Podcast A Vet: Stories, Support & Community From Leaders In The Veterinary Field

You’re probably already aware that your mindset determines a lot of what you experience in life, including your career in vet med. But how you create and nurture that positive mindset? So many of us struggle with issues like impostor syndrome, guilt, general negativity and so much more that affect our relationships, careers, and lives, and today, Dr. Cherie Buisson walks us through how to break out of a mental rut and craft an attitude that will pay dividends in all aspects of your life. At the recent AVMA Convention in Denver, Colorado I’ve have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful new people, including Dr. Buisson. Dr. Buisson is a certified hospice and palliative care veterinarian, participates in Helping Hands Pet Hospice and founder of A Happy Vet. After deciding that private practice wasn’t for her, she practiced as the medical director for a shelter before finding her true passion in hospice and palliative care, and has never been happier. Students looking for advice on overcoming imposter syn

If you want to get to the top of any niche in the veterinary world, you probably know it's going to be a tough slog at times. You might not realize, however, the impact of our career pursuits on other areas of our lives. Dr. Jon Congdon shares his insight into how to navigate your way to the top of a specialized field while maintaining your relationships, and sanity.  Dr. Congdon started from the bottom cleaning cages and worked his way up to being Director of Anesthesiology at one of the top 3 schools in the country, NC State Veterinary.  He is one of only 230 board-certified veterinary anesthesiologists in the country, one of my former classmates and a personal friend. Recorded live on location at the 2018 AVMA Convention in Denver Colorado, we discuss the progression of veterinary medicine, the highs and lows of being a specialist, and how to accept vulnerability in your knowledge. Dr. Congdon lays out his pragmatic practical approach to how to make everybody’s veterinary experience better with anesthesia

For many of us, the thought of a specialized career path is equivalent to a boring one. Dr. Louisa Poon joins us today to share her experience of finding variety working as a jill-of-all-trades veterinarian at an animal shelter in Denver. A woman of many hats, Dr. Poon joins us at our mobile studio, reporting to you on the move from the AVMA Conference in Denver, Colorado! She gives us a breakdown of the variety and excitement she sees on a daily basis as the Denver Animal Protection veterinarian. She sees over 7,000 patients a year with the help of her team of volunteers, staff, and interns, and deals with everything from animal protection to public health and intern programs. Fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming the head of a large-scale medical center, Dr. Poon has had a very busy and impressive history dealing with a wide range of treatment types, species and countries. Dr. Poon’s goal is to provide appropriate health care and good enrichment for the animals while they are in the shelter. Dr. Poon has

For many of us, we know we want a career working with animals, but vet school isn’t always a fit. Today, Elizabeth Downing shares her story of finding an alternative path into the industry as a veterinary technician rather than attending vet school. Elizabeth is a certified vet tech, has worked at varying levels of the industry including at the University level, private practice and the ER. After deciding vet school wasn't the right choice for her, she enrolled in veterinary technician school and has never looked back. Elizabeth has made a successful career of being a veterinary nurse and has found passion and longevity in the field, especially when dealing with anesthetics. Elizabeth dives deep into what factors aided her decision in leaving veterinary school, the differences between the two curriculums, and how to get through high-pressure scenarios when on the floor dealing with anesthesia. Elizabeth advocates for getting your hands dirty, learning by practicing and her tips on how to be a better nurse and

  Two of the most common holdups potential students have before applying to vet school are how to make sure your application stands out, and whether or not vet school is the right path for you in the first place. Today, Gretchen Delcambre, director of vet school admissions to Colorado State answers everything you need to know before you submit your application to vet school. Gretchen describes the application process, how to set your application apart from the crowd, and why grades aren’t everything. Gretchen focuses on Colorado State’s selection process and the criteria they are looking for, breaks down how they narrow down the 2200 annual candidates, and the importance of hearing the whole story of an applicant. She will put to rest your worries about having a perfect 4.0 GPA, why you should focus on what makes you different and highlights the other things on your application that can be even more important than grades.   In This Episode A breakdown of the vet school application process Why it's not a bad

A city boy from Denver who found his calling dealing with livestock in Gunnison, CO, Dr. Tim Holt has been challenging the status quo in the veterinary world for years. Having never touched a horse or a cow until veterinary school in 1984, Dr. Holt spent the beginning of his career treating livestock while researching Pulmonary Hypertension in bulls and cattle. Since 2004 Dr. Holt has been working with large animal livestock at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at CSU, and mentoring his students. Dr. Holt believes in focusing on client relationships, helping students understand ranch work, and helping them navigate how exactly a veterinarian survives in this world. Dr. Holt encourages his mentees to find things that they are passionate about and enjoy doing while enjoying the people you work with, which he assures us is the key to a long and happy career. In addition to his career history, we discuss the new trend of specialization, acupuncture and chiropractic treatment for livestock, and Dr. Holt’s surprisin

As you probably know, getting into vet school is no easy task. After years of struggling to find a school, Dr. Sara Sheltren made the alternative choice to accept a spot at ROSS Veterinary School on the island of St. Kitts. The next 3 years were filling with the realities of working in clinics that are not guided by American conveniences. This one of a kind experience led to Sara and her classmates gaining resilience, knowledge, and perseverance that would be hard to come by through traditional schooling. Dr. Sheltren took her expertise and transitioned into working in relief work in Vancouver, Washington. She has mastered the art of ‘freelance veterinarian’ and provides relief to 6+ clinics in the Vancouver, WA area. Dr. Sheltren talks about stress, finances, how and what to prioritize when working in the industry and the challenges and rewards of leaving your comfort zone. If you are considering a career in relief work, have an interest in ROSS Veterinary school and island living, or are just looking for so

For a lot of people unfamiliar with the pet oncology space, it comes as a surprise that pets can develop the exact same strains of cancer that humans do. Perhaps even more surprising however is that in many cases, research into cancer treatment for dogs in particular could be the missing link between mice and humans. At the forefront of this research which has already boasted many breakthroughs into both human and animal treatment, is today’s guest, Dr. Christine Hardy. Christine has done enough already to fill multiple lifetimes, with masters degrees in both business and public health, she was formerly the Co-Director of the DBM/MBA combined program at CSU, has served as Senior Director of professional veterinary medicine student services at CSU, and is not the Director of Operations and Strategy at the Flint Animal Cancer Center at the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Oh, and she’s also an entrepreneur, and has worked in human health education as well as international wildlife conservation. Phew! Today she

Today we’re diving deep into the ins and outs of equestrian care with Dr. Erin Crawford. Erin’s journey has taken her from rancher to fellow 2006 Colorado State Alumni to owner of her own veterinary practice. Focusing on horses and other large animals, Dr. Crawford has found her calling in the challenge of equestrian care and shares her passion and no-nonsense attitude with us today. Dr. Crawford has a reputation for being an open book with no filter, and her direct communication is a breath of fresh air surrounding the trials, tribulations, and achievements in veterinarian care. Being grateful for your team and knowing what you are passionate about are just a few of Dr. Crawford’s tips for us all. Reflecting on joy, life, career and the unexpected paths we all take, listen in for our reunion and some tips on how to survive the world of equine practice.   In This Episode Erin’s proudest ‘MacGyver Moment’ A detailed look into Erin’s non-traditional career path What life is like working on a ranch How it feels

Today we're having a look inside the mind of today’s veterinary student. Dr. Laurie Fonken focuses on helping students take care of themselves throughout the stressful journey of veterinary schooling and she speaks about the importance of bravery, self-love and the relief of having someone to talk to.  Dr. Fonken is the Director of Counseling and Wellness Programs for the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University, in addition to being a member of the AVMA Roundtable and Veterinary Mental Health Professionals. Through her position, she provides counseling services for DVM students experiencing academic hardships, situational issues, crises or mental-health concerns. In addition, she is also a member of the AVMA Roundtable.  Dr. Fonken also runs Healer’s Art at CSU. This 15-hour elective enables the formation of community and strives to help students care for their souls. She shares how having a non-judgmental outlet to help overcome the struggles of being a student, an

Do you ever feel like you’re figuring things out in a very different way from everyone else? As we always say here at Podcast A Vet, everyone has their own trajectory and their own path. Today’s guest talks to us about how his travels in South America gave him the final nudge to commit to becoming a vet. Brent Fink is a veterinary nurse and applying to vet school. But before that, he worked in the restaurant industry for years, and spent a year and a half volunteering on farms in South America. Today he talks to us about the influence his parents, both working in human medicine, had on his path towards becoming a vet, as well as how lessons he learned in the restaurant industry have informed his approach to working in vet medicine. He also talks about the vet school application process. What unique experiences informed your decision to become a vet? How did you keep your mindset healthy while applying to vet school?   In this episode: How volunteering on farms in South America offered Brent clarity on wantin

Sometimes it’s easy to forget how many options are open to you in the vet profession. Clinical veterinary practice isn’t the only route you can take. Dr. Julie Lenoch is an incredible example of someone who has worked in veterinary science in many different ways, and might provide some inspiration for you as well! Dr Julie Lenoch is a Veterinary Epidemiologist at the USDA and APHIS (Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, has a post-doc fellowship at the Council of State and Territory Epidemiologists in Atlanta, GA, was an ER vet for 17 years, was the Deputy Director of the US Geological Survey at the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, WI, and recently returned from a ViDAS volunteer trip in Puerto Rico. Today she talks to us about her vast experience in all these different ways to be a veterinarian, how she incorporated her family into her career transition decisions, and the scope and importance of veterinary public health. She also shows us that it’s totally possible to have international scope in

Have you ever faced a regular onslaught of negativity about your career? Today’s guest, Karie Madigan, is an example of someone who not only succeeded in the face of negativity, but achieved longevity in that success as well. Karie has been a vet nurse for over 20 years and recently transitioned into the role of practice manager. Today she talks to us about the negativity she faced as a teenager and into adulthood, and the key roles that some insightful mentors played for her in her journey. She also talks to us about the relationship between vet doctor and nurse and how to foster a positive one, as well as qualities that excellent nurses look for in vet hospitals. We discuss her recent transition to practice manager, its cause, and the skills necessary to transition from nurse to practice manager.   In this episode: The power of drive in the face of negativity Exactly what it takes to foster a great doctor/nurse relationship Qualities that an excellent nurse looks for in a vet hospital The skills necessary

Have you ever had to tackle a pet owner at the veterinary office before? Today’s guest has! She also tells us about how her black belt in karate has come in handy as a vet, not only physically (except this one time!) but mentally. On top of being an ER vet doctor, Dr Robin Van Metre also works with the National Association for Search and Rescue, K9 TECC, K9 Medic, is the Director of the Canine Hero Foundation, and is the extern and intern coordinator at Fort Collins Vet Emergency and Rehab Hospital. Today she talks to us about so many things, including how she protects herself from compassion fatigue by giving back to the community in a way that she’s passionate about. She tells about her experience working with several organizations to help working dogs. And she also talks about the only three types of cases that walk into an emergency room.   In this episode: How she applies her black belt karate skills in the vet ER How she got through the first two years of vet school as a tactile learner who had trouble

If you've been listening to Podcast A Vet for a while, you may remember Zach Lake in Episode 16 talking about what year one of vet school is like. Today we're talking with Cindy Vaca, an almost graduated fourth-year vet student to get a very different perspective, and some tips on the experience of going through veterinary school. Cindy is a fourth-year vet student at CSU, with a unique background from her classmates. She tells us with wonderful vulnerability about her experiences with depression and failure in the decade after high school and before vet school, and how those struggles have given her a unique perspective and unrivaled optimism. We also talk about her top survival tips to get through vet school as well as how she prepared for the NAVLE licensing exam. She tells us about her upcoming internship and why she wanted that particular hospital. We also discover exactly how small the vet med world is!   In this episode: Cindy’s best survival tips to get through vet school Her thoughts on failure and

It can be hard if you’re about to graduate vet school and you still don’t know what you want to do. One of the options you might consider is pursuing a one-year internship. That was the path that today’s guest took, and she says she wouldn’t change a thing. Dr. Nina Garabino works with me in my small animal general practice and exotics. Today she talks to us in depth about her experience doing a one-year internship after vet school, and the pros and cons of that decision. We also talk about how you can still be a vet if you have a less than great undergrad GPA, the complex issue of finances and student loans for vet students, and what it’s like to look for your first job.   In this episode: How you can still be a vet if you didn’t have a great undergrad GPA What it’s like making education decisions when you don’t know what you want to do after vet school The story of a one-eyed stray kitten who died and came back to life What an internship is like on the inside and how it shapes you as a vet The complex issu

Sometimes life serves you giant problems, and you face the choice of whether or not you're going to live fully. Jeanne Ficociello is a veterinarian and close friend of mine who has lived vivaciously in spite of an advanced kidney disease, and today she shares some of the keys to that resiliency with us. Dr. Jeanne Ficociello is an excellent internal veterinary specialist from Boston and a dear friend from CSU. Today she tells us about her experience of being a successful veterinary specialist while also living with an advanced kidney disease. We also discuss how to manage boundaries with clients, dealing with bad days at work, and how to avoid burnout and compassion fatigue. She also tells us the story of how her kidney donor revealed themselves to her on Valentine’s Day!   In this episode: Some tips on staying positive and upbeat when life serves you lemons How to avoid burnout or compassion fatigue, especially as a veterinarian Her thoughts on Dr. Google The story of the first transplant surgeon ever and w

Remember your first year in vet school? How about the application process? Everyone has a different path that leads them to vet school, but once there, we all go through the same classes, lectures, and labs. Today we talk to Zach Lake, a  first-year vet student, about his fresh off the press experience and how he gets through it. Zach is a first-year veterinary student at CSU, where he also got his undergraduate degree in zoology in 3 years. Today he talks to us about how he approached the application process, takes us behind the scenes on the first week at CSU’s vet school, and how the program talks to students about finances. We discuss the diversity of people who end up together in vet school, and the balance of competition with collaboration among them. Zach also opens up about his journey with OCD and how he strives to find balance alongside productivity. He gives his advice to future vet students about everything from the application and interview to balancing studies with hobbies and getting through th

Do you ever wonder how to avoid burnout with your career and keep up your professional longevity? Without it, you might find yourself emotionally and energetically fried after a few years. This is especially difficult for high intensity specialities like emergency and critical care. Tim Hackett’s figured out the secrets however, and joins us today to share them with us. Dr. Tim Hackett is DVM, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, a professor, a father, and is currently the Director of the Vet Teaching Hospital at CSU. After 25 years working in veterinary emergency care, he’s definitely gotten the hang of balance and longevity in the job. Today we talk about how Tim keeps a calm demeanor in the emergency room, the similarities between emergency care and hospital administration, and the key puzzle piece in an emergency/urgent care setting. We also discuss a new approach to interacting with patients’ owners and how Tim empowers his students and team in the face of losing

Many people who become vets start out their careers with that intention, but that wasn’t the case with Dr. Melinda Frye. In today’s episode, we talk about how chance encounters and unexpected opportunities can open up the possibilities of your life in ways you hadn’t imagined, as long as you stay open to them, and commit to them when they appear. Dr. Melinda Frye is not only a veterinarian, but is also a Ph.D., board-certified internal specialist, the first female Associate Dean of Veterinary Academic and Student Affairs at CSU, and is on the board of the local humane society. Interestingly, she started her career as a nurse for humans, but after a chance encounter while on a run one day, she decided to pursue vet school. Today we talk about being open to change and opportunities as well as the importance of mentors throughout your career, and being okay with having different priorities from peers to keep yourself balanced. Has a new opportunity ever changed the trajectory of your life in a way you didn’t exp