COS - 201 - Time For GPs To Take Back Skills They Gave Away To Specialists? by Dr. Andy Roark

Tyler Grogan CVT, Creative Marketing Director at Uncharted Veterinary Conference, joins the podcast to discuss her favorite grocery store and how to turn veterinary clients into loyal fans. LINKS: A Piece of the Pie: https://amzn.to/3L74Itz Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/charming-the-angry-client/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and help support the show. (They're also much smaller than normal links and easier to copy when typing up show notes!) ABOUT OUR GUEST: Tyler Grogan is a Certified Veterinary Technician with experience in specialty, emergency and general practice. She currently serves as the Creative Marketing Director for the Uncharted Veterinary Conference where she focuses on brand building, marketing, storytelling across multiple digital platforms, and exploring new ways to elevate the client experience.

COS - 199 - Low - Cost Veterinary Clinical Diagnostics by Dr. Andy Roark

Ken Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC), (SAIM) joins Dr. Andy Roark to talk about how practices actually go through the process of increasing their delegation to and utilization of technicians. LINKS: Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/charming-the-angry-client/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC), (SAIM) During his 20+ years in the field, Ken has dedicated his career to reimagining veterinary nursing. He obtained his VTS certification in emergency and critical care as well as small animal internal medicine and achieved his master's degree in Veterinary Science. He is currently the Chief Veterinary Nursing Officer for Veterinary Emergency Group, and the Program Director for the RECOVER Initiative. Over the years, he has received the Veterinary Technician of the Year award by NAVTA, the Veterinary Technician of the Year award by the California Veterinary Medical Association, the RVT of the Year award by the California RVT Association, and the AVECCTN Specialty Technician of the Year award. Ken co-edited the Veterinary Technician and Nurse’s Daily Reference Guide for Canine and Feline, and the Manual of Veterinary Transfusion Medicine and Blood Banking, and publishes articles and presents internationally on topics in ECC, transfusion medicine, and the veterinary nursing profession. Ken works to bring further recognition of the vital role of the veterinary technicians and nurses through work with organizations, being a Past President of National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, and President of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society. He is also an advocate for the Open Hospital Concept, encouraging veterinary practices to invite the pet owners to “the back” as a part of the team. Ken invites everyone to ask “Why?” to understand the “What” and “How” of our field, and to continually pursue new limits as veterinary professionals and individuals.

Dr. Beth Venit, Chief Veterinary Officer at the American Association of Veterinary State Boards, joins the podcast to discuss veterinary board complaints in the United States and Canada. Dr. Venit explains how board complaints are made, processed and communicated to doctors and technicians. She talks about what to expect at State Board hearings, and what practices are mostly likely to land someone in one of those meetings. Finally, she gives some simple "best practices" to protect your license if you are a veterinarian or technician. LINKS: AAVSB Website: https://aavsb.org/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/charming-the-angry-client/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Beth Venit VMD is a graduate from the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2007. Throughout the area of Washington, DC, she practiced small animal medicine, both ER and GP, as both a full-time associate and a relief veterinarian for the next 12 years. In that time, she earned her Masters of Public Health from the University of Iowa and became a Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. She then worked at the US Department of State, first as a fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and then as a full-time project manager focused on training foreign partners on biorisk management and the prevention of bioterrorism. In 2022, she joined the American Association for Veterinary State Boards as their first Chief Veterinary Officer. In her free time, she enjoys hiking in various parts of the world with her husband (past trips include hiking the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, several 14ers in Colorado, and a successful summit of Kilimanjaro), and being lazy on the couch with her pittie mix, Eleanor Woofsevelt and maine coon / tiger mix, The Chairman Meow.

Dr. Mary Gardner joins the show to talk about when pet owner's don't believe in euthanasia. This can be an emotional experience full of hard conversations for veterinarians. Let's get into it! LINKS: Lap of Love Pet Hospice: https://www.lapoflove.com/ It's Never Long Enough: A practical guide to caring for your geriatric dog: https://amzn.to/3TpvhNi Nine Lives Are Not Enough: A Practical Guide to Caring for Your Geriatric Cat (Old Cat Care and Pet Loss): https://amzn.to/40aEviE Dr. Mary Gardner Homepage: https://www.drmarygardner.com/ Dr. Mary Gardner YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrMaryGardner Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/charming-the-angry-client/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and help support the show. (They're also much smaller than normal links and easier to copy when typing up show notes!) ABOUT OUR GUEST: There is nothing better to Dr. Gardner than a dog with a grey muzzle or skinny old cat! Her professional goal is to increase awareness and medical care for the geriatric veterinary patient and to help make the final life stage to be as peaceful as possible, surrounded with dignity and support for all involved. A University of Florida graduate (AND ANDY’S CLASSMATE!), she discovered her niche in end-of-life care and is the co-founder and CIO of Lap of Love which has over 300 veterinarians around the country dedicated to veterinary hospice and euthanasia in the home. Dr. Gardner and Lap of Love have been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, The New York Times, the Associated Press, The Doctors and numerous professional veterinary publications. She is co-author of the textbook “The Treatment and Care of the Veterinary Patient”, co-author of a children’s activity book focused on saying goodbye to a dog called “Forever Friend”, and the author of a book dedicated to pet owners “It’s Never Long Enough: A practical guide to caring for your geriatric dog”. Dr. Gardner also won VMX Small Animal Speaker of the year in 2020!

Neurologist and Neurosurgeon Dr. Sean Sanders joins the podcast to talk about how General Practice is changing and must continue to change to both reduce veterinarian burnout and increase access to care. Dr. Sanders and Dr. Roark discuss how fragmenting general practice into "wellness" and "urgent care" could potentially benefit doctors, techs and pet owners. They then begin to unpack how innovation is currently being affected by requirements from states around the establishment of VCPRs. LINKS: Booster Pet: https://boosterpet.com/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/charming-the-angry-client/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Sean Sanders is a Veterinary Neurologist and Neurosurgeon in Seattle, Washington, USA. Dr. Sanders is also involved with development, recruitment and operations of BoosterPet in the Greater Seattle area. He received his DVM degree from Washington State University and completed a residency in Neurology and Neurosurgery along with a PhD in Neuroscience relating to the study of Parkinson’s Disease. Dr. Sanders was a founding partner of Seattle Veterinary Specialists and author of “Seizures in Dogs and Cats” published by Wiley Blackwell. Dr. Sanders lectures nationally and internationally on topics related to Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery. In his spare time, he spends time with his wife and their pets, builds wooden boats and classical guitars, restores classic cars and enjoys, sailing, mountain biking, hiking and snowboarding.

Susanne A. Heartsill, DVM, DABVP (Canine and Feline Practice) is the Director of Companion Animal Veterinary Services at Ceva Animal Health. She joins Dr. Andy Roark to discuss Panoquell-CA1, the new drug conditionally approved for acute onset of canine pancreatitis. This episode is sponsored and made possible ad-free by CEVA Animal Health LINKS: CEVA Connect: www.cevaconnect.com PANOQUELL-CA1: IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: The safe use of PANOQUELL®-CA1 has not been evaluated in dogs with cardiac disease, hepatic failure, renal impairment, dogs that are pregnant, lactating, intended for breeding or puppies under 6 months of age. PANOQUELL®-CA1 should not be used in dogs with a known hypersensitivity to fuzapladib sodium. PANOQUELL®-CA1 is a highly protein bound drug and its use with other highly protein bound medications have not been studied. The most common side effects in the pilot field study were anorexia, digestive tract disorders, respiratory tract disorders and jaundice. PANOQUELL®-CA1 is not for use in humans. Limited data is available on the potential teratogenic effects of fuzapladib sodium. Therefore, anyone who is pregnant, breast feeding, or planning to become pregnant should avoid direct contact with PANOQUELL®-CA1. Conditionally approved by FDA pending a full demonstration of effectiveness under application number 141-567. It is a violation of Federal law to use this product other than as directed in the labeling. Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/charming-the-angry-client/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Susanne Heartsill, DVM, DABVP (Canine and Feline Practice) is a 1999 graduate of Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine and is the founder of Downtown Animal Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Heartsill currently serves as the Director of US Companion Animal Veterinary Services at Ceva Animal Health. Dr. Heartsill joined Ceva as a Veterinary Services Manager and Level 3, Fear Free Certified Veterinarian in 2018. In 2020, Dr. Heartsill became the U.S. Cardiology Technical Marketing Manager for Ceva. In this role, she spearheaded the creation and implementation of cardiology education for the U.S. commercial team in preparation for the launch of CARDALISTM. Using experience gained over two decades of clinical practice, she developed cardiology educational resources for the practicing veterinarian and played an integral part in the launch of CARDALISTM. Due to her work in cardiology for Ceva, Dr. Heartsill won the Ceva Circle of Excellence Award in 2020. She has authored and co-authored multiple publications. In 2021, she completed credentialling and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (DABVP) in Canine and Feline Practice. In early 2022, Dr. Heartsill was promoted to Director of US Companion Animal Veterinary Services at Ceva Animal Health. While running her busy small animal practice, Dr. Heartsill served as a key opinion leader for several veterinary advisory councils including Virbac, Q-biotics, and Novartis Animal Health and has been a Regional Field Advocate for IDEXX Laboratories. She has lectured nationally on topics ranging from inventory control and pharmacy management to cardiology, parasitology, laser surgery, behavior, dermatology, pancreatitis and zoonotic diseases. Dr. Heartsill was recognized by the Memphis Business Journal as one of Memphis' Top 40 under 40 and holds a city sponsored beautification award by the Memphis Blue Suede Brigade for her part in real estate and business revitalization in the Memphis Pinch District. Now residing with her family on their hobby farm outside of Auburn, Alabama, Dr. Heartsill enjoys horseback riding, farm life, and the great outdoors.

Dr. Adam Little joins Dr. Andy Roark to discuss what the recent launch of powerful AI tools like ChatGPT will mean for veterinary medicine in the next 5 years. They discuss how AI will impact communication with pet owners, customer service, building practice systems and protocols, and making accurate diagnoses. LINKS: ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/chat Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/charming-the-angry-client/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Adam Little works at the intersection of accelerating technologies and veterinary medicine. His career has spanned areas of focus ranging from artificial intelligence to telemedicine to connected devices. He is the co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of GoFetch Pay where his team is helping create a safety net for every pet. Prior to co-founding GoFetch, he served as the first ever Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship for Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine where he spearheaded such initiatives as the Veterinary Innovation Summit and the Veterinary Entrepreneurship Academy. Dr. Little holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Ontario Veterinary College He is a past Board member of the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, Veterinarians without Borders and the Vet Futures Commission

In January, Dr. Cassi Fleming (of the Vetfolio Voice Podcast) interviewed Dr. Andy Roark on lessons he has learned in his strange and wonderful career. That epsiode of Vetfolio Voice is presented here. LINKS Vetfolio Voice Podcast: https://www.vetfolio.com/pages/podcast-landing-page Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/charming-the-angry-client/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Andy Roark is a practicing veterinarian, international speaker, author, and media personality. He is the founder of the Uncharted Veterinary Conference and DrAndyRoark.com. He has been an award-winning columnist for DVM360 and his popular Facebook page, website, podcast and YouTube show reach millions of people every month. Dr. Roark has received the NAVC Practice Management Speaker of the Year Award three times, the WVC Practice Management Educator of the Year Award, the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Veterinarian of the Year Award from the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians. His greatest achievement however involves marrying a bad-ass scientist and raising 2 kind and wonderful daughters.

Mira Johnson CVPM CPA joins Dr. Andy Roark to talk about opportunities many veterinary practices are missing to lighten their load and speed up their work through automation. In this episode, Mira discusses the benefits of decreasing human interaction in systems that are repeated (or simply are not enjoyable). She talks about identifying bottlenecks in practice and how to get started with the "core systems" a practice runs on. Dr. Roark explores how practices can calculate ROI for investing in automation, and asks about the most common pitfalls that practices fall into when beginning a path to greater efficiency through automation. LINKS: JF Bell Group - https://cpasforveterinarians.com/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/charming-the-angry-client/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Mira Johnson holds a Masters' Degree in Financial Management and Accounting is a CPA, and is a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager. She is a managing partner in the JF Bell Group, CPAs for Veterinarians. Mira's passion is helping veterinarians to start, manage and grow the practice of their dreams. She embraces the use of apps to help automate the business side of their practice. Her articles about financial automation and employee motivation have been published in Today’s Veterinary Business and dvm360.

Dr. Niccole Bruno joins Dr. Andy Roark to talk about an outstanding event she put on at the VMX conference, A Day in Veterinary Medicine, and her company Blend.Vet. Niccole discusses the "pipeline problem" in veterinary medicine, and the lack of progress we have made (compared to the aspirations of our schools and profession, at least). She talks about what representation and inclusion look like in our education process and also in our practices. Andy and Niccole talk about the intersection of DEI and hospital culture, and the opportunities for growth commonly found in veterinary clinics. Finally, Niccole lays out some clear action steps that practices can make to improve their culture and support equity and inclusion in our profession. LINKS: Blend - DEIB Certifications: https://www.blend.vet/ Pawsibilities - https://www.pawsibilitiesvetmed.com/ PRIDE VMC - https://pridevmc.org/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/charming-the-angry-client/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Niccole Bruno is the CEO & Founder of blendvet, a veterinary hospital certification program in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB). She became interested in veterinary medicine as a child but lacked mentorship until she attended Tuskegee University for her undergraduate studies. Seeing representation and receiving support from her professors and classmates made the dream of pursuing veterinary medicine a reality. She attended Cornell University for veterinary school and along with her classmates became the founders of VOICE, a student organization to promote and celebrate diversity and inclusion. VOICE is now a national veterinary student organization and has since changed its name to Veterinary Students as One Inclusive Community for Empowerment. Dr Bruno graduated from Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. Dr Bruno has practiced in small animal medicine and surgery for over 16 years, both in NYC/Long Island and Houston, TX. She has served in hospital leadership roles for over eight years. Dr Bruno realized the value leadership has in creating a diverse and inclusive hospital culture. As Medical Director, she became intentional in recruitment and retention of diverse individuals while creating a space for them to thrive. She continues to pay it forward by dedicating much of her time to speaking and mentoring students from all stages of the pipeline to increase representation for Black, Indigenous and People Of Color (BIPOC) students into the profession. Following completion of the Purdue University Diversity and Inclusion certificate program in 2020, her awareness, continual exploration, and study into the diversity deficiencies of our profession, ignited her vision to create blendvet. Dr Bruno hopes that blendvet can be transformational, creating a space for collaborative learning for individuals and teams in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB). Through blendvet, Dr. Bruno will be executing pipeline programs at veterinary conferences to help promote and advance veterinary medicine for underrepresented students. Dr. Bruno currently remains a member of the Cornell University Advisory Council, serves as an Advisory Board member for Pawsibillities, a mentorship platform and is a facilitator for MentorVet. In her spare time, she enjoys activities with her husband and two children, Cole and Addison. She loves traveling, her Peloton, football and binge-watching her favorite shows. She has a 15-year-old Shihpoo named Jimmy Choo and a Siamese mix cat named Sushi Roll.

The days of veterinarians owning the majority of veterinary practices seem to be permanently behind us. Does this mean that practice ownership by veterinary healthcare providers is coming to an end? Economist Dr. Matthew Salois joins the podcast to discuss the future of ownership and equity in veterinary medicine. LINKS: Veterinary Study Groups: https://www.veterinarystudygroups.com/ Uncharted Veterinary Conference: https://unchartedvet.com/upcoming-events/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Matthew Salois, PhD is currently the President of the Veterinary Study Groups, Inc. (VSG), where he is responsible for enhancing the economic and cultural success of more than 1,800 veterinary member practices. Most recently, Matt was the chief economist and head of the veterinary economics division at the AVMA between 2018 and 2022, where he applied his skills in economics, business, and communication to support the daily lives of veterinarians. From 2014 to 2018, he served as director of global scientific affairs and policy at Elanco Animal Health, supervising a team of scientists in veterinary medicine, human medicine, animal welfare, economics and sustainability. His group devised and executed scientific engagement strategy, and built collaborative partnerships with universities, non-profit associations and scientific societies. Matt is also an adjunct professor of applied economics at the University of Florida, where he previously taught and advised graduate and undergraduate students. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Economics from the University of Florida and holds an M.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Health Services Administration from the University of Central Florida.

Dr. Bonnie Price, Director of Lincoln Memorial University’s Master of Veterinary Clinical Care Program, joins the podcast to discuss LMU's new master's program for technicians, its objectives and the pushback against the program. Dr. Price and Dr. Andy Roark also discuss the current state of technician credentialing and what the future looks like for the technician profession. LINKS: LMU Master's of Veterinary Clinical Care: https://www.lmunet.edu/college-of-veterinary-medicine/graduate-programs/master-of-veterinary-clinical-care Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/charming-the-angry-client/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Bonnie Price has worked in veterinary education eight years and currently serves as the Director of Lincoln Memorial University’s Master of Veterinary Clinical Care Program, the first MS program in the US designed specifically for credentialed veterinary technicians to build on the knowledge and skills learned in AVMA CVTEA accredited programs. Dr. Price is the former chair of the LMU’s Department of Veterinary Health Science and Technology at LMU and led the department through curriculum revisions, new program development, and enrollment growth. Dr. Price has lectured for undergraduates, graduate, and professional students across multiple disciplines (including veterinary technology, pre-vet, pre-med, nursing, conservation biology, master’s students, medical students, and veterinary students) with the goal of creating interdisciplinary collaborations and developing leadership skills very early in students’ training. Before training in veterinary public health, they completed their undergraduate work in anthropology and biochemistry and participated in primate fieldwork and conservation studies throughout Central America and West Africa, which fostered a strong commitment to culturally competent and multidisciplinary approaches to improve health and wellness at the interface of animals, humans, and the environment. Dr. Price serves on the Board of Directors for Pawsibilities VetMed, which aims to actively increase the diversity of the veterinary profession based on gender, race, ethnicity, non-traditional career path, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religion, disability status, and veteran status through a novel pipeline approach to recruitment and retention. Dr. Price is also an active member of PrideVMC’s Mentorship Working Group and DEI Working Group, which exists to promote and uphold PrideVMC’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion among its members, the larger LGBTQ+ community, the field of veterinary medicine, and all communities served by veterinary medicine. Dr. Price earned a BS in Biochemistry, a BA in Anthropology, and a DVM and MPH from the University of TN.

Veterinary cardiologist Dr. Anna McManamey joins the podcast to give us a quick and dirty refresher on the Congestive Heart Failure drugs just about every clinic is carrying. This is a great episode that is perfect for anyone who wants to dust off their cardiology drug knowledge and feel comfortable with the congestive heart failure tools on your vet clinic shelf. Drugs Included in this episode: Furosemide Pimobendan Clopidogrel Atenolol Amlodapine Analypryl Spironolactone LINKS Cardiac Education Group: https://cardiaceducationgroup.org/ Practice Managers' Summit - March 22, 2023 https://unchartedvet.com/upcoming-events/ Uncharted Veterinary Conference - April 20-22, 2023 https://unchartedvet.com/uvc-april-2023/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. McManamey (aka Dr. Mac) is a veterinary cardiologist. She received her degree of veterinary medicine from the University of Missouri. She then completed a rotating internship at the Ohio State University followed by an emergency and critical care internship at North Carolina State University. She finished her cardiology residency at North Carolina State University and became an ACVIM diplomate in 2021. Dr. Mac is currently an assistant clinical professor at Purdue University in Indiana. Cardiology is her favorite subject because it can be made as simple or as complex as needed. Furthermore, every animal has a heart and that means Dr. Mac gets to work with all kinds of species. Her areas of interest within cardiology are echocardiogram, congenital heart disease and interventional procedures, as well as emergency management of cardiac disease. She has a very supportive and patient husband along with three canine fur-children, one of which had a patent ductus arteriosus (of course).

Ken Yagi MS, RVT, VTS joins the podcast to talk about an unaccredited veterinary technician apprenticeship in the state of Washington, the quagmire that is technician certification standardization, the term "Veterinary Nurse" and how practices can change the way they leverage their support staff. LINKS: Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG): www.VEG.com NAVTA: www.NAVTA.org Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/charming-the-angry-client/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC), (SAIM) During his 20 years in the field, Ken has discovered and refined his role as a veterinary technician by promoting compassionate and progressive care for patients and their families. He obtained his VTS certification in emergency and critical care as well as small animal internal medicine and achieved his master's degree in Veterinary Science. He is currently the Chief Veterinary Nursing Officer for Veterinary Emergency Group and the Program Director for the RECOVER Initiative. He has been awarded the NAVTA Veterinary Technician of the Year award in 2016, the California Veterinary Medical Association Veterinary Technician of the Year award in 2016, and the California RVT Association of the Year award in 2017. Ken has co-edited the Manual of Veterinary Transfusion Medicine and Blood Banking and has published various text chapters and articles in various publications. He gives presentations internationally on topics in ECC, transfusion medicine, and the veterinary nursing profession. Ken works to encourage further recognition of the vital role of the veterinary nurses and technicians through work with organizations such as the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America co-chairing the Veterinary Nurse Initiative and serving as a board member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society, the Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians and Nurses, and the Veterinary Innovation Council. He is also an advocate for the Open Hospital Concept, encouraging veterinary practices to invite the pet owners to “the back” as a part of the team. Ken invites everyone to ask “Why?” to understand the “What” and “How” of our field, and to continually pursue new limits as veterinary professionals and individuals.

Sheri Gilmartin, head of data services at Vetsource, joins the podcast today to break down data on what happened in 2022 at over 6500 veterinary practices across the United States. In short, patient visits were down and prices were up, but the story is much more complicated than that. Let's get into it! LINKS: Practice Managers' Summit - March 22, 2023 https://unchartedvet.com/upcoming-events/ Uncharted Veterinary Conference - April 20-22, 2023 https://unchartedvet.com/uvc-april-2023/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Sheri Gilmartin is a Credentialed Veterinary Technician and has been working in the veterinary industry for 30 years. She started her career in a small animal hospital outside of Boston MA where she worked as a technician for 8 years. In 2000, she made the move to Industry and has held various positions in sales and marketing at Hill's Pet Nutrition, Vetsource, Patterson, and VetSuccess. In 2018, Vetsource acquired VetSuccess, where Sheri leads sales of Data Services today.

Dr. Karen Felsted joins the podcast to explain the rollercoaster ride that has been the veterinary practice sale market over the last 5-10 years. If you are interested in understanding corporate consolidation in the veterinary industry, or in one day buying or owning a veterinary practice yourself, this episode is not to be missed! LINKS: PantheraT: https://www.pantherat.com/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Felsted is a CPA as well as a veterinarian and has spent the last 20 years working as a financial and operational consultant to veterinary practices and the animal health industry. She is active in multiple veterinary organizations, has written an extensive number of articles for a wide range of veterinary publications and speaks regularly at national and international veterinary meetings. In 2011 and 2017, she was awarded the Western Veterinary Conference Practice Management Continuing Educator of the Year and in 2014, the VetPartners Distinguished Life Member Award.

Veterinary cardiologist Dr. Anna McManamey joins the podcast to talk about how she approaches the coughing cat. Is this a cardiology problem, or is it something else? If it is a cardiac problem, how do we even get diagnostics without putting the patient in danger? All that and more on this episode! LINKS ACVIM Consensus Statements: https://www.acvim.org/news-publications/consensus-statements Practice Managers' Summit - March 22, 2023 https://unchartedvet.com/upcoming-events/ Uncharted Veterinary Conference - April 20-22, 2023 https://unchartedvet.com/uvc-april-2023/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. McManamey (aka Dr. Mac) is a veterinary cardiologist. She received her degree of veterinary medicine from the University of Missouri. She then completed a rotating internship at the Ohio State University followed by an emergency and critical care internship at North Carolina State University. She finished her cardiology residency at North Carolina State University and became an ACVIM diplomate in 2021. Dr. Mac is currently an assistant clinical professor at Purdue University in Indiana. Cardiology is her favorite subject because it can be made as simple or as complex as needed. Furthermore, every animal has a heart and that means Dr. Mac gets to work with all kinds of species. Her areas of interest within cardiology are echocardiogram, congenital heart disease and interventional procedures, as well as emergency management of cardiac disease. She has a very supportive and patient husband along with three canine fur-children, one of which had a patent ductus arteriosus (of course).

Dr. Katie Cutter, co-founder of BoosterPet, joins Dr. Andy Roark to explain how her practices utilize in-person veterinary technicians and remote veterinarians to provide wellness care to pets. LINKS: BoosterPet: https://boosterpet.com/ Uncharted April Conference (April 20-22): https://unchartedvet.com/uvc-april-2023/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Katie Cutter is a North Carolina native. She received both her BS and DVM from North Carolina State University. She then completed her small animal rotating internship in 2001 and her comparative ophthalmology residency in 2004 at Cornell University. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 2004. After spending time in private practice, Katie and her husband opened boutique specialty practices in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. Katie recently co-founded BoosterPet with other like-minded veterinary revolutionaries who seek to make positive changes in the veterinary space. Katie and her husband have three kids, Zander (14), Zac (12), and Zoie (3), all to be run by the queen of the house, their Boxer named Sophie.

Dr. Tannetje’ Crocker joins Dr. Andy Roark to talk about the idea of "intentional discounting." What happens when veterinarians are able to openly discount (or even give away) services to pet owners in need? Let's get into it! LINKS: Dr. Crocker's Homepage: www.drcrockerpetvet.com Uncharted Veterinary Conference - April 20-22, 2023 https://unchartedvet.com/uvc-april-2023/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Tannetje’ Crocker is a 2009 graduate from the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is passionate about mentorship and empowering veterinary professionals to embrace the profession and find joy and success. Growing up Dr. Crocker competed on horses and was inspired to become a veterinarian. Since graduation she has worked as an equine ambulatory vet, small animal general practitioner, and emergency veterinarian. She currently lives in Texas with her spirited 10 year old daughter, funny 6 year old son, and supportive husband of 16 years. She works as an ER Veterinarian for Veterinary Emergency Group in Dallas, TX. Recently she was excited to purchase Alta Vista Animal Hospital in Fort Worth, TX. She plans to continue her support of fellow veterinary professionals, both virtually and in person through her various endeavors.

The original Anesthesia Nerd, Tasha McNerney, is back on the podcast! In this pearl-packed episode, Tasha runs through her anesthesia crash cart and breaks down what she has ready to go and why. This is an excellent refresher for anyone who wants to cement their emergency anesthesia drugs into memory. LINKS: Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds: https://www.veterinaryanesthesianerds.com/ Recover Initiative Drug Chart: https://acvecc-recover.org/ Uncharted Veterinary Conference - April 20-22 - https://unchartedvet.com/uvc-april-2023/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Tasha McNerney obtained her CVT in 2005 and has worked clinically in the areas of anesthesia and surgery ever since. Tasha obtained her CVPP (certified veterinary pain practitioner) designation in 2013 and became a veterinary technician specialist in anesthesia in 2015. Tasha has been a featured speaker on various anesthesia and pain management topics at several international veterinary conferences. Tasha is the author of many articles and blogs on anesthesia and pain management related topics. In 2013 Tasha created the Facebook group Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds, which has over 65,000 members taking part in education and exchange of ideas from all over the world! Tasha is crazy and bought a 1920's fixer upper and is now obsessed with home improvement tutorials on YouTube. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, son, one perfect cat, and one jerk cat. Trust me that cat is a jerk.

As the gold standard of care (and price of medicine) go higher and higher, is it time to get serious about formalizing a spectrum of care approach? Dr. Emily Tincher, Senior Director of Veterinary Relations at Nationwide Pet Insurance, joins the podcast to talk about combining evidence-based medicine and advanced client communication strategies to protect and improve accessibility and affordability of veterinary care. **This episode of the Cone of Shame is made possible ad-free by Nationwide Pet Insurance ** LINKS: Nationwide Veterinary Analytics: https://www.petinsurance.com/veterinarians/research/ JAVMA spectrum of care publications – https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/259/7/javma.259.7.712.xml Preparing Veterinary Students... Spectrum of Care: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/259/5/javma.259.5.463.xml Vetsuccess Industry Tracker: https://vetsuccess.com/resources/veterinary-industry-tracker/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Emily Tincher is a collaborative and data-driven leader who advocates for a pet-parent centered approach to communication and medicine through spectrum of care approaches. She is a second-generation veterinarian and a 2016 Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine graduate. Emily has practiced clinically in small animal emergency and general practice. As the Senior Director of Veterinary Relations at Nationwide Pet, she oversees operations and strategy in the veterinary space, including industry relationships and outreach to veterinary students, veterinarians, and veterinary teams. Emily serves on the AVMA Early Career Development Committee and is President of the Board of Directors for the Veterinary Leadership Institute. Outside of veterinary medicine, Emily enjoys traveling with her husband Kyle, competing with her horse (Blue) in the sport of Eventing, and endlessly spoiling her two perfect dogs (Tuxedo and Cricket) and rotten orange tabby (Exploding Poptart).

Dr. Kate Boatright joins the podcast to discuss her recent article on veterinary school admissions and demographic trends. LINKS: The Next Generation of Veterinarians (Article): https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/the-next-generation-of-veterinarians/?oly_enc_id=5467B7086134E1Y The Boy Crisis: Why Our Boys are Struggling and What We Can Do About It - https://amzn.to/3gNeG70 Pawsibilities Vet Med: https://www.pawsibilitiesvetmed.com/ Journey for Teams: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/diversity-and-inclusion-veterinary-medicine/journey-teams Blend: https://www.blend.vet/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and help support the show. (They're also much smaller than normal links and easier to copy when typing up show notes!) ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Kate Boatright has been in small animal practice since graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 2013. After nearly 8 years of full time practice in both general practice and emergency clinics, she moved to part-time clinical work to pursue her passion for educating veterinary professionals as a freelance speaker and author. Dr. Boatright enjoys discussing mentorship, the unique challenges facing recent graduates, wellness, and the spectrum of care. She believes deeply in the role of organized veterinary medicine and holds leadership positions in the AVMA and her local and state VMAs. She is a former national officer of the VBMA and was a founding member of the VBMA Alumni. In her remaining time, she stays busy chasing her toddler, running, reading, and watching movies with her husband and cats.

Fritz Wood, a renowned animal health consultant and advisor, joins Dr. Andy Roark to talk about pricing in veterinary medicine. Are increasing prices justified by inflationary pressures and rising costs of living? Do pet owners agree and/or accept this? What are the potential benefits and pitfalls of veterinary clinics raising prices? Should they do fewer large raises or more frequent smaller raises? The discussion ends with a conversation about the impact of corporate medicine and the coming future of telemedicine. LINKS: Fritz Wood Website: https://www.fritzwood.com/ Uncharted Veterinary Conference: https://unchartedvet.com/uvc-april-2023/ AAHA Veterinary Fee Reference (2020 edition): https://amzn.to/3W2lWeU Profitsolver: https://profitsolver.com/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and help support the show. (They're also much smaller than normal links and easier to copy when typing up show notes!) ABOUT OUR GUEST: Fritz Wood owns and operates an animal health consulting practice in Kansas City. He’s focused on the business of veterinary medicine for more than 30 years, conducting important research on veterinary productivity and attributes of high-performing practices. Fritz is an author, speaker, business consultant, and key opinion leader. He was on the Editorial Advisory Board of Veterinary Economics, Veterinary Team Brief, and Today’s Veterinary Business. He’s authored scores of articles related to the business of veterinary medicine and personal finance. He often presents at local, state, regional, national and international veterinary conferences. Fritz holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Business Administration from the University of Kansas (1986). For decades, he was actively licensed as a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner. Fritz is also affiliated with a personal financial planning, investment management, and 401(k) practice, where they help people reach their lifetime goals. His pre-vet experience included nine years as a management consultant with a top global consultancy.

Simone Guerios, Clinical Assistant Professor of Shelter Medicine at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine joins the podcast to discuss her recently published research on the long-lasting impact of the 2020 pandemic on dog and cat overpopulation. LINKS: COVID-19 associated reduction in elective spay-neuter surgeries for dogs and cats: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.912893/full Online Graduate Certificate In Shelter Medicine (UF): https://onlinesheltermedicine.vetmed.ufl.edu/programs/graduate-certificate-in-shelter-medicine/ UF Veterinary Shelter Medicine Clerkship: https://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/2022/05/09/uf-veterinary-students-gain-shelter-medicine-skills-through-clerkship/ Veterinary Community Outreach Program (VCOP): https://sacs.vetmed.ufl.edu/programs/vcop/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Simone Guerios, DVM, MS, PhD I’m a Clinical Assistant Professor of Shelter Medicine and Coordinator of the Shelter Medicine Practice elective, at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. This course is a full-time two-week clinical rotation for 3rd and 4th year veterinary students at the Alachua County Animal Resources and Care. In my position, I focus on training and educating students to make veterinarians ready for shelter practice. My research focuses on clinical problems that affect the health and well-being of companion animals, with the aim of developing practical and reliable surgical procedures often performed on shelter animals, thus providing solutions for shelter veterinarians. The use of innovative, low-cost, and simple surgical techniques offers shelter animals alternatives that can save lives, increase the adoption of shelter animals, and reduce euthanasia rates. Prior to accepting a faculty position at University of Florida, I worked as a Clinical Associate Professor in Soft Tissue Surgery and Surgical Oncology at Federal University of Parana, Brazil. I started working with shelter medicine in Brazil, where I co-founded a spay-neuter program for the local low-income community. This outreach program also provided community education, including public health, zoonosis and animal welfare.

Are continuously rising prices in veterinary medicine inevitable, or is there a way to provide higher wages and better care while keeping costs reasonable? Economist Dr. Matthew Salois joins Dr. Andy Roark to discuss the economics of pricing in veterinary medicine. LINKS: Veterinary Study Groups: https://www.veterinarystudygroups.com/ Uncharted Veterinary Conference: https://unchartedvet.com/upcoming-events/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Matthew Salois, PhD is currently the President of the Veterinary Study Groups, Inc. (VSG), where he is responsible for enhancing the economic and cultural success of more than 1,800 veterinary member practices. Most recently, Matt was the chief economist and head of the veterinary economics division at the AVMA between 2018 and 2022, where he applied his skills in economics, business, and communication to support the daily lives of veterinarians. From 2014 to 2018, he served as director of global scientific affairs and policy at Elanco Animal Health, supervising a team of scientists in veterinary medicine, human medicine, animal welfare, economics and sustainability. His group devised and executed scientific engagement strategy, and built collaborative partnerships with universities, non-profit associations and scientific societies. Matt is also an adjunct professor of applied economics at the University of Florida, where he previously taught and advised graduate and undergraduate students. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Economics from the University of Florida and holds an M.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Health Services Administration from the University of Central Florida.

What happens when general practitioners feel stuck and need something different? Dr. Catherine Ruggiero joins the podcast to discuss her diverse and winding career, and what is involved in leaving general practice to become a veterinary specialist. LINKS: Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Catherine Ruggiero is a board certified veterinary nutritionist® and Scientific Communications Specialist for Hill's. She completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine training at the University of Missouri in 2014. Prior to that, she received a Bachelor of Science at St. Lawrence University and a Master of Science in Biological Sciences at Fordham University. She was an associate veterinarian at a small animal veterinary practice in Upstate New York for just over three years before returning to the University of Missouri to pursue residency training in small animal clinical nutrition. Upon completion of an ACVN residency program in 2019, Dr. Ruggiero joined Hill's Pet Nutrition as a Consulting Clinician in VCS before joining the Scientific Affairs team.

Dr. Bob Lester, CMO of Wellhaven Pet Health, joins Dr. Andy Roark to discuss his recent article in Today's Veterinary Business Magazine. The topic is "Home On Time (H.O.T.)" - prioritizing staff wellness and setting systems, tools and boundaries to get staff members out of the building on time. LINKS: Uncharted Veterinary Conference: https://unchartedvet.com/upcoming-events/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Lester remains as passionate about the veterinary profession as the day he entered veterinary school (sometime last century). He is a firm believer in the veterinary profession's double bottom line proposition of doing well by doing good. Dr. Lester is a graduate of Oregon State and Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and completed the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges Leadership Academy. He spent his early career as a small-town mixed animal practice owner before joining the founding leadership team at Banfield Pet Hospitals. At Banfield, he held positions in medicine, operations, franchising, human resources, and professional relations. After a rewarding career at Banfield/Mars Inc., he left as Vice President of Professional Relations to help found the Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine where he served as Assistant Dean. Dr. Lester’s LMU-CVM team pioneered a novel community-based clinical education program and developed the professional skills curriculum including instruction in communication, leadership, teamwork, and practice management. Bob is now a co-founder, Chief Medical Officer, and member of the Board of Directors for WellHaven Pet Health, a family of companion animal practices that believes in caring for the caregivers so that they can care for others. WellHaven Pet Hospitals are both new build full-service AAHA/Fear Free hospitals, acquired and joint venture affiliate practices. Bob was a two-time gubernatorial appointee and Chair of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board. He was the state delegate to the American Association of Veterinary State Boards. He served as a site team member for the AVMA Council on Education, and on the Job Analysis Task Force for the International Council for Veterinary Assessment. Dr. Lester authors the column “Creative Disruption” for Today’s Veterinary Business. In addition to his board position at WellHaven Pet Health, he serves as a board member and Treasurer of Pet Peace of Mind a non-profit which keeps hospice patients together with their pets through the end of life. He also serves as Vice President of the board of the North American Veterinary Community, and on the advisory boards of easyvetclinic, Pet Desk, AirVet, and the LMU College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Lester’s interests include all things veterinary, writing, start-ups, speaking, business and leadership development, the human-animal bond, and giving back to the profession that has done so much for him and others. His family includes his wife Crystal, two amazing daughters McKenzie and Paige, and two rescue Yorkie’s Jessie and Woody.

Dr. Caitlin DeWilde joins the podcast to discuss modern veterinary marketing, how we communicate with pet owners when our caseloads are overflowing, and what the future of pet owner communications may look like. LINKS Caitlin DeWilde: @thesocialdvm Social Media and Marketing for Veterinary Professionals: https://amzn.to/3DgGrMA Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and help support the show. (They're also much smaller than normal links and easier to copy when typing up show notes!) ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Caitlin DeWilde is the founder of The Social DVM, a consulting firm devoted to helping veterinary professionals learn how to manage and grow their social media, online reputation and marketing strategies. Working with large industry groups and individual practices alike, Caitlin and her team are passionate about translating the “geek speak” to “veterinary speak,” and helping vets reach more clients and pets. Caitlin is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and a recipient of their Outstanding Young Alumni Award, and also an alum of the AVMA’s Future Leaders Program. She served as medical director for a large AAHA/Fear Free/Cat-Friendly certified hospital in St. Louis before stepping back to focus on her marketing passion. Today, she divides her time between practice, consulting, and writing. She is the author of a new book, “Social Media and Marketing for Veterinary Professionals,” and a columnist for Today’s Veterinary Business.

Mira Johnson CPA, CVPM joins Dr. Andy Roark to discuss embezzlement in veterinary medicine. In an AAHA survey, 86% of respondents said employees had stolen from their clinic. Why does this happen so commonly in our industry? Who is responsible and what motivates the behavior? What can practices do about it? LINKS: JF Bell Group: https://cpasforveterinarians.com/ Practice Owner Summit: https://unchartedvet.com/practice-owner-summit-2022/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Mira Johnson holds a Masters' Degree in Financial Management and Accounting is a CPA, and is a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager. She is a managing partner in the JF Bell Group, CPAs for Veterinarians. Mira's passion is helping veterinarians to start, manage and grow the practice of their dreams. She embraces the use of apps to help automate the business side of their practice. Her articles about financial automation and employee motivation have been published in Today’s Veterinary Business and dvm360.

Dr. Andy Roark takes more questions from the mailbag! Questions in this episode: How involved should associate veterinarians be with boarding in the clinic? Phone etiquette when trying to help non-clients on the phone who need assistance but they can't be seen due to lack of appointment availability What are the best things to do for your staff on one of those crazy days when everything is on fire to keep them motivated ? What's the best thing to do when you're feeling overwhelmed? What advice would you give those that have trouble making boundaries at work? How do you bridge the gap between “front and back”? How do you coach someone that gives very blunt delivery of feedback and rubs people the wrong way? LINKS Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Andy Roark is a practicing veterinarian in Greenville SC and the founder of the Uncharted Veterinary Conference. He has received the NAVC Practice Management Speaker of the Year Award three times, the WVC Practice Management Educator of the Year Award, the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Veterinarian of the Year Award from the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians.

Mark Cushing Joins Dr. Andy Roark to review recent trends and policy battles in veterinary medicine. He discusses the veterinary labor shortage, telemedicine, nurse practitioners, lawsuit damages and CBD regulation. He also gives his predictions for the midterm 2022 elections and how they will impact veterinary medicine in the coming year. LINKS Practice Owner Summit: https://unchartedvet.com/practice-owner-summit-2022/ Pet Nation: https://amzn.to/3yNT8gj Animal Policy Group: https://animalpolicygroup.com/ Mark Cushing Website: https://www.marklcushing.com/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Mark is the Founder and Managing Partner of the Animal Policy Group, LLC, based in Scottsdale, AZ, Portland, OR, and Los Angeles. APG’s clients represent a wide-range of pet health, animal welfare and veterinary educational interests. Mark focuses his practice on providing high-level strategic advice, government advocacy, regulatory and policy services to animal health and veterinary clients with needs at any level of government, and universities and industry groups throughout North America. Mark is a frequent speaker at veterinary medicine and other animal policy conferences. He is a former partner of major regional and national law firms and served as an adjunct professor of law at the LMU Duncan School of Law in Knoxville, Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, and the University of Oregon School of Law. He is an Honors graduate with distinction from Stanford University and the Willamette University College of Law. Most recently, Mark is the author of Pet Nation, a book released by Penguin Random House that illustrates an inside look at the forces behind how our pets transformed American society and culture.

Dr. Andy Roark does the FIRST EVER Live-Stream episode of the Cone of Shame. This episode was streamed into the Uncharted Veterinary Community and features a Q&A session. Questions in this episode: I'm overwhelmed. Do you recommend I just cut back hours and turn people away? How do you tell an employee she/he has a "Resting B@#$ Face"? What can you do to “reset” when you are spiraling into negativity? What are the top 5 soft skills you look for in an employee? What are your top 5 educational opportunities for CSR's, Techs, Assistants, etc. Do you have a script for an irate client on the phone? Best decision making tool for prioritizing changes in a newly purchased practice? LINKS Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Andy Roark is a practicing veterinarian in Greenville SC and the founder of the Uncharted Veterinary Conference. He has received the NAVC Practice Management Speaker of the Year Award three times, the WVC Practice Management Educator of the Year Award, the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Veterinarian of the Year Award from the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians.

Dr. Tannetje' Crocker, a practicing emergency room veterinarian and social media personality joins Dr. Andy Roark to discuss how work overwhelm is pitting emergency vets and general practitioners against each other. LINKS: Uncharted Practice Owner Summit: https://unchartedvet.com/practice-owner-summit-2022/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Tannetje’ Crocker is a 2009 graduate from the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is passionate about mentorship and empowering veterinary professionals to embrace the profession and find joy and success. Growing up Dr. Crocker competed on horses and was inspired to become a veterinarian. Since graduation she has worked as an equine ambulatory vet, small animal general practitioner, and emergency veterinarian. She currently lives in Texas with her spirited 10 year old daughter, funny 6 year old son, and supportive husband of 16 years. She works as an ER Veterinarian for Veterinary Emergency Group in Dallas, TX. Recently she was excited to purchase Alta Vista Animal Hospital in Fort Worth, TX. She plans to continue her support of fellow veterinary professionals, both virtually and in person through her various endeavors. Follow her veterinary journey @dr.tannetje.crocker or www.drcrockerpetvet.com

Dr. Traci Zager joins the podcast to talk about the role pets can play in domestic violence and keeping people in dangerous places. She discusses how animal abuse and domestic abuse are often linked, the Purple Leash Project and how initiatives like these can aid people seeking shelter from domestic violence. She talks about what every veterinary professional should know, and how we can use our knowledge and skills to make a difference in our own communities. LINKS: The Purple Leash Project: https://redrover.org/the-purple-leash-project/ Red Rover: https://redrover.org/ OVMA Education Resources (Animal Abuse): https://www.ohiovma.org/veterinarians/resources/abuse.html Safe Place For Pets: https://www.safeplacepets.org/ National Link Coalition: https://nationallinkcoalition.org/ Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Traci Zager received her B.S. in Biology with Chemistry minor from California University of Pennsylvania. She then completed her MBA from Youngstown State University and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University. After graduation, she worked as a small animal and exotics veterinarian in Northeast Ohio before joining Nestlé Purina PetCare as a full time Veterinary Communications Manager in 2021. In addition to small animal medicine and nutrition, Traci has special interests in companion animal behavior and education. She currently teaches courses online to veterinary technician students at her Alma Mater CalU of PA, as well as continuing to practice small animal/exotics medicine on the weekend. Dr. Zager also served on the Animal Abuse Reporting Taskforce for the Ohio VMA, which helped to create educational materials on abuse reporting for Ohio Veterinarians. This taskforce was so important because legislation was recently passed to make Ohio a mandatory reporting state for all veterinarians. Dr. Zager also occasionally helps her local AWL with abuse cases. Fun fact: Dr. Traci Zager is a new mom of a beautiful little boy named Jameson Henry Zager!

Dr. Amy Pike joins the podcast to discuss behavior screening in general practice! Dr. Pike was recommended by multiple listeners to the podcast because of her lecture The 6 M's of Treating and Behavior Disorder in Practice. One listener even said the lecture helped their practice become better equipped to handle or rear behavior cases! The 6 M's are: 1) Medical Rule Out 2) Mental Enrichment 3) Management 4) Modification of behavior 5 Medications and Products 6) Monitor and Modify the Plan LINKS: Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and help support the show. (They're also much smaller than normal links and easier to copy when typing up show notes!) Kong Products: https://www.kongcompany.com/ Doc & Phoebe's Indoor Hunting Cat Feeder: https://amzn.to/3R9Dnr2 Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Canine and Feline Behavior - https://amzn.to/3R6Vhuj Decoding Your Cat: https://amzn.to/3wrD4Qe Decoding Your Dog: https://amzn.to/3pKVA2p Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Pike is a native Arizonan and graduated from Colorado State University’s school of veterinary medicine in 2003. Working as an Army veterinarian after graduation and taking care of the Military Working Dogs returning from deployment spurred her interests in behavior medicine. Dr. Pike completed a Residency program and became board certified in 2015. She is owner of the Animal Behavior Wellness Center and was recently named one of the “Top Veterinarians of Northern Virginia” by NoVa Magazine for the sixth year in a row. Dr. Pike speaks all over the world about veterinary behavior medicine, she has been published in numerous veterinary journals, she has conducted and published two scientific research studies, and is a contributing author in five clinical text books. She mentors 4 clinical behavior residents and is a clinical instructor for E-training for dogs and the Masters Program in Applied Animal Behavior at Virginia Tech. She is an advisory board member for Royal Canin, Fear Free, and the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, and is a consultant for Chewy, Inc. In her (fairly non-existent) spare time, she enjoys gardening and hanging out with her active-duty Army husband of 20 years, their 14 yr old daughter, and 9 yr old son, and their menagerie- Dobby (6 yr old Devon Rex), Ike (4 yr old Giant Schnauzer), Scooby (2 yr old, Mini schnauzer), Ginny (10 month old Airedale), Prickles (1 yr old Hedge Hog) and Pavlov (16 week old Indian Ringneck Parakeet).

Economist Matt Salois, Ph.D. joins Dr. Andy Roark to discuss the driving economic forces in the veterinary profession today. They discuss the impact of corporatization across the profession, how private equity is changing the way practices operate, and how buying practices at ridiculously high prices is supposed to pay off in profits. They also discuss rising wages in the profession (which are good!) and rising costs to pet owners (which are bad!). Will the price of veterinary services really DOUBLE in 7-10 years? What can we do to prevent that? Let's get into this episode! LINKS: Good News: There's a Labor Shortage: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/04/opinion/labor-shortage-biden-covid.html The Pinched Hose Economy: https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/08/weve-never-had-an-economy-like-this/671105/ Inside Economics Podcast: https://www.moodys.com/web/en/us/about/insights/podcasts/moodys-talks-inside-economics.html Matt Salois on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/msalois/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Matthew Salois, PhD is currently the President of the Veterinary Study Groups, Inc. (VSG), where he is responsible for enhancing the economic and cultural success of more than 1,800 veterinary member practices. Most recently, Matt was the chief economist and head of the veterinary economics division at the AVMA between 2018 and 2022, where he applied his skills in economics, business, and communication to support the daily lives of veterinarians. From 2014 to 2018, he served as director of global scientific affairs and policy at Elanco Animal Health, supervising a team of scientists in veterinary medicine, human medicine, animal welfare, economics and sustainability. His group devised and executed scientific engagement strategy, and built collaborative partnerships with universities, non-profit associations and scientific societies. Matt is also an adjunct professor of applied economics at the University of Florida, where he previously taught and advised graduate and undergraduate students. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Economics from the University of Florida and holds an M.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Health Services Administration from the University of Central Florida.

Tasha McNerney CVT CVPP discusses best practices for anesthesia and pain control in a 0.8lb kitten. These cases are tricky and Tasha lays out why as well as what we can do to reduce the risk and decrease pain and discomfort of our patient. Tasha and Andy talk through the importance of maintaining cardiac outflow, O2 therapy, blood glucose monitoring, and thermoregulation. Anticholinergics and fasting protocols are also discussed. This is a FANTASTIC and short episode that is packed with clinical pearls. You won't want to miss it! LINKS: Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds: http://www.veterinaryanesthesianerds.com/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/store/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Tasha McNerney obtained her CVT in 2005 and has worked clinically in the areas of anesthesia and surgery ever since. Tasha obtained her CVPP (certified veterinary pain practitioner) designation in 2013 and became a veterinary technician specialist in anesthesia in 2015. Tasha has been a featured speaker on various anesthesia and pain management topics at several international veterinary conferences. Tasha is the author of many articles and blogs on anesthesia and pain management related topics. In 2013 Tasha created the Facebook group Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds, which has over 65,000 members taking part in education and exchange of ideas from all over the world! Tasha is crazy and bought a 1920's fixer upper and is now obsessed with home improvement tutorials on YouTube. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, son, one perfect cat, and one jerk cat. Trust me that cat is a jerk.

Dr. Lauren Pagliughi joins Dr. Andy Roark to discuss a case that is oh-so-common in veterinary medicine, and oh-so-likely to end badly for feline patients! They are talking about Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). They discuss the importance of environmental questions for pet owners, diagnostics (including radiographs), and responsible approaches to treatment in regard to antibiotic use. Let's get into it! This episode is made possible by Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets LINKS: Purina Institute CentreSquare: https://www.purinaproplanvets.com/ Indoor Pet Initiative (cats): https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/store/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST:Dr. Lauren Pagliughi attended Rutgers University for her bachelors of arts and obtained her veterinary degree from Colorado State University. Upon graduation, she completed an internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at Oradell Animal Hospital in NJ. She then joined Absecon Veterinary Hospital, a large general practice in NJ, before joining the Purina family in 2013. Lauren currently resides in Linwood, NJ serving as a veterinary communications manager for Nestlé Purina Petcare. Spreading passion for advanced nutrition, she supports veterinary teaching hospitals throughout the country and provides technical support for Purina’s sales consultants. She continues to practice as a relief veterinarian in South Jersey. In addition to nutrition, Lauren has a key interest in small animal surgery. Lauren spends all of her free time with her twin boys Zachary and Felix, and her daughter, Greta. Lauren also enjoys being outdoors mountain biking, surfing, cycling and snowboarding with her children and her husband, Michael. She loves spoiling her lab, Dottie Lou, and her two cats, Cecilia and Daniella. She has a passion for sustainability and helping others to make “green” choices. Dr. Pagliughi went tandem sky diving 3 times when she was 19 years old in hopes to become certified - that did not happen! She has a passion for high intensity sports, like Mountain Biking and Snowboarding. She has a dream of moving to Costa Rica one day.

Dr. Michael Miller joins the podcast to talk about the downside of leaders eating last. He and Dr. Andy Roark discuss what happens when servant leadership turns to martydom, signs that practice leaders are "giving" in an unhealthy way, and what to do about it. This episode is perfect for anyone who is pouring their heart and soul into practice and feels burned out and used up at the end of the day. LINKS Leaders Eat Last: https://www.amazon.com/Leaders-Eat-Last-Together-Others-ebook/dp/B00DGZKQM8 Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Michael W. Miller is the co-owner of a four-hospital small animal practice in the far southwest suburbs of Chicago, seeing patients at Lakewood Animal Hospital in Morris, Illinois. In addition to dogs and cats, he has a special interest in reptiles which led him to start a wildlife rescue at his practice for hit-by-car turtles. He currently serves on the Illinois Veterinary Medical Alumni Association executive board. After being a contributing author to the DrAndyRoark.com and UnchartedVet.com websites, he started his blog called Harry Potter Vet, where he uses comparisons to the wizarding world to help veterinary professionals and himself discover the magic in veterinary medicine. Recently he has started sharing that magic through speaking engagements – most notably the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference and the Uncharted Veterinary Conference. Outside of vet med, he also is discovering the magic of parenthood as he and his wife raise their two young sons.

Dr. Dottie Laflamme, a board certified veterinary nutritionist, joins the podcast to discuss a peer-reviewed article she first-authored earlier this year: Evidence does not support the controversy regarding carbohydrates in feline diets. She and Dr. Roark discuss the controversy, the role of carbohydrates in feline digestion and disease pathology and management, and finally, the pros and cons of feeding a wet vs dry commercial food. LINKS: Evidence does not support the controversy regarding carbohydrates in feline diets: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/260/5/javma.21.06.0291.xml Purina Institute: https://www.purinainstitute.com/ Tufts University Vet Nutrition: https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/ AAVN: https://aavnutrition.org/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Dottie Laflamme received her DVM, MS in ruminant nutrition, and PhD in nutrition and physiology, all from the University of Georgia. She completed her clinical nutrition residency as an ALPO Postdoctoral Fellow in Clinical Nutrition. Dr. Laflamme is a Diplomate and past-President of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition. She is an author on over 200 scientific and technical publications; and has been a speaker at a number of veterinary, research, and continuing education programs worldwide. She worked for Purina (first Ralston Purina, now Nestle Purina) in the Research and Development Department from 1990 until her retirement in 2015. Her research focused on therapeutic nutrition, especially obesity management, and geriatric nutrition. She currently works as an independent consultant. Dottie lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western Virginia.

Bill Schroeder joins Dr. Andy Roark to discuss how digital marketing for veterinarians has changed in recent years. They debate the value of spending time and energy online as a veterinary practice, and then discuss strategies for responding to negative online reviews and building a rock-solid online reputation. LINKS: Avoid a Toxic Team: Creating Psychological Safety: https://unchartedvet.com/product/avoid-a-toxic-team-creating-psychological-safety/ Get Sh*t Done Shorthanded Virtual Conference: https://unchartedvet.com/gsd-shorthanded/ InTouch Reputation Resource: https://intouchvet.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/The-Veterinary-Guide-to-Online-Reviews.pdf SocialMedia Examiner: https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/ Hubspot: https://blog.hubspot.com/ Bill's Contact Info: [email protected] Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Bill Schroeder is an entrepreneur, international speaker, veterinary thought leader, and digital marketing enthusiast who has, for the past 28 years, leveraged his love of people and pets to help veterinary practices grow and thrive. He has say on the Board of Directors for VetPartners, teaches within the MBA program at Purdue University, and can be found teaching from many of the veterinary conference stages around the world. Bill owns InTouch Practice Communications (www.InTouchVet.com), a full-service digital marketing agency built specifically for the veterinary community. His firm and more than 8,000 client success stories are the basis for his totally non-commercial talks. This unique view into the techniques and principles that are actually making the most impact drive his classes to be extremely relevant and empowering as the content is drawn from actual experience. It’s the stuff that works. Bill will teach you how to implement these things in your practice. As a former United States Marine, he is a forever patriot and eagerly supports many veteran’s causes. Bill lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife Katie, daughters Madison and Lilly, and their very jealous schnauzer, Olive.

What role can nutrition and probiotics play in addressing behavior problems? Probably more than you think. Dr. Ragen McGowan, Ph.D. joins Dr. Andy Roark to discuss the link between the gut and the mind, how Purina's new Calming Care supplement has been shown to help dogs and cats, and what expectations veterinarians can have (and set for clients) for working with these products. LINKS: Purina Pet Expertise: https://www.purina.com/articles Purina Pro Plan Vet Direct: https://www.proplanvetdirect.com/pro-plan-veterinary-diets/cat-dog-supplements Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/store/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Ragen is the Senior Manager of the Global Pet IoT, AI and Digital Solutions Group at Nestlé Purina leading work to generate pet behavior and wellbeing insights. She has over 20 years of experience in animal behavior research, the last 13 of which have been with Nestlé Purina using a holistic approach incorporating behavior, physiology and endocrinology to quantify affective states and temperament in dogs and cats. With this knowledge she aims to create products that cater to different behavioral needs of pets and to better understand and quantify the human-animal bond from the pet’s perspective. Ragen earned B.S. in Zoology, a B.A. in Foreign Language and Literature and a PhD in Applied Ethology from Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. Her PhD research focused on Contrafreeloading behavior, a phenomenon whereby animals choose to work for food even when the same food is freely available, in grizzly bears, laying hens and laboratory mice. In addition, Ragen worked on other projects examining play behavior in piglets and children and means to reduce problem behaviors such as cannibalism in laying hens. Prior to joining Nestlé Purina Ragen held a post-doctoral research position in the Section for Ethology and Animal Welfare at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, Sweden. Her post-doctoral research focused on the study of emotionality in dogs. Specifically, she explored new methodology to objectively evaluate positive emotions in animals. This included using Cognitive Bias and Contrast to measure emotional states and studying the ‘Eureka Effect’ (emotional reactions to learning) in dogs. She is now bringing this knowledge of animal behavior and emotions into the digital space to better connect owners with their pets. Ragen has a passion for sharing her vast knowledge of pet behavior and the human-animal bond. In addition to speaking at a variety of events for Purina, she serves as a reviewer for several scientific journals and is a contributing scientific expert for scientific congresses, roundtables and podcasts. In addition to her passion for animals, Ragen is also an avid dancer and has been an instructor of ballroom dance for many years. Ragen is based in Saint Joseph, Missouri where she lives with her husband, two children and two giant rescue dogs, Luna and Perry.

Veterinary cardiologist Dr. Anna Mac joins us to discuss the case of Baguette, a 2 year-old english bulldog with brachycephalic airway disease and pulmonic stenosis. Dr. Mac covers the diagnostic workup, treatment options and likely outcomes. This is a common condition in a common breed... and you won't want to miss this episode! LINKS: Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine: https://vet.purdue.edu/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. McManamey (aka Dr. Mac) is a veterinary cardiologist. She received her degree of veterinary medicine from the University of Missouri. She then completed a rotating internship at the Ohio State University followed by an emergency and critical care internship at North Carolina State University. She finished her cardiology residency at North Carolina State University and became an ACVIM diplomate in 2021. Dr. Mac is currently an assistant clinical professor at Purdue University in Indiana. Cardiology is her favorite subject because it can be made as simple or as complex as needed. Furthermore, every animal has a heart and that means Dr. Mac gets to work with all kinds of species. Her areas of interest within cardiology are echocardiogram, congenital heart disease and interventional procedures, as well as emergency management of cardiac disease. She has a very supportive and patient husband along with three canine fur-children, one of which had a patent ductus arteriosus (of course).

Dr. Cherie Buisson joins the podcast to discuss the idea that, deep down, none of us think we belong here. We think we're not moving fast enough, that we're not smart enough, and that we're not accomplishing what we should be accomplishing (or what others are accomplishing). Why do we have these thoughts, and more importantly, what do we do about them? LINKS: A Happy Vet: https://ahappyvet.com/ Helping Hands Pet Hospice: https://helpinghandspethospice.com/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Buisson wasn’t (and isn’t!) always A Happy Vet. In fact, for many years, she was An Unhappy Vet. Despite working in wonderful practices with compassionate mentors, she always felt she didn’t fit in. She found private practice draining and felt like a failure for her inability to be “a real vet”. She learned the hard way for two decades, and her mission is to provide veterinary professionals with the tools to find their happiness and to help them be comfortable if they take a nontraditional approach. She believes it’s never too late to find your place, but there’s nothing wrong with starting early!

Hypogylcemia trips veterinarians up in a number of ways. It has a variety of causes and some can be more challenging to pinpoint than others. In this episode, Veterinary Medical Internist Dr. Andrew Woolcock joins Dr. Andy Roark to discuss the case of a young hypoglycemic yorkie, before expanding the conversation to discuss hypoglycemia in general. This discussion covers causes of hypoglycemia, appropriate diagnostic workups, and practical treatment approaches. LINKS https://www.vet.purdue.edu GSD Shorthanded Virtual Conference: https://unchartedvet.com/gsd-shorthanded/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Woolcock is a veterinary internist. He’s from the Midwest and did his schooling at Michigan State University, where he graduated with his DVM. After an internship at North Carolina State University, Dr. Woolcock completed a residency in small animal internal medicine at the University of Georgia. He joined the faculty at Purdue University in 2015, and is currently an Associate Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine. Dr. Woolcock loves the complex puzzles that internal medicine patients present, and loves working with students as they put the pieces together. He loves all-things-medicine, because physiology is so fascinating, but he especially gravitates toward immune-mediated diseases and endocrinology. Dr. Woolcock enjoys his clinical practice, but also his research in oxidative stress, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. When he’s not at work, Dr. Woolcock is likely watching old movies with his husband and their dog, Auggie (not sure of what breed he is, so they invented one for him – a Miniature Fluftoffee).

Dr. Mary Gardner is on the podcast to discuss the ethics of behavioral and economic euthanasia. We talk about what makes some euthanasia cases more ethically difficult than others, and the 4 types of euthanasia generally seen in practice: 1) Imminent Euthanasia 2) Non-Imminent Euthanasia 3) Non-Medical Euthanasia 4) Convenience Euthanasia Dr. Gardner walks us through a series of challenging decisions and tells stories that bring her points to life. This is an outstanding episode that you will not want to miss! LINKS: Lap of Love Pet Hospice: https://www.lapoflove.com/ GSD Shorthanded Virtual Conference: https://unchartedvet.com/gsd-shorthanded/ Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Course: https://drandyroark.com/store/ What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/ Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST: "There is nothing better to Dr. Gardner than a dog with a grey muzzle or skinny old cat! Her professional goal is to increase awareness and medical care for the geriatric veterinary patient and to help make the final life stage to be as peaceful as possible, surrounded with dignity and support for all involved. A University of Florida graduate (AND ANDY’S CLASSMATE!), she discovered her niche in end-of-life care and is the co-founder and CIO of Lap of Love which has over 300 veterinarians around the country dedicated to veterinary hospice and euthanasia in the home. Dr. Gardner and Lap of Love have been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, The New York Times, the Associated Press, The Doctors and numerous professional veterinary publications. She is co-author of the textbook “The Treatment and Care of the Veterinary Patient”, co-author of a children’s activity book focused on saying goodbye to a dog called “Forever Friend”, and the author of a book dedicated to pet owners “It’s Never Long Enough: A practical guide to caring for your geriatric dog”. Dr. Gardner also won VMX Small Animal Speaker of the year in 2020!"