Recently the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board sent a memo to state veterinarians warning about Board complaints and disciplinary actions taken in response to veterinarian responding to clients online posts and reviews. Vets were found at fault for ethics or professionalism violations due to an online spat. You may want to re-read that.

This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss the blurred lines between freedom of speech, the ability of a veterinary professional to defend themselves from online attacks, and the risk of being disciplined by their state veterinary medical Board. You may also want to re-read that.

Viewfinders, this is a complicated and nuanced issue that we believe needs more public discussion. Much more, as you'll learn in this podcast! There are a LOT of issues intersecting here!

Have you received reports or similar warnings from your state veterinary medical Board? Have you heard of colleagues reprimanded for defending themselves against online attacks? Please share your experiences!

Happy New Year, Viewfinders! This week our hosts preview the veterinary profession’s toughest topics and trends we predict for 2022!

Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT join in a rapid-fire discussion of the top challenges they foresee for 2022 (and beyond).

Some of the issues they discuss include:

• Veterinary workforce shortages

• Mental health issues (burnout, depression, compassion fatigue, substance abuse, etc.)

• Veterinary staff wages and benefits

• Student loans an date rising cost of DVM/RVT degrees

• Inflation of vet services and products - what impacts will inflation have on patient care and client communications?

• Social media complaints - We’re seeing reports of vets being charged with ethics and professional behavior violations when they engage clients online. Yikes!

• Corporatization vs Independent Practices: How can we get along and compete?

• Core vaccines - potential challenges post-pandemic vaccine controversies?

• Politics - Veterinary Practices and 2022 Midterms

• What happened to the Veterinary Nurse Initiative (VNI)? Our continuing plea for veterinary technician Title Protection

• Telemedicine - Muddy waters ahead or smooth sailing?

• Brachycephalic breeds - Will US veterinary professionals speak out as they are in the UK?

• CBD - definitely maybe?

• Climate change

• Animal welfare and Food animal production, ventilation Shutdown (VSD)

Looks like 2022 is going to be an exciting and promising year! Happy New Year, Viewfinders!

In the United States, it is estimated that almost 150,000 horses per year are unwanted. What is “unwanted”? The term is used to refer to horses that are old, injured, sick, unmanageable, or fail to meet expectations. The horse may have a lameness or illness…or he could just be the wrong color or gender. His problem could be life-threatening…or chronic and manageable. He may have a mild behavioral problem…or a severe one.

This week we speak with Dr. Stacie Boswell, an equine surgeon and author of “The Ultimate Guide for Horses in Need,” a veterinarian who has dedicated much of her career to helping “horses in transition” and provide better care and welfare for all horses.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT learn how Dr. Boswell became an equine veterinarian and why this topic is so important to her.

The trio also discuss the unique mental health and self-care challenges faced by large and mixed-animal veterinary professionals and how Dr. Boswell keeps her energy and enthusiasm high, despite the challenges she encounters.

Viewfinders, this is another wide-ranging conversation that offers us a glimpse into another side of veterinary practice. To learn more about Dr. Stacie Boswell and her book, “The Ultimate Guide for Horses in Need,” at: https://stacieboswell.com/

Many veterinary professionals are asked by young students whether or not they should become veterinarians or veterinary technicians. This week, we ponder that question within the context of two professions in flux. Viewfinders, the answer is "Definitely maybe?" and involves a multitude of challenges and opportunities we discuss this week.

This podcast covers everything from student debt, pay inequality, lack of vet tech representation in national and state veterinary organizations, outdated practice acts, corporatization, generational differences, and a whole lot more.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT share their current answer to this timeless question along with some of the (good and bad) advice they received form mentors.

Viewfinders, this is another conversation that packs A LOT of topics confronting our profession today into a half hour. Are there issues we touch on you’d like to hear us magnify and explore further? Let us know!

Thanks again as always for listening for the last four years!

What happens when your personal social media blows up in your veterinary clinic? Can you post controversial content on your personal pages without professional consequences? Viewfinders, this is one tough topic we tackle this week!

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT address people being fired, reprimanded, or causing conflict in their workplace because of something they posted or shared on their personal TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter feeds. Where are the online boundaries between work and private life, if there are any?

The duo divulge times they’ve stepped out of bounds online, stories from colleagues who have experienced consequences of their content, and strategies for everyone scrolling and posting these days.

Viewfinders, have you witnessed workplace tension because of online messages? How do you navigate these potentially stormy waters? Share your stories!

Thank you again for listening! Talk to you next Wednesday!

It’s been quite the year for being short-staffed due to sickness in veterinary clinics. COVID-19, seasonal flu, curbside practice and the enormous emotional toll veterinary professionals are paying have led to workplace shortages. And even shorter tempers.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss how to deal with unexpected staff shortages in veterinary practice. Whether due to physical illness or emotional depletion, how can your team prepare for last-minute “call-in sick?”

Our hosts share personal stories, experiences, and solutions that every team needs to hear. Whether you work with 150 or 5 co-workers, there’s at least one tip you can apply to your personal life and professional environment in this week’s episode.

As Beckie says, “If you’re struggling, rewind this podcast and play it for your manager or owner!”

Stay safe and sane out there, Viewfinders! Let us know how you deal with being short-staffed due to sickness in your clinic!