That Vet Life

To the Graduating class of 2021. CONGRATULATIONS!!! This week's episode is my letter to y'all as the graduating class. This last year has been anything but easy or routine, but you have persevered and on behalf of the veterinary profession, we are so excited for you to be joining us as veterinarians! This first year in practice will likely be one of the most challenging, but exhilarating years of your career. Please know your colleagues and mentors are here to guide and support you as you grow and develop into the amazing veterinarians you are already on the road to becoming. This Podcast has always been about YOU! and as such I would love to hear what sort of content you want to hear. Send me a DM on Instagram or Facebook, or through the contact form on thatvetlifepodcast.com to add your voice to the upcoming season. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thatvet-life/message

In this week's episode of Skill Set I am joined by Dr. Lo Curtis to discuss the storytelling skills you can use when dealing with your neurology cases. However... Rather early on in the episode Lo and I decided we wanted to spend a bit more time talking on a topic that we are both very passionate about. We start by addressing the challenges of establishing compliance from our clients. Lo states it beautifully that "most of the time, a lack of compliance comes from a lack of understanding and not for a lack of trying." Meaning that it's not usually the "fault" of the client when a treatment plan doesn't go the way we envisioned it. Listen along as we discuss the problem we have seen on social media of not only client bashing, but fellow veterinarian bashing and the impact it is having on our profession. . . Dr. Lo Curtis is the host of Thrive DVM Podcast and is on a mission to connect other professional women with the tools and resources to fall deeply, madly in love with their own lives. You can find out more

In this week's episode I am joined by Dr. Sabrina Cooper @dr.sabrina.horse.vet as we talk about her transition from vet student to veterinarian and what this looked like through the lens of the internship she has undertaken in her first year out of vet school. Despite the species differences between our paths in the profession, Sabrina and I talk about one of the challenges that all new grads working in clinical practice face....the challenge of learning and developing client communication skills i.e. storytelling skills. We talk about the fumbles we both experienced in our first client interactions and how we used those failures to develop successful skills and methods that we now use today. Through this discussion we brainstorm ways that vet school and vet students can work on honing these skills before graduating and how in their first jobs, new grads can advocate for better mentorship when talking about communication skills. Follow Dr. Cooper's journey on Instagram @dr.sabrina.horse.vet and stay tuned for

In this weeks episode I am joined by Dr. Kristi Crow, who you may know better as @dogtorkristi on Instagram. Kristi and I have been veterinarians for nearly a whole year and in that span of time have learned so much more than what vet school could have taught us. In that span of time we have gone through what will likely be the most intense transition of our professional careers and you better believe we started out with some pretty big fears. Chances are if you are graduating soon you have similar fears. In this episode we have a truthful discussion about what our own fears were and how through proper mentorship and experience we learned to not only overcome these fears but to turn them into opportunities to become better and more confident veterinarians. Listen along as we discuss mentorship, the importance of becoming effective communicators and the challenges we're currently facing as new grad veterinarians. We want to hear from YOU! Do you have questions you would like Kristi and I to answer in a future

This week's episode was a special request after a recent conversation with an incredible up and coming veterinary student. While not an immediate reaction to recent saddening events within the profession this is a topic we need to talk about more. Within vet schools there has been recent push to encourage students to prioritize wellbeing. While this is positive, it is always met with the disparity to what vet students are actually experiencing. They say "eat well. Take time for yourselves. Get enough sleep." but don't provide a practical pathway for students to integrate this into their daily lives. This is a disparity we need to address on multiple levels. In this episode I breakdown where I've seen this disparity occur and how we as a profession can better prepare our future veterinarians to care for and prioritize their wellbeing, and it starts with mindset. At the end of this episode I switch gears to talk about the social app craze that is Clubhouse and why I am so incredibly excited for it. --- Send

In this week's episode I am joined by Dr. Melissa Shapiro. As a small animal veterinarian who has created her niche within the profession as a veterinarian with her own practice providing at-home services, Melissa has many years of wisdom and experience she is keen to pass on to new veterinarians and vet students. She is also the loving pet parent to the internet's favorite Deaf, Blind, Pink Puppy, Piglet.  Through her practice she has the unique vantage point of seeing clients and pets in their own home for routine care and end-of-life scenarios. Today I chat with Melissa on the topic of euthanasia and approach it from the position as a new grad and all the questions I had and still have about becoming more comfortable in how I handle myself during euthanasias as a veterinarian. We attempt to answer the questions of "Can we teach veterinary students how to better manage their emotions during a euthanasia" and "what is the role of the veterinarian during a euthanasia" for caring for the patient and the c

This week we're talking about the Value of Voice with Veterinary Innovation Podcast co-host, Shawn Wilkie.  Hosted by Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zakharenkov, The Veterinary Innovation Podcast invites you into discussions with industry leaders and innovators about the challenges they're facing and how to address them. A self-proclaimed "serial entrepreneur," Shawn has been involved in the industry of veterinary technology long enough to understand the stressors of veterinarians and how technology can be developed to improve patient care while simultaneously easing the workload. It was from this knowledge of the profession that Talkatoo was developed. A voice dictation software, Talkatoo was designed to ease the workload of veterinarians by decreasing the amount of time it takes to complete medical records. In today's episode we discuss the value of voice. With the recent surge of popularity of podcasts it's clear that stories told with voice have an intrinsic value for people. You'll hear how we utilize th

Time to add another skill to your storytelling skill set! This week I'm talking with Dr. Amy Thomson a residency trained dental surgeon about the tiny white patients in the mouths of dogs and cats. Yep, we're talking about teeth this week. Specifically how you can talk to clients about their dog or cats dental needs. The case Dr. Amy shares concerns a second opinion case she saw for a pup with purple teeth and the storytelling skills she used. We cover: How to convey what you see in your conscious dental exam to the client, especially during curbside service using verbal imagery and photos How to speak about your colleague who referred the patient How to to check that your clients understand the disease and treatment options You'll even get the added bonus of learning about vital pulp therapy in today's episode! Dr. Amy Thomson is a vibrant veterinarian who after spending time in general practice discovered her passion for dentistry and oral surgery and is currently ADVC residency trained. She is also a

This is an episode that has been months if not years in the making as I am unashamedly a huge nerd when it comes to James Herriot and his books. When I first heard they were remaking the tv show, All Creatures Great and Small I could hardly contain my excitement! Now, I know you can binge watch all of the episodes, but as I know all the stories inside out and backward I have chosen to wait to watch each episode as it's released on PBS Masterpiece each week to enjoy it in all it's glory. In this week's episode I'm giving you a glimpse to what a small animal veterinarian in 2021 thinks when watching this show/reading the books. I pull a great deal of 'behind the scenes' from the Alf Wight's biography James Herriot: A Memoir of My Father written by his son, Jim Wight.  I felt a new level of kinship after reading this biography as it uncovered many of the untold struggles Alf went through as a veterinarian, father and human. His life was not as warm and fluffy as his stories and tv make it out to be, but tha

This week we are talking the founders of Drip.vet, Veterinarian and Attorney Dr. Lance Roasa and Veterinarian Dr. Drew Olson. A reinvented form of veterinarian education, Drip.vet provides RACE approved content for both veterinary students are professionals. Courses cover a wide range of topics such as medical, business, financial, legal and ethical issues presented using the Drip teaching methodology to maximize learning and time efficiency. Follow the links below to check out some of the RACE approved CE courses offered. The Art and Science of Negotiation Endocrine 411 Vetmed LIVE Series In today's episode we focus on the 'why' behind Drip.Vet and how the topic of financial wellbeing has personally affected both Drew and Lance in their life and educational experiences. You'll hear how these experiences ignited the passion they have for helping the next generation of veterinarians and why this is so much more than a money-management program. Dr. Drew Olson, DVM A 2012 Iowa State Veterinary College graduate,

Today's patient is a 1 year old, bouncy Labrador puppy whose owner is at the end of her leash because this poor pup is so itchy and it's your job as the new grad vet to solve this mystery. As the doctor you know what you need to do to work up this case, but how do you communicate your diagnostics and diagnosis to this frustrated client? In today's episode I chat with dermatology resident, Dr. Jeff Tinsley about the storytelling skills you need to not only help this patient and client today, but set up a lasting relationship as you navigate this pup's chronic condition. We discuss the 'why' behind your diagnostics and how to set reasonable goals and expectations for this client moving forward.  If you've ever wanted an easy to remember way of describing the skin barrier, Dr. Tinsley provides a great brick and mortar example you can use in daily practice. . Dr. Jeff Tinsley is a current dermatology resident who has a strong passion for connecting with his clients to provide outstanding medical care and adv

Welcome to 2021!!!!! For this week's episode I asked what you wanted to hear and y'all said you wanted to learn about how the last 6 months of working as a veterinarian has gone. To put it plainly, it's been a whirlwind, but I still love what I do. In this episode I reflect on what I have learned personally in the last 6 months and walk you through how I structured my work schedule to set myself up for success in those first few months. I discuss how I struggled with toxic thoughts as a new grad and how I am working to overcome them.  I also take some time to talk about what vet school didn't (and honestly couldn't) prepare me for and what that means for you as a final year vet student. While this episode was created for you, it was also a bit cathartic for myself to reflect on these last 6 months and identify my areas of growth and where I am looking to continue to grow. Here's to 2021 and all that's to come. Oh! and I have a new website!! www.thatvetlifepodcast.com It's here that you can find all of th

Dr. Gary Marshall is a small animal veterinarian and practice owner of Island Cats Veterinary Hospital. Along with his  position as an adjunct Professor for Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Marshall is deeply passionate about mentoring the next generation of veterinarians as he often has preceptor students shadowing at this clinic. Keeping with the times, Dr. Marshall took to social media to further provide support to vet students and new grads through his presence on Instagram @it.might.get.weird where he shares his experience as a practitioner. At the start of lockdown Dr. Marshall saw the need in the veterinary student community for CE and collected some of the greatest minds in feline medicine to present Cat Class! The recordings can be found at vetredefined.com Today's episode comes from our recent Instagram Live Q&A session where I talked with Dr. Marshall about Mentorship and what you need to consider when looking for a mentor. Follow Dr. Melanie Bowden @vacati

A few week's ago y'all asked some great questions about internships and residencies. Well, on today's episode I welcomed my friend Dr. Danny Sack to share his experience as an intern with AMC (Animal Medical Center) to answer all of your questions. We discuss topics like:  the application process for internships to residencies the structure of a rotating internship the differences between general practice and internships some of the decision factors you should consider if you are thinking about an internship Danny is a fantastic resource if you have further questions about internships and residencies and you can contact him on Instagram @dr.dannysack or at his website . --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thatvet-life/message

You all sent in some incredible questions last week and in this episode I take some time to answer a few of them. In this episode I answer questions about: studying in vet school how to learn information what the transition from vet student to new grad vet looks like how mentorship made all the difference in starting my new job There are so many other questions about finding jobs and mentors as well as questions about internships and residencies which there just wasn't enough time to cover in today's episode. As such you can be on the lookout in the coming weeks for episodes on those exact topics. Want to get involved in the real time conversation? Join the VETstagram community for the LIVE events on Instagram @thatvetlifepodcast Saturday at 7pm EST. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thatvet-life/message

You asked so here is a full episode based on the conversations that have been developing on Instagram @thatvetlifepodcast. In the last week I put out two posts about resentment and inadequacy in the veterinary profession. The responses were astounding and the level of conversation that occurred in the contents was wonderful to see. Everyone was so edifying and I feel we got to share our thoughts about these two topics. In talking about Resentment in the profession I mostly focused on talking about the importance of good mentorship and I did this through the lens of this idea of +  - = mentorship. This was an idea I first heard about on The Colin and Samir Podcast. It's an idea about the types of mentors you should be looking for and how YOU should be acting as a mentor to those around you that I think we should be modeling more in the profession. The second idea I discuss in this episode is dealing with the feeling of inadequacy and our good ole nemesis 'imposter syndrome.' While no one is immune to it t

Last week on the pod I left you with the question of whether we can teach EMPATHY to medical professionals. The answer is a clear and resounding 'YES!' This week I walk you through one method of teaching that breaks it down into 7 topics and how they each impact how EMPATHY is portrayed in the client-doctor relationship. You can read through this study here:  A Tool to Enhance Nonverbal Communication Between Clinicians and Their Patients,  My favorite quote is from the second sentence of the abstract which states "Many articles do not address nonverbal interactions, instead focusing on “what to say” rather than “how to be.” This focus on verbal communication overlooks the essential role nonverbal signals play in the communication of emotions, which has significant effects on patient satisfaction, health outcomes, and malpractice claims." While it can be difficult to incorporate much of this into today's in-school veterinary education due to time constraints they are inextricably related to improved

If you've ever visited a city or country you've probably found yourself people watching at some point. There is something entertaining about observing how people interact with their environment and the people around them. You could even say there is a different culture to their non-verbal communication with the facial expressions and body language they use. In today's episode I discuss non-verbal communication through the lens of vet med and what it means for our veterinary-client relationships. I explore what non-verbal communication means and how it is intrinsically tied to Emotional Intelligence and thus EMPATHY and how we can be using it to improve patient outcomes and client satisfaction. . Next week we'll explore the question of how EMPATHY can be taught to veterinary and human practitioners by diving into the research that has been conducted in this area. . Did you find value in today's episode? Show your support by leaving a review on itunes or following the podcast on Instagram @ThatVetLifePodcast.

Vet school has gone virtual and while hands on training has been minimized due to COVID, this isn't the only concern vet students have. Without in-person training their communication skills courses have also been put on the backburner leading to fear about when they start their careers in practice. In today's episode I chat with Dr. Monica Tarantino from Vets on the Rise, about this challenge and what it means for students as they transition into practice life in the next 7-8 months. We breakdown the issue and approach it from the ground up as we discuss ways that vet students can be practicing the foundation skills of storytelling even though they can't be in person. We also discuss one of the key factors you, as a veterinarian, need in the exam room and on the phone to establish trust with your client, EMPATHY. When you are able to communicate this essential ability patient outcomes and client satisfaction increase significantly. Check out Vets on the Rise Instagram @vetsontherise Website veterinariansonthe

"The reason for doing it was two fold. One was to tell the story and hopefully inspire other people that they can do something, like what I'm doing, where they are living the way they really want to live... but also doing something to better the places they visit or better the places they live." Sailing, surfing and saving pups. Sounds like a pretty epic way to live as a veterinarian, right? While Dr. Sheridan has created her ideal form of practice living in and working out of her 37ft. sail boat named Chuffed it's not without it's fair share of stressors and struggles which she shares with the world through her YouTube channel Vet Tails' Sailing Chuffed and on her blog vettails.com  In this week's episode I chat with Sheridan, aka Dr. Sheddy about the joys and challenges of working as a mobile veterinarian and sailor. We discuss what it looks like to operate a non-for profit to provide free medical care in a location where she doesn't look or sound like the locals in the communities she works with. I was ins