What's Up Doc?

In this episode of What’s Up, Doc?, Dr. Katie sits down with Dr. Juan Sebastian Orjuela (Juancho, DVM), emergency veterinarian, content creator, nonprofit co-founder, and community advocate, to explore what it really means to build a meaningful career in veterinary medicine.Juancho shares his journey from veterinary student to ER clinician, how social media became a tool for representation and education, and why visibility matters for underrepresented communities in vet med. He opens up about co-founding the Latinx Veterinary Medical Association (LVMA), the realities of emergency medicine, navigating imposter syndrome, and balancing gold-standard care with compassion and accessibility.The conversation also dives into mentorship, community outreach, exotics, and why veterinary careers don’t have to be linear. From advocating for pet parents in crisis to inspiring the next generation of veterinarians, Juancho reminds us that impact comes in many forms and that veterinarians have more power than they think.Whether you’re a vet student, practicing clinician, or someone passionate about the future of veterinary medicine, this episode is a powerful reminder that your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s 💜🔗 Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeLatinx Veterinary Medical Association (LVMA): https://latinxvma.org/Find Dr. Juancho:Instagram & Tiktok: @juancho.dvm

In today’s episode of What’s Up Doc, Dr. Katie sits down with veterinary technician Jenn Galvin to uncover the real stories behind shelter medicine, the myths surrounding puppy behaviour, and the invisible threat of heartworm disease.If you’ve ever adopted a pet, worked in vet med, or simply love animals, this episode is packed with insight, compassion, and eye-opening moments you won’t want to miss.

🔔 Don’t Forget to SubscribeIf you enjoy real conversations about veterinary medicine, pet care, behaviour, and the behind-the-scenes world of animal health, make sure to subscribe and hit the follow button so you never miss an episode.

In this episode of What’s Up Doc?, Dr. Katie is joined by special co-host Dr. Emily Merry, ER DVM, new grad, and Co-founder of Scribenote! Together, they welcome Dr. Painter, a Board Certified Veterinary Dermatologist® and founder of The Allergic Dog™, for a fun and eye-opening round of Myth or Fact.

From “food allergy blood testing is beneficial” to “dogs that lick their paws are just bored,” they bust common myths, share real-world stories, and unpack what’s really going on with allergic dogs. You’ll come away with a few laughs, a few surprises, and some take-home tips to help every itchy pup feel a little better.

About Dr. Painter

Dr. Painter is a Board Certified Veterinary Dermatologist® passionate about transforming the lives of allergic dogs. Through her platform The Allergic Dog™, she blends clinical experience with education to empower pet owners, groomers, and veterinarians to better understand and manage canine allergies.

Resources

• The Allergic Dog:

Website: https://www.theallergicdog.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theallergicdog/

• Textbook: Small Animal Dermatology: A Color Atlas and Therapeutic Guide by Keith A. Hnilica & Adam P. Patterson

In this episode of ‘What’s Up Doc?’, we welcome Dr. Greg Bishop! Listen as Katie and Greg explore how humour, creativity, and thoughtful communication can bring levity and healing to the emotionally heavy world of veterinary medicine. From balancing profitability with authentic client care to navigating the emotional landscape of vetmed, Dr. Bishop shares practical strategies to help veterinary teams communicate more effectively and compassionately. They also unpack how trust in the profession is shifting and why now is the time to rethink how we connect with clients and each other.

About Dr. Greg Bishop

Dr. Greg Bishop is a small animal GP and emergency relief vet based in Portland, Oregon, with a focus on emergency and general practice. He teaches at a local vet tech college, writes a column on clinical communication for Veterinary Practice News, and is a sought-after speaker. He's also the creative mind behind Sasquatch Paw, an experimental storytelling and illustration platform.

Resources

• Developing Communication Skills for Veterinary Practice by Jane R. Shaw & Jason B. Coe

• Explore Dr. Greg Bishop’s creative work at www.sasquatchpaw.com

On this episode of ‘What’s Up Doc?’ We’re excited to welcome Suzanne Thomas, BA, BS, LVT, CVT, NASM-CPT! From retail management to vetmed. Suzanne has had quite the journey beginning her career in veterinary medicine as an LVT in oncology, and working her way up to becoming a leader and mentor in the industry. Listen as Katie and Suzanne chat about clinic culture and the hottest topics in vetmed right now. Find the link to Suzanne’s book and podcast in the resources below!

Resources

• Suzanne Thomas LinkedIn
• Podcast, Leading Veterinary Teams On Air
• Book, From Competent to Capable by Suzanne Thomas, LVT

In this episode of "What's Up Doc?", we welcome Dr. Cassandra Fleming! 

Listen as Cassie discusses how she navigates working as a relief vet, hosting a podcast and owning a house-call practice. Katie and Cassie delve into recent changes in the industry like access to new treatments and the evolvement of sustainability in VetMed . Find the resources mentioned in this episode below!

Resources

• Vetfolio podcast
• Vetfolio, Financial Triage for Veterinary Practices

• Unchartered Vet Resources
• Housecall Vet Academy
• The E-Myth Veterinarian, Michael E. Gerber & Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA

About Dr. Cassandra Fleming

Graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinarians, Dr. Cassie has been a practicing veterinarian since 2019. In additional to working as an occasional relief veterinarian, Dr. Cassie is also host of NAVC's Vetfolio podcast, and is owner and operator of her own house call practice in Gainesville, Florida.

In this episode of "What's Up Doc?", we welcome Dr. Derek Laporte! Listen as Derek discusses the ups and downs of practice management and working with exotics in Northern Ontario, Canada. Katie and Derek dive into work life balance as a business owner, mentorship, and advice for new grads interested in exotics or GP. Find the resources mentioned in this episode below!

Chapters:

0:35 Introducing Dr. Derek Laporte

4:42 Preparing for practice ownership

7:11 Work life balance as a business owner

12:08 Exotics and mentorship

18:21 Informed Consent with clients

26:38 Students and mentorship

33:30 Advice for growth as a new grad

Resources:

Lasalle Animal Clinic, Sudbury ON, Canada

Dr. Derek Laporte LinkedIn

Email - [email protected]

About Dr. Derek Laporte, DVM

After graduating from the OVC in 2018, Derek worked as an associate Veterinarian at Lasalle Animal Clinic in Sudbury, ON Canada, until 2021 when he transitioned to practice owner. In addition to general practice Derek is one of the only doctors to work with exotics in Northern Ontario.

Episode 8 - In this episode of "What's Up Doc?", we welcome Dr. Shane Bateman! Listen as Shane discusses his role as an Emergency and Critical Care Specialist at the OVC and President of Nine Lives Veterinary Consulting. Katie and Shane go in depth on topics including veterinary forensics, access to care, and investigating & enforcing animal welfare in Ontario. Find the resources mentioned in this episode below!

Chapters

0:30 About Shane

1:18 Community Veterinary Outreach & Access to Care

6:28 Getting involved in Veterinary Forensic Sciences

12:20 Investigating & Enforcing Animal Welfare in Ontario

15:20 Nine Lives Veterinary Consulting

21:00 AI & technology’s role in animal welfare solutions

26:35 Emergency Critical Care bootcamp at the OVC

Resources

• Nine Lives Veterinary Consultation
• University of Florida Veterinary Forensic Sciences Online Graduate Program
• Associate Professor, Dr. Shane Bateman, OVC
• Shane Bateman's LinkedIn⁠

About Dr. Shane Bateman, DVM, MSc, DVSc, DACVECC

In additional to working as an Emergency and Critical Care Specialist and associate professor at the OVC, Shane is president of Nine Lives Veterinary Consulting, offering consultation services in the area of veterinary forensics and animal welfare. Visit the link above to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with Shane.

Episode 7 - In this episode of "What's Up Doc?", we welcome Kyle from Scribenote! Join us as Katie chats with Kyle, Scribenote's Technical Lead Manager, about his dog Summer, cost of care, and the client experience when treating a pet living with lifelong health complications.

Kyle Brooks:

Kyle started with Scribenote as an engineer in summer 2024. He is currently the Technical Lead Manager for Scribenote's engineering team.

Episode 6 - In this episode of "What's Up Doc?", we welcome Dr. Jenni Rizzo! Join us as Jenni chats about what it’s been like navigating the vet world as an introvert, the conception of IntroVet, and how she became the youngest—and first female—president of the American Heartworm Society! We also dig into women in leadership roles, the power of coaching, and the awesome community she’s building through IntroVet’s platform.

Dr. Jenni Rizzo

• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn

IntroVet

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Email: [email protected]

Julie Squires Coaching

• Website
• Podcast