With the reality of veterinary workforce shortages and challenges hiring veterinarians and veterinary technicians in 2022, talk of improving license portability has resurfaced. This week we discuss why we believe it’s time to make it easier to share veterinary and veterinary technician licenses among states. Hint 1: It’s already been done in the human medical professions. So, yeah.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss the recent discussions at the January 2022 AVMA meeting that addressed veterinary shortages and a call for license portability. If you couldn’t guess, there’s a committee for that. Have no fear, Viewfinders, apparently an official investigation is underway. Never mind that the AVMA has no regulatory jurisdiction in the matter...

Meanwhile, 29 US states are already part of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact to provide expedited licensure for physicians among member states. Hint 2: We think the IMLC serves as an excellent template for state veterinary medical boards and licensing agencies.

Our hosts discuss the current challenges of obtaining veterinary professional licenses and how this may be making it harder for some states to recruit veterinary staff. They also discuss how making it easier and more affordable to obtain licenses may lead to longer participation in the workforce. This is a good conversation, Viewfinders!

Finally, Beckie shares her strong opinions on the January 2022 AVMA discussions around allowing non-veterinarians to join the AVMA. You don’t want to miss her thoughts on this “controversial” topic! Speaking of controversy, why on earth is this an AVMA flashpoint in 2022? Beside, Beckie says a simple name change is all it would take if credentialed veterinary technicians aren’t allowed a voting voice in the AVMA. She suggests renaming it to the “American Veterinarian Medical Association!” She’s got a point…

Viewfinders, this episode is full of practical steps each state can take to address the issue of veterinary license portability. If you’re struggling to hire veterinary professionals, contact your state veterinary medical board today! Let us know your thoughts!

International Human Animal Bond Day is November 8, 2021! What’s that, you ask? We’ve got the President-elect of the Human Animal Bond Association (HABA) this week to explain!

This week we’re missing co-host Beckie Mossor, RVT as she’s deployed helping animals in need with the ASPCA. We miss you!

That leaves co-host Dr. Ernie Ward to handle the mics this week with HABA’s incoming President, Dr. Patrick Flynn.

Drs. Flynn and Ward discuss the origins of International Human Animal Bond Day, future plans for HABA, and how veterinary professionals can participate.

Dr. Ward encourages HABA to challenge the definition of the “human animal bond” and shares his thoughts on why the term needs to transcend companion animal species and apply to all animals.

Dr. Flynn brings energy, creativity, and optimism about all things human animal bond related to HABA (and his “real job!”) and we think this wide-ranging (and sometimes provocative) conversation about veterinary professionals, the human animal bond, and animal welfare is an important one. Please share with your friends and colleagues!

To learn more about the Human Animal Bond Association, visit: www.humananimalbond.net

Share your human animal bond stories on November 8, 2021!

In a recent episode, we asked the Viewfinders if veterinarians were “real doctors” (and also if vet techs were “real nurses”). We received a flood of comments and DM’s and witnessed many social media threads and posts discussing our comments and questions. Thank you!

But some of the reasons and arguments supporting vet professionals as “real medical professionals” seemed, at first, to be solid, but after closer inspection, began to crumble, metaphorically speaking. This week we explore a few of the more popular answers and rebuttals with, well, more questions.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT begin with a spate of threads and comments that misunderstood or misinformed readers about state laws governing the terms and roles of licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Beckie encourages every veterinary professional to begin by knowing their own state veterinary practice acts and pertinent rules and regulations.

Dr. Ward revisits the risks and pitfalls of directly comparing veterinary professionals with human medical professionals. Dr. Ward rallies all veterinary professionals to celebrate our unique and powerful contributions to society and discontinue arguing we’re “the same as them” when we’re (clearly) distinct and (arguably) better (that’s our opinion, Viewfinders!).

Beckie cautions us to be careful with our words on social media and avoid “hate raids” that we complain about when vets are targeted online.

Limited veterinary licensure, public perception of veterinary professionals, and do we truly treat all animal species are also addressed in this episode. Dr. Ward shares his animal welfare crusade against ventilation shutdown (VSD/VSD+) and how these experiences have exposed him to accusations and criticisms from colleagues and some of the lessons he’s learned that may help any vet professionals receiving online denunciation. (Visit www.vavsd.org to learn more about this important animal welfare issue).

Viewfinders, this is a continuation of a hot topic discussion that we believe makes our beloved profession stronger and more inclusive. Let us know what you think and share with a friend! Talk to you next week!

This week co-host Beckie Mossor, RVT reports to us from the Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) in Las Vegas, Nevada where there’s a lot of talk about the big veterinary corporations and pet retailers and the impact they’re having throughout the profession (spoiler: a couple are engaged in a battle of lawsuits amongst other issues).

Co-host Dr. Ernie Ward talks with Beckie from deep within his home podcast bunker and the pair muse on how quickly changes are happening in the pet and veterinary industries as we (hopefully) begin to see a little post-pandemic light ahead. Well, at least a few in-person veterinary conferences are happening, so there’s that.

Beckie and Ernie discuss the lessons veterinary professionals can learn from some of the more well-organized (and funded) large corporate practices and pet retailers, and what independent practices can do to remain competitive for staff.

Beckie drops gems such as “veterinary technicians are going over you or with you” and “ride not resist” when it comes to positive changes, while Dr. Ward applauds veterinary technicians and support staff for standing up for self-care, mental health support, and better working conditions.

Viewfinders, there’s a lot to unpack from this trip to Vegas! We’d love to hear your thoughts. Don’t forget to stop by your favorite podcast player and drop a brief 5-star review! It helps so much! Thanks and we’ll talk to you next week!