This week, we focus on two critical issues. First, it’s World Pet Obesity Awareness Week, October 7–13, 2024, and we need your help, veterinary professionals, to participate in our biennial Pet Obesity Prevalence Survey by signing up at PetObesityPrevention.org.

Joining us this week is board-certified veterinary nutritionist Martha Cline from Purina to dive into the communication challenges surrounding pet obesity, discuss spectrum of care issues with nutrition and obesity, and explore cutting-edge research on metabolomics and its relevance to joint disease and obesity treatment.

But that’s not all. We’ll also address the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of the Southeast, including parts of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Co-hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Registered Veterinary Technician Beckie Mosser will share ways you can help, as well as some local relief efforts that are making a difference. Links below.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Viewfinders! This holiday, we want to share what we love most about the veterinary profession!

In this special Valentine’s Day 2024 podcast, hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, MPA, reveal the most beloved aspects of working as veterinary professionals. Hey, we can buy ourselves flowers! And we can hold our own hand, too!

Viewfinders, we hope you’ll find at least a few of our favorite things about vet med to be a welcome departure from, as Beckie puts it, “The Basics.” From professional autonomy to entrepreneurship to innovation and collaboration, to our amazing clients and patients (puppies! Kittens! No, we didn’t go there…), there’s something to remind everyone why we love the veterinary profession!

Please share your thoughts on our social media @VeterinaryViewfinder or email us at VeterinaryViewfinder@gmail.com.

This week, we’re proud to introduce you to an extraordinary veterinary technician, Sam Geiling, CVT. Sam has just been named the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) Technician of the Year! Viewfinders, her journey is exceptional and sure to inspire!

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, MPA, talk to Sam Geiling, CVT, and Chief of Staff for the Animal Policy Group, about her career in veterinary medicine and some of her remarkable achievements. From serving in the Navy to being a classmate of Beckie’s in vet tech school to practicing and teaching in Hawaii, to working with state legislatures and veterinary boards around the country, Sam is a vet tech force to be reckoned with! 

Viewfinders, we hope you enjoy her amazing story as much as we did! 

Are you overwhelmed by Slack, Teams, Groups, and Text work messages? Do you feel guilty when responding to a workplace thread late? Ever judge a teammate for not responding to a message? If so, welcome to the new world of 24/7/365 work messages!

In this week’s podcast, hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, MPA, tackle the tough topic of some of the potential benefits and pitfalls of how we communicate with our veterinary clinic teams in 2024. They discuss topics from setting time boundaries to curating appropriate issues and messages to share.

Dr. Ward shares how he expects AI to help us manage the growing number of interactions and platforms. Beckie offers advice on giving yourself grace when creating personal and professional messaging guidelines.

Viewfinders, this is a re-visit of a topic we tackled nearly seven years ago when confronting after-hours telephone calls. As technology and tools have progressed, these intrusions have amplified, and the rules of engagement need to be updated.  

Training requires struggle and even failure at times. But how do we apply this principle when training veterinary medical personnel? 

In this podcast, hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, MPA, delve into the importance of letting veterinary clinic employees struggle in order to improve. Our duo explores the concept of fostering growth through challenges, emphasizing the need for training guardrails and cultivating a culture of curiosity in veterinary clinics. 

They share tips on how allowing employees to navigate difficulties can lead to enhanced skills and resilience (“Don’t always jump in!”). They reveal strategies for implementing effective training frameworks while maintaining a supportive environment that encourages curiosity and continuous learning. 

Viewfinders, we hope you enjoy this discussion on the vital balance between providing guidance and allowing room for struggle in a safe and effective manner, ultimately promoting professional development in the veterinary industry.

What happens when you promote a staff member to a new position or role and it doesn’t work out? What if the staff members want to return to their previous positions? How do we successfully expand our team members’ roles, responsibilities, and duties and “promote from within?” Viewfinders, we’ve got a lot to discuss in this episode!

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, tackle the tough topic of job promotions gone bad. More importantly, our podcasters provide you with a variety of ways to support, coach, and set yourself or your employees up for success in transitioning to a new job position.

The podcast begins with a real-life question Dr. Ward recently received about handling a veterinary technician struggling after being promoted to clinic manager. The veterinary practice owner feared she’d have to fire the employee after she failed to succeed in management. Our hosts have a lot to say about this, as well as tips for avoiding this sort of dilemma.

Beckie shares how to handle the potential vacancy left behind when you promote a staff member. Preparation, planning, and communication are critical elements of a successful job transition and promotion-from-within scenarios.

Viewfinders, there’s a lot to learn in the podcast about helping people succeed in your practice. Please share your thoughts and experiences with us on our Facebook or Instagram pages or email us at veterinaryviewfinder@gmail.com.

#veterinary #veterinarytechnician #veterinary #podcast #veterinarypodcast #vettechpodcast #vetpodcast

Happy New Year, Viewfinders! This week, we have a special expert guest to offer advice and strategies for setting - and achieving - our New Year’s Resolutions!

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, are joined by special guest Rebecca Newman, PsyM, CVT, RVT, the Wellbeing Coordinator, for the Veterinary Technology Program at Appalachian State University, to unravel the secrets of setting achievable New Year resolutions for veterinary teams, vet professionals, and personal goals. 

Discover practical strategies to navigate career aspirations and prioritize self-care with Rebecca's expert guidance. Uncover the keys to unlocking personal and professional success while gaining valuable insights from the dynamic trio. 

Tune in to the last Veterinary Viewfinder episode in 2023 (#369!) for an engaging conversation that resonates with veterinary team members across all age groups, offering a roadmap to a fulfilling and balanced year ahead. Don't miss out on this empowering blend of veterinary wisdom and personal growth tips!

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas! This week, we continue our annual Veterinary Viewfinder tradition of bringing you a special veterinary rendition of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, read Beckie’s poem that describes an all-too-familiar scenario for those of us who work in veterinary clinics!

We hope you enjoy this fun retelling of a holiday standard!

Check out the full lyrics at https://www.drernieward.com/veterinaryviewfinder

It's the season of expectations! In this episode, we delve into the crucial topic of managing expectations within veterinary clinics. We address common scenarios, such as dealing with a new graduate who might be spending an extended amount of time in the exam room while questioning if our expectations are realistic and exploring ways to improve efficiency. 

Additionally, we tackle the challenge of colleagues who may be struggling to meet their responsibilities or display the necessary skills. How can better communicating our expectations help them succeed and decrease our frustration?

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, examine the fundamental role of expectations in shaping our interpersonal interactions. They explore the significance of expectations as the foundation for how we relate to one another and offer insights into building stronger connections with colleagues. They tackle the intricacies of expectations, providing their experience and perspectives on fostering more robust and positive relationships in your work environment.

Throughout the discussion, they emphasize the importance of distinguishing between realistic and unrealistic expectations and provide insights on effectively communicating expectations, especially when it comes to performance reviews and reprimands. 

Viewfinders, we’d love to hear your thoughts on how you manage and communicate your expectations in your clinic!

VeterinaryViewfinder@gmail.com or Facebook and Instagram!

Currently, 17 US states have reported a mysterious respiratory illness in dogs. As hype escalates on social media, fueled by TikTok and TMZ, how should veterinary professionals educate their pet parents and keep their pet patients safe during this holiday season?

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, tackle the tough topic of how to address an unknown newsworthy canine respiratory illness and practicality and medically. Our hosts also have advice for “veterinary influencers” seeking to capitalize on the issue and steps more reasonable veterinary medical professionals can take to combat excessive sensationalization (and potentially capitalization) on a serious pet health issue. IYKYK

Viewfinders, this is a serious topic that needs more tempered and measured responses from the veterinary medical community.  How are you dealing with your clients’ questions, and what safeguards are you enacting this holiday season to keep your pet patients safe during the holidays? Share your advice on our Facebook and Instagram pages, @VeterinaryViewfinder, or drop us a line (and Beckie a “Get Well Soon” note) at VeterinaryViewfinder@gmail.com.

This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, celebrate seven years of never missing a weekly podcast - from the hospital! Viewfinders, tune in to learn why Beckie has been hospitalized for the past three weeks!

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, update us on the past three weeks of Beckie’s life after the accident and reflect on the previous seven years of podcasting. I’m not crying; you’re crying. 

Viewfinders, thank you for your loyal listening over the past seven years (365.29 weeks). We’re proud to share our thoughts with you each week and are grateful for the time we spend together. 

If you’d like to wish Beckie a speedy recovery, drop her a note at veterinaryviewfinder@gmail.com.

To help a colleague in need, or if you need assistance, check out Beckie’s amazing non-profit created to help our veterinary colleagues, the Veterinary Industry Giving Tree - www.veterinarygivingtree.com/. 

Thank you, Viewfinders! 

Beckie, get well soon!

This week, we’re delighted to host Jeff Backus and Dave Cowan of the VetTech Cafe podcast to talk about podcasting, their journeys to vet tech specialization, and the challenges and future of the veterinary profession, Viewfinders, this is one podcast mashup you don’t want to miss!

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, share the mic with the two veterinary technician specialists behind the Vet Tech Cafe podcast, Dave Cowan BA, CVT, VTS(ECC) and Jeff Backus, CVT, RVT, VTS(ECC). They share the nontraditional paths they took to become credentialed veterinary technicians and why and how they chose to pursue specialization.

Viewfinders, we’d like to thank the Vet Tech Cafe for serving as our Complaint Department for the past couple of years. Remember, if there’s something you don’t like on our podcast, please inform Dave and Jeff! 

To learn more about them and their huge Spotify deal worth millions, visit www.vettechcafe.com.

Thanks, Dave and Jeff, for making this an amazing episode!