Freewheelin' Veterinary Business Q&a Podcast

This week’s That Vet Life Podcasts, is slightly different from the norm, as Dr. Moriah shares the mic with Dr. Annie Chavent and Dr. Marci Kirk (from My Veterinary Life Podcast), and Dr. Stacey Cordivano (The Whole Veterinarian). The veterinarians Marci Kirk and Annie Chavent are co-hosts of the podcast My Veterinary Life and Assistant Directors for Recent Graduate Projects at the AVMA. Dr. Stacey Cordivano is the owner of mobile veterinary practice and host of the Whole Veterinary podcast, a podcast devoted to helping veterinarians grow as whole people. Last but not least, the episode features Dr. Moriah, our beloved host of the That Vet Life Show.During this episode, Drs. Moriah, Annie, Marci, and Stacey discuss their recent experience at the 2023 Veterinary Leadership Conference. They recap some of their key takeaways from the conference and share reasons why to join the conference, hosted by the American Veterinary Medical Association, next year.Whether you're looking for inspiration as a professiona

For this week's episode of That Vet Life Show, Dr. Moriah is joined by Dr.Melody Winterhalter. Melody was born in Switzerland and relocated to Geelong after earning her degree from the Royal Veterinary College in London. She adores all animals, but she is particularly fascinated by sharks and other aquatic creatures. When it comes to more traditional pets, Corgis are particularly important to her. Melody likes to read, eat cheese, and explore the Australian outdoors when she's not working. She believes that having a strong mentor is essential for landing a job as a new graduate. And since she is passionate about educating and mentoring, she is passing this lesson on to the upcoming generation of veterinarians, nurses, and pet owners. In this episode, Dr.Melody Winterhalter talks about her first job experience from a mentorship aspect, revealing what she was looking for in her mentor. She explains how her practice displays the culture of mentorship and how it influenced her decision when she was in her f

In this week's episode of That Vet Life Podcast, Dr. Moriah McCauley dives into the life of a vet student with Deianira Smith.Deianira is a third-year veterinary student currying studying as part of the inaugural class at the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine and is set to graduate this August. In school, Deianira served as the first president of the student AAEP chapter, as well as a SAVMA delegate, Zoetis Student Representative, and Student Ambassador. She is also currently a 2022-2023 Ed Brown Society Scholar.Deianira's goals are to become a board-certified surgeon in both equine and small animal medicine. Her passions in vet med are organized medicine, DEI, client education, and leadership. Currently serving on the AAEP DEI committee, Deianira is keen to help inspire the next generation of veterinarians and help other students recognize and grow their own potential.Outside of school and vet life, you’ll find Deianira spending time with her three pets, including her two-year-old gol

For this week's episode of That Vet Life Show, Dr. Moriah is joined by veterinarian, TV star, author, and practice owner, Dr. Vernard Hodges.Dr. Vernard Hodges is a proud graduate of Fort Valley State University and the prestigious Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Hodges is a founder and owner of multiple successful veterinary hospitals. He practices primarily at Critter Fixer Veterinary Hospital in Bonaire, GA. The hospital and Dr. Vernanrd caught the attention of the National Geographic Channel in 2019, and starred in their own television show “Critter Fixers”.Alongside his career in veterinary, Dr. Hodges also started a real estate company, which has grown to a multi-million dollar business comprised of several apartment complexes and commercial properties. He has started writing a blog about how to win by betting on himself, which ultimately led to his writing a bestselling book: “Bet on Yourself: From Zero to Millions.” Bet on Yourself reached number #1 on the Amazon Personal Financ

After a short break for Christmas, That Vet Life Podcast is back! Our first episode of 2023 kicks off with Dr. Sam Morello.Dr. Sam Morello is a veterinarian, educator, researcher, and leader focused on professional sustainability. After receiving her BS and DVM from Cornell University and completing a large animal surgical residency at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Sam spent over a decade working as an Associate Professor of Surgery. Where she spent a great deal of time investigating professional sustainability, economics, and work-life in veterinary medicine focussing in particular on gender and diversity. Since then, Sam has been spreading her findings as a national and international speaker with the goal to improve mentorship, and career decisions, and guide policymakers to improve veterinary medicine. Dr. Sam currently serves as the assistant director for Continuing Education for the American College of Veterinary Surgeon, as a faculty with AOVet (a program she helped to design to improve

In today’s episode of That Vet Life Podcast, Dr Moriah McCauley is joined by Dr Angela Hofmann to discuss her unique journey in becoming a veterinary practice owner. We hear about the negative mentorship experiences she had while still in the early stages of being a veterinarian, and how these influenced her work ethic as a mentor and practice owner.Dr Angela’s veterinary journey has not been as linear as that of a normal vet student. Before becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at St. George’s University in 2011, Dr Angela had already graduated with two other degrees from two different fields: her first degree was in English Literature and the second one was in Journalism. Dr Angela has previously worked as a Veterinarian at Sunset Cliff Animal Clinic Inc, as well as at Thrive Affordable Vet Care. She is currently the practice owner of The Temple Heights Animal Hospital. Listen in as Dr Angela shares her journey to becoming a veterinary practice owner and how she practices the best work ethic to

For this week's episode of That Vet Life Podcast, Dr. Moriah McCauley is joined by Dr. Alexandru Pop to talk about mentorship in a mixed animal practice, explaining what a good workplace with a positive learning atmosphere looks like. Dr. Alexandru Pop is a large animal veterinarian who has been in practice for more than three years. Dr. Alexandru graduated with a veterinary medicine degree in 2019 from the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University. He spent more than a year working at Pineview Veterinary Hospital before buying Appalachian Veterinary Services, an organization that he is now the president of. As a veterinarian, Dr. Alexandru's major objective is to improve and preserve animal health. To do this, he places a high value on open communication, reliable information, and providing the most enriching and satisfying veterinary experience he can. Apart from veterinary science, he is also interested in ophthalmology, technology in medicine, data analysis, and ruminant

For this week's episode of That Vet Life Podcast, Dr. Moriah is joined by Dr. Sydney Pokard to discuss her mentorship experiences in her first job - both the positive and negative aspects of it - as well as how mentorship helps to position yourself for success in the veterinary field.  Dr. Sydney Pokard is a veterinarian in Southern California who specializes in exotic and small animals. Dr. Sydney entered practice right away after earning her degree in veterinary medicine from the Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine in 2016. She also joined the staff of a nearby zoo and worked with small animals, exotic animals, and wildlife. Dr. Pokard has enjoyed working with numerous endangered species while traveling the globe and practicing veterinary medicine. Her passion for the profession influenced her to become a mentor to young veterinarians. By serving as a reliable resource for exotic medicine when it isn't taught in school, she motivates and encourages veterinary

In this week's episode of That Vet Life Podcast, Dr. Moriah McCauley is joined by Dr. Anna Schozer to discuss the questions that young veterinarians should ask before joining a practice, as well as highlighting the red and green flags to watch out for during an interview.As a small animal emergency veterinarian, Dr. Anna Schozer practices in the state of New Hampshire. After graduating from the University of Missouri in 2021 with a DVM, she returned to the east coast and fell in love with relief work. During her second year of veterinary school, she launched an online health and fitness company that has since assisted over 250 women in finding balance in their lives. Building on this, Dr. Anna Schozer is also a talented content creator who shares educational and inspiring content about the field on social media.Listen in as they discuss what new graduates should look for when choosing a practice.Outline[01:13] Dr. Moriah begins the episode with a short introduction of Dr. Anna Schozer[03:30] We are given a sh

In this week’s episode of the That Vet Life podcast, Dr. Moriah McCauley shares invaluable knowledge on the subject of externship. She discusses their importance  to students, the various ways students can get externships, and how they can get the most from the externship opportunities.  Veterinary externships provide a platform for students to exercise their veterinary knowledge and learn hands-on skills. It is no surprise that most vet students strive to get these externships during their schooling years. However, getting externship opportunities is usually difficult mostly due to factors such as travel expenses and the expected cost of living in the externship station.  Throughout the discussion, Dr. McCauley gives real-life examples and illustrations that will directly assist you as the listener. The main aim of the episode is to help you easily find an externship opportunity and consequently get the best outcome out of it. Tune in to learn more about this exciting topic! Podcast Outline [0

In this edition of That Vet Life Podcast, Dr. Moriah McCauley is joined by Dr. Gary Marshall, one of VetX's very own Thrive mentors, to discuss the concept of "Treating the patient, not the disease", highlighting the common challenges faced by young veterinarians in developing treatment plans. The founder and medical director of Island Cats Veterinary Hospital (a feline-only practice on Mercer Island, Washington), Dr. Gary Marshall received his veterinary medicine degree from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1989. Besides his work as a veterinarian, Dr. Marshall is also a member of our Thrive community and helps mentor young graduates and veterinary professionals. Gary currently sits on the board of directors for the College Of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University, and formerly served as its president. He also represents Washington State in the American Veterinary Medical Association's House of Delegates. Listen in as Dr. Gary and Dr. Moriah describe the process you

This week's That Vet Life Show podcast is a solo episode, where Dr. Moriah McCauley discusses the traits that a good mentor should have, all of which were proposed by the veterinary community in an Instagram vote. She outlines these qualities and their significance for the growth and development of the team, the mentee, and you as a mentor. Whilst pursuing her veterinary degree at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, Dr. McCauley had the opportunity to study with some of the best veterinarians in the nation. She has inspired veterinarians and veterinary students to be competent and self-assured through her captivating storytelling, love of animals, and passion for taking care of others. Listen in to discover the qualities that define a good mentor! Outline [01:16] Dr. Moriah begins the episode with a short recap of previous episodes. [02:36] She dives into the characteristics of a good mentor, enlisted by the vet community itself. [03:54] We discuss “imposter syndrome”, describing its impact on mentor-men

For this week's episode of That Vet Life Show, Dr. Meghan Vaught joins Dr. Moriah as they discuss cyberbullying in the veterinary profession, specifically referring to a 2019 incident in which Meghan's MVMC received thousands of death threats over a puppy’s surrender to its facility. Along with it, however, MVMC received an outpouring of support from clients and the veterinary community as a whole. After finishing her clinical rotations at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Vaught earned her Ph.D. from St. George University in May 2013. In 2017, Dr. Vaught finished a three-year Emergency and Critical Care Residency at Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care later that year. She is dedicated to promoting the welfare of animals and assisting all animals to lead happy, healthy lives full of treats, sundowners, and zoomies. Dr. Vaught has devoted her time and efforts to raising awareness about the effects

This week's That Vet Life Show episode features Dr. Moriah McCauley as she shares her experiences with mentorship, as well as highlighting the characteristics of a good mentee. Dr. Moriah McCauley combined her love of animals and passion for caring for others to become a small animal veterinarian. While pursuing her veterinary degree at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, she was presented with the opportunity to study with some of the best veterinarians in the nation.  After realizing how valuable their tales were, she decided to share this value with her peers, which led her to entering the world of podcasts. She has since concentrated on the effects of storytelling in both client and patient outcomes, with her journey and stories having inspired veterinarians and veterinary students to be competent and self-assured. Going into practice as a young veterinarian, it's important to know what to expect from your mentors and what they will expect from you. Dr. McCauley describes the qualities of a good

In this week's episode of That Vet Life Show, Dr. Moriah McCauley delves into all things NAVLE-related. For those that don't know, the NAVLE is the national board exam for veterinarians wanting to practice in the US and Canada.  Choosing a career that would combine her love of animals and passion for caring for others, Dr. Moriah McCauley decided on becoming a small animal veterinarian. She began this podcast at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, where she graduated with a veterinary degree. Dr. McCauley started to concentrate on the function of the stories of her colleagues in veterinary medicine, focusing on how storytelling can enhance outcomes for clients and patients as she made the transition from student to doctor. Through her engaging storytelling, she has encouraged veterinarians and veterinary students to be competent and confident.  During this special solo episode, Dr. Moriah talks about the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE). Listen in as Dr. Moriah discusses every a

Dr. Grace Kim joins Dr. Moriah for this week's episode of That Vet Life Show. Having graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Grace Kim is a DVM and Accredited Financial Counsellor. She works as a mentor and financial coach for young veterinarians, offering them valuable guidance on how to manage their finances and debt without being overburdened. After going from six figures in student loan debt as a veterinarian to becoming financially literate and efficient with money, she founded Richer Life DVM, a platform to educate and inspire others in their financial journeys. This episode discusses the challenges young grads face financially, especially one of the biggest ones: the student loan. Furthermore, she explains how to organize your finances, even if you're not a financial expert. Dr. Grace shares her insight on finance management, including a lot of tactical advice for young veterinarians just starting their careers. Outline [0:00] - Episode Introduction [00:57] - The

For this week's episode of That Vet Life Show, Dr. Rachel Courville joins Dr. Moriah. Dr. Rachel began working as an Emergency Veterinarian at MedVet, a pet healthcare facility in Illinois Chicago, in 2020 after receiving her veterinary medicine degree from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Rachel switched to general practice and joined Mission Veterinary Partners in 2021 after working as an emergency veterinarian for a year. In addition to being a talented vet, Rachel has a large social media following, using her platform for good to help vets and pet parents through her interesting and insightful social media posts and videos. In this episode, Dr. Rachel Courville discusses her experience switching from emergency medicine to general practice, emphasizing the importance of mentorship in the process. As the show progresses, she talks about the reasons for her job change and the difficulties that came with it. Listen in as Dr. Rachel Courville and Dr. Moriah discuss their own e

For this week's episode of That Vet Life Podcast, Dr. Caitlin DeWilde joins Dr. Moriah. Having graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine with an Outstanding Young Alumni Award, Caitlin was selected as one of just ten nationwide veterinarians to participate in the AVMA’s Future Leaders program. She is also a member of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the Greater St. Louis Veterinary Medical Association, where she serves as vice president. In addition, Dr. Caitlin DeWilde founded The Social DVM, a consultancy business aimed at assisting veterinary professionals in understanding, utilizing, and growing their online and social media presence. She served as the medical director at a large hospital in St. Louis before taking a step back to commit herself to her love of marketing. In this episode, Dr. Caitlin and Dr. Moriah discuss science communication and its importance for veterinary professionals, emphasizing how veterin

For this week's episode of That Vet Life Podcast, Sarina Manifold join Dr. Moriah. Sarina Manifold is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in veterinary social work. She gained the knowledge and abilities necessary to offer crisis intervention and grief support to clients of the small and large Animal Clinic after working as one of the clinical social workers at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center for ten years.  In this episode, Dr. Moriah and Sarina Manifold talk about compassion fatigue and its effects on veterinary professionals. Using her years of experience in grief management, Sarina explains how a young vet can get through situations involving loss and grief while supporting the team and client all the while. Utilizing her passion for animals and her grief management expertise, she assists pet owners in their end-of-life decisions and conducts memorial services for their pets. Through increasing self-awareness, eliminating the thoughts that don't serve them any lo

In this week's That Vet Life Podcast Dr. Moriah McCauley discusses vet school imposter syndrome! Dr. Moriah McCauley became a small animal veterinarian after combining her love of animals and a passion for taking care of others. She gained her veterinary degree at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, where she began this podcast.  Utilizing her podcast to share her colleague's stories, Dr. McCauley started to concentrate on the function of these stories in veterinary medicine and how storytelling can enhance outcomes for clients and patients as she made the transition from student to doctor. Through her engaging storytelling, she encouraged veterinarians and veterinary students to be competent and confident.  Dr. Moriah discusses the imposter phenomenon in this episode and offers guidance that can be really helpful if you're struggling in vet school. Listen in as Dr. Moriah shares crucial advice and insights that will help you maintain a healthy balance in your academic life by focusing on