Finding Joy in the Profession with Dr. Tannetje’ Crocker
"Making that decision was probably one of the hardest ones that I have made in my career." Finding joy in the profession isn't always a linear path. That was the case for Dr. Tannetje’ Crocker, who had to make a major career move to achieve satisfaction in her job. Her decision required adaptability, open-mindedness and the ability to speak up. After finding joy in the profession, she wants to help future and young veterinarians do the same. She understands that with so many obstacles, it ca...
27 Aug 202047min
Suicide and Hope: One Veterinarian’s Story with Drs. Will McCauley and Jen Brandt
"When I was at my worst, I felt broken. I felt like 'why can't I be happy?'" When William McCauley, DVM, suffered from clinical depression, he came close to committing suicide. This moment was a turning point for him. He realized he needed to make a major change in his life and career. This change shifted his outlook on life, and now he wants to share his story to help others in the veterinary medicine profession. To offer some context and guidance, we brought on Jen Brandt LISW-S, PhD, the ...
20 Aug 202047min
Achieving the American Dream with Dr. Victor Lopez
"Being Hispanic and trying to get into veterinary school is difficult. My big thing is I just needed someone to look past my last name." Born to immigrant parents, Dr. Victor Lopez faced multiple barriers to achieving his dream of becoming a veterinarian. Those challenges included his parents' language barrier, few resources, a Latino last name and three rejections from Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine. Yet, he managed to overcome these obstacles, and he just earned hi...
6 Aug 202041min
Hurdles of Recruiting Rural Veterinarians with Drs. Carol and Joe Hillhouse
"As a business owner in a rural area, I'm going, 'Dang it. I need another veterinarian.' And right now, they aren't easy to come by." There is a shortage of rural veterinarians in Texas. This means recruiting and retaining veterinarians out in the country is difficult. Drs. Carol and Joe Hillhouse, who own two mixed animal practices in Texas, outline those hurdles in this episode. A couple of those obstacles include mounting student loan debt paired with lower salaries and a lifestyle that d...
23 Juli 202043min
The Rapid Gender Shift in Veterinary Medicine with Drs. Lori Teller and Nancy Turner
"Because the gender shift was so fast, it caused lots of change. It's not so much change in the profession itself but cultural change." The rapid gender shift in the profession occurred within a matter of just 13 years, from 1980 to 1993. This development created cultural challenges, specifically for women. Drs. Lori Teller and Nancy Turner outline those hurdles in this episode. A few of those obstacles include minimal childcare and rooms for new mothers at veterinary conferences and clients...
16 Juli 202012min
Evolution of Education and Credentialing for LVTs with Joyce Brod, LVT
“We need more. We still can’t graduate enough licensed veterinary technicians to meet the need.” Licensed veterinary technicians (LVT) are vital members of the veterinary team. They can help reduce burnout, enhance wellness among veterinarians, increase revenue, and save clinics money. In this episode, Joyce Brod, LVT, discusses what it takes to become an LVT, the evolution of education and credentialing for LVTs over the past 40 years, and the need for more veterinary technology schools. Jo...
9 Juli 202025min
Transitioning from Private Practice to Public Health with Tom Sidwa, DVM, MPH
"Running a practice and dealing with all of the elements of business as well as medicine just burnt me out where I was at the point where I really wanted to find a different avenue.” After working in the clinical setting for 20 years, Tom Sidwa, DVM, MPH, sought a different outlet to practice veterinary medicine—one that gave him better job satisfaction. That avenue came in the form of public health. Job opportunities for veterinarians were limited at the time, but that didn’t stop him from t...
25 Juni 202030min
Being a Veterinarian of Color with Dr. Niccole Bruno
"I ultimately went to Tuskegee University for undergrad, and so that also was a jaded view of what veterinarians look like, but at that point I think I started to become more aware that the profession was not as diverse." Approximately 92 percent of veterinarians in the U.S. are white, according to the 2017 Bureau of Labor Statistics report titled “Labor Force Characteristics by Race and Ethnicity.” Niccole Bruno, DVM, who is the Chief of Staff at Companion Animal Hospital in Spring, Texas, ...
11 Juni 202056min
