSW leads the Veterinary Well-Being program at DoveLewis Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Hospital in Portland, OR.)

Vetmed professionals often joke that they went into the field because they get along better with animals than people. But companion animals are inextricably linked to the humans that care for them. In this episode, Kelly Bremken, MSW, a veterinary social work intern at the Oregon Humane Society, explains how her role impacts both animals and humans in the community. We also discuss how the advent of veterinary social work has legitimized the need for greater emphasis on mental health and self-care in the industry.

During the pandemic, many veterinary clinics have been hit hard by an increase in patients. When we're handling a challenging caseload, what happens when, inevitably, a mistake is made? In this episode, we delve into medical errors through the lens of a veterinarian whose procedural error resulted in the loss of a patient. He discusses the impact the error had on the trajectory of his career and his personal life.

Humans aren’t the only ones who need blood in an emergency. Blood is also a vital resource when providing veterinary care, but where does it come from? In this episode, the director of Blue Ridge Veterinary Blood Bank Jocelyn Pratt discusses the challenges they've faced both before and after the pandemic. 

Find out more about canine blood banks:

Blue Ridge Veterinary Blood Bank

DoveLewis Blood Bank