My Veterinary Life

This week we are concluding our three-part miniseries with a focus on wellbeing. In previous episodes we discussed working with mental health professionals along with different credentials and what they mean. We also covered financial wellbeing. We are joined this week by Dr. Kerry Karaffa. Dr. Karaffa is a licensed psychologist and the Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary medicine. He shares results from some of his research and what this means for veterinary students and professionals.  It’s hard to resist Dr. Karaffa’s enthusiasm and passion around these topics and we are so thrilled to share this episode with you. Remember we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a ratings and review. You can also contact us at MVLPodcast@avma.orgFollow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

In this episode, we are continue a three-part miniseries focused on wellbeing and the topic of the day is financial wellbeing! We are joined by Tom Seeko and CJ Burnett of Smart Vet Financial Podcast and Florida Veterinary Advisor to share their insights on improving your relationship with finances and to discuss the impact this has on your wellbeing. We discuss small steps you can take to have big impacts on your wellbeing no matter what stage of your career you are in. It’s a great conversation and we are so excited to share this information with you.Remember we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a ratings and review. You can also contact us at MVLPodcast@avma.orgFollow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

This week we are starting a new mini-series that will focus on wellbeing. Throughout these three episodes we will cover topics such as working with mental health professionals, financial wellbeing and highlighting research from mental health professionals within veterinary schools. To help us jump start these incredible conversations, we are joined by Francessca Tocco. She is a licensed clinical social worker with a master’s in social work. We cover a lot of ground including, as Francessca likes to say, making sense of the alphabet soup of mental health professional credentialing. It’s a great episode and we are so excited to share this information with you.Remember we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a ratings and review. You can also contact us at MVLPodcast@avma.orgFollow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

This week we conclude the “We Don’t Talk About…,” series where we have been exploring some often-undiscussed challenges in vet med. We previously discussed topics such as board complaints, leaving an internship, and not passing NAVLE on the first try. The goal of these conversations is to reduce the stigma around these experiences and to share resources for listeners who may find themselves going through challenging times, either now or in the future. On this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jen Brandt, AVMA’s Director of Wellbeing and DEI Initiatives, to discuss Imposter Syndrome, or as we will learn in the conversation- Imposter Phenomenon. She shares research and tips for addressing the environments and systems that promote this phenomenon. This is an enlightening conversation and we can’t wait to share it with you! Remember we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a ratings and review. You can also contact us at MVLPodcast@avma.orgFollow us on social me

This month, we’re featuring a new series called, “We Don’t Talk About…,” exploring some often-undiscussed challenges in vet med. We’ll be discussing topics such as not passing NAVLE on the first round, board complaints, and the actual root causes of Imposter Syndrome. The goal of these conversations is to reduce the stigma around these experiences and to share resources for listeners who may find themselves going through challenging times, either now or in the future. On this episode we are joined by Dr. Andrew Groenewold, a small animal veterinarian in the Chicago suburbs. He shares what his road to pursuing an internship looks like and the decision to shift directions and not complete his internship. It is a great conversation filled with a lot of wonderful insights and questions we can all consider asking ourselves, no matter what stage of our career we are currently in.  We are so excited to include this discussion in our series and look forward to sharing the rest of the episodes with you. Remember we wa

This month, we’re featuring a new series called, “We Don’t Talk About…,” exploring some often-undiscussed challenges in vet med. We’ll be discussing topics such as board complaints, leaving an internship, and the actual root causes of Imposter Syndrome. The goal of these conversations is to reduce the stigma around these experiences and to share resources for listeners who may find themselves going through challenging times, either now or in the future. On this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Lash Hicks-Bennett. She is currently a small animal rotating intern at University of Georgia, and she joins to discuss her experience with not passing NAVLE on the first attempt. We really appreciate her willingness to join us and discuss this part of her journey and look forward to sharing the rest of this series with you. Remember we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a ratings and review. You can also contact us at MVLPodcast@avma.orgFollow us on social media @AV

This month, we’re featuring a new series called, “We Don’t Talk About…,” exploring some often-undiscussed challenges in vet med. We’ll be discussing topics such as not passing NAVLE on the first round, leaving an internship, and the actual root causes of Imposter Syndrome. The goal of these conversations is to reduce the stigma around these experiences and to share resources for listeners who may find themselves going through challenging times, either now or in the future. On this episode, we’re joined by AVMA PLIT Trust veterinarian, Dr. Kara Escutia. She is going to share with us information about malpractice insurance and what to do when medical errors occur. Dr. Escutia shares real examples and what to expect when faced with these challenges. We look forward to sharing this series with you and hope that we can continue the conversations throughout the profession.Remember we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a ratings and review. You can also cont

This month, we’re featuring a new series called, “We Don’t Talk About…,” exploring some often-undiscussed challenges in vet med. We’ll be discussing topics such as not passing NAVLE on the first round, leaving an internship, and the actual root causes of Imposter Syndrome. The goal of these conversations is to reduce the stigma around these experiences and to share resources for listeners who may find themselves going through challenging times, either now or in the future. On this episode, we’re kicking things off with our very own Dr. Marci Kirk talking about her personal experience with board complaints. As with many of these episodes, we are sharing our guests’ perspectives and other individual experiences may vary. We hope that this will set the stage for what the process of receiving a board complaint could look like, what it is like to activate your licensure defense insurance and some of the emotions Dr. Kirk experienced. We look forward to sharing this series with you and hope that we can continue the

Our guest on this week’s episode of My Veterinary Life Podcast is Dr. Chris Doherty, the Assistant Director for Strategic Business Research and Outreach at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Dr. Doherty shares his journey from small animal private practice to a focus on veterinary economics and business. He discusses the differences between veterinary education in Canada and the U.S., the challenges of entering the job market, and the importance of economic research in the veterinary field. The episode highlights valuable AVMA resources for new graduates and the significance of data-driven decision-making in veterinary careers. It’s a information packed episode and we are excited to share our conversation with you!Remember we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a ratings and review. You can also contact us at MVLPodcast@avma.orgFollow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

Out guest on this week’s episode of My Veterinary Life Podcast is Raven Washington, a veterinary student at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Raven shares her journey into veterinary medicine, overcoming a fear of animals and discovering her passion for animal welfare during college. She discusses her transformative experiences at the Veterinary Leadership Experience (VLE) and her role in coordinating Auburn’s vet camp for high school students. The episode highlights Raven's dedication, leadership, and the impact of mentorship and hands-on experiences in shaping her career in veterinary medicine. This is truly and inspiring and uplifting conversation and we cannot wait to share it with you!Remember we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a ratings and review. You can also contact us at MVLPodcast@avma.orgFollow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

Our guest on this week’s episode of My Veterinary Life Podcast is Dr. Jessi Farris, Vice President of Campus Relations and Clinical Recruiting at Heartland Veterinary Partners. Dr. Farris shares her journey from aspiring shark veterinarian to small animal general practice, and eventually pursuing an MBA. She emphasizes the importance of networking, intentional career decisions, and a growth mindset. After hearing her story, we hope you will ‘say yes’ to the coffee and take time to reflect on what brings you joy in the profession. This is such a wonderful and inspiring episode and we are excited to share it with you.Remember we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a ratings and review. You can also contact us at MVLPodcast@avma.orgFollow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

Our guest on this week’s episode of My Veterinary Life Podcast is Dr. Rena Carlson, the immediate past president of the AVMA. Dr. Carlson shares her unexpected journey to AVMA leadership, emphasizing the importance of seizing opportunities and the support she received along the way. She discusses the roles of president-elect and immediate past president, and the different ways to balance personal and professional life. The conversation highlights the collaborative nature of the veterinary community, and the diverse paths professionals take within the field. If you have ever wondered what it is like to be AVMA President, then this episode is for you!Remember we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a ratings and review. You can also contact us at MVLPodcast@avma.orgFollow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

Our guest on this week’s episode of My Veterinary Life Podcast is Dr. Mo Miller, a recent graduate veterinarian at a small animal hospital in Chicago. Dr. Miller shares their journey to becoming a veterinarian, highlighting their early passion for animal care and some of the speedbumps encountered along the way. They discuss their involvement with the Pride Veterinary Medical Community and their commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within the profession. Dr. Miller offers advice to LGBTQIA+ individuals seeking a sense of belonging, emphasizing the importance of community support and self-acceptance. We are so excited to share this journey with you!Remember we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a ratings and review. You can also contact us at MVLPodcast@avma.orgFollow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

In this episode of the My Veterinary Life podcast, Dr. Julie Cappel shares her multifaceted career journey, from practicing veterinary medicine with small animals, avians, and exotics to becoming a life coach. She recounts her early inspiration from a sixth-grade teacher and her path to practice ownership, where she learned valuable leadership skills and the importance of aligning with one's ethics. Dr. Cappel also discusses her experience of being fired from her first job, which, despite being challenging, taught her resilience and empathy, ultimately benefiting her leadership style. Balancing career and family life, she candidly admits to the challenges and imperfections of managing multiple roles, including raising children and holding leadership positions in veterinary associations. Dr. Cappel's story is one of growth, overcoming adversity, and embracing the diverse opportunities within the veterinary profession.Remember we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts a

This is our final installment of our three-part mini-series highlighting topics that will be covered in AVMA's Journey for Teams Educational Sharpenings. In this episode, we are focusing on how to be an upstander and stay interviews. We are joined by Dr. Latonia Craig, AVMA’s Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer and Dr. Jen Brandt, AVMA’s Director of Member Wellbeing and Diversity Initiatives. They discuss the significance of being an upstander in the workplace, the implementation of stay interviews to gauge employee satisfaction, and the importance of trust and communication in leadership. The episode offers practical advice on fostering a supportive and inclusive culture in veterinary settings.To learn more about all these resources, visit journeyforteams.orgRemember we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a ratings and review. You can also contact us at MVLPodcast@avma.org Follow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

This is part two of our three-part mini-series, where we are focusing on Educational Sharpenings, a new program within AVMA's Journey for Teams. To share information on these topics, we are joined by Dr. Latonia Craig, AVMA’s Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer and Dr. Jen Brandt, AVMA’s Director of Member Wellbeing and Diversity Initiatives. We focus today on the topics of  Perspective Taking and "What if I Say the Wrong Thing?" The conversation touches on the importance of these skills, addressing the fear of saying the wrong thing, and the value of genuine apologies all while sharing examples of how to apply these in veterinary medicine.To learn more about all these resources, visit journeyforteams.orgRemember we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a ratings and review. You can also contact us at MVLPodcast@avma.orgFollow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

We are kicking off a three-part mini-series focusing on Educational Sharpenings, a new program within AVMA's Journey for Teams. To share information on these topics, we are joined by Dr. Latonia Craig, AVMA’s Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer and Dr. Jen Brandt, AVMA’s Director of Member Wellbeing and Diversity Initiatives. The program offers free modules to help veterinary teams understand and apply diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. It includes videos, essays, and worksheets for self-awareness and emotional regulation. Today’s focus is the first two modules which are self-awareness and emotional reactivity. Our guests share an overview of the topics and share examples and applications within veterinary medicine.To learn more about all these resources, visit journeyforteams.orgRemember we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a ratings and review. You can also contact us at MVLPodcast@avma.orgFollow us on social media @AVMAVets #M

Our guest on this episode of My Veterinary Life Podcast is Dr. Mike Adkesson, President and CEO of Brookfield Zoo. Dr. Adkesson recounts his journey from a young zoo volunteer to a zoo veterinarian and eventually to his current executive role. He shares insights into the challenges and rewards of zoo medicine, emphasizing the importance of conservation and education. The episode also explores Brookfield Zoo's upcoming centennial and its plans for immersive animal habitats and conservation efforts. Dr. Adkesson's passion for his work and the zoo community's dedication to animal care and conservation are highlighted throughout the conversation.  Remember we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a ratings and review. You can also contact us at MVLPodcast@avma.orgFollow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

Our guest on this episode of My Veterinary Life Podcast is Dr. Chrissie Schneider. Dr. Schneider shares her transition from an equine medicine internship to her residency at Ohio State and then her transition to industry as a Senior Equine Professional Clinical Services Veterinarian with Merck Animal Health. She discusses the importance of understanding both animal care and client interactions, her path to becoming board-certified in equine practice, and her involvement in mentorship and sustainability initiatives within the equine veterinary community. The episode highlights the value of setting professional boundaries and advocating for oneself in the veterinary field.Remember we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a ratings and review. You can also contact us at MVLPodcast@avma.orgFollow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

Our guest on this week’s episode of My Veterinary Life Podcast is Dr. Manuela Suarez. Dr. Suarez graduated from veterinary school in Argentina and practiced there for several years. Recently, she relocated to New York and is currently working on her certification to practice in the United States. Dr. Suarez shares her educational background, the transition to the U.S., and the ins and outs of the U.S. certification process. She emphasizes the importance of community support and offers advice to others in similar situations. The episode highlights the fact that determination and positive attitude can take you a long way when facing challenging situations.Remember we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a ratings and review. You can also contact us at MVLPodcast@avma.orgFollow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast