We've got a new office manager who's wondering, what education do I need now that I'm here? Veterinary medicine is a field of lifelong learning, and career paths can zig and zag in unexpected ways. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Stephanie Goss is joined by the dynamic Alyssa Mages, CVT, to discuss the many paths to leadership in the veterinary profession. Alyssa shares her inspiring journey, from marine biologist to veterinary technician to entrepreneur, highlighting the im...
Dec 11, 2024•1 hr 2 min
How do you get your team excited for the mundane, downtime tasks? In this episode of the Uncharted Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss tackle a question from a veterinary practice experiencing a slowdown in appointments. Together they discuss the challenges of managing a veterinary team when business is slow, including maintaining team morale and motivation. They emphasize the importance of accepting the reality of the situation, adapting to change, and focusing on the practice's mission ...
Dec 04, 2024•47 min
Do you feel overwhelmed by the challenges of running a successful veterinary practice? You're not alone. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark talks with Rhys Giannarelli, a dedicated practice owner who runs two thriving veterinary clinics. Rhys shares his inspiring story of overcoming common obstacles like operational inefficiencies, team disengagement, and financial pressures. He'll reveal the practical strategies he's used to transform his clinics into models of ...
Nov 27, 2024•34 min
Uh-oh, that new hire that seemed like a dream on paper turned out to be a bit of a nightmare in person! This week on the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss dive deep into a relatable leadership challenge: what to do when a new team member isn't working out. They explore the importance of setting clear expectations, involving the team in the onboarding process, and providing constructive feedback. It's all about finding that balance between compassion and accountabili...
Nov 20, 2024•53 min
Stephanie Goss and Bret Halishak discuss the challenges and opportunities for solo veterinary practice owners in an increasingly consolidated industry.
Nov 13, 2024•56 min•Ep. 314
When the clinic schedule looks light, should the practice owner send techs home to save costs—even if it means stretching the remaining team thin? In this episode of The Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss dive into a manager’s dilemma: balancing payroll concerns with patient care and staff morale. They share actionable steps for addressing these staffing challenges head-on, including how to communicate with leadership, gather input from the team, and propose solution...
Nov 06, 2024•44 min
Ever felt caught in the middle when it comes to practice finances? A practice manager wrote in, sharing their frustration with an owner who regularly draws large amounts of money from the business—leaving the practice struggling to cover bills and payroll. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Practice Management Super Nerd, Stephanie Goss and guest Dr. Sue Sayles dive into the tricky dynamics of managing practice finances when the owner’s withdrawals disrupt cash flow and this pr...
Oct 30, 2024•50 min
A practice manager struggles with managing a PTO policy that leads to team members overusing their time off early in the year. In this episode of the Uncharted Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and practice management super nerd, Stephanie Goss help a practice manager having a hard time balancing their team's use of paid time off (PTO). The manager explains that they simplified PTO, lumping sick days and vacation time together to give their staff more autonomy. However, it’s backfired, leaving them frustr...
Oct 23, 2024•47 min
Change can be scary to vet teams and getting their buy-in takes great skill. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark is joined by Dr. Jules Benson to discuss strategies for change management in veterinary practices. Dr. Benson brings over a decade of executive experience in the pet health insurance industry and a rich background in clinical practice and veterinary innovation. Together, they explore how veterinary teams can implement new tools to enhance communication ...
Oct 21, 2024•32 min
Should veterinary medicine introduce a mid-level practitioner role? With the landscape of veterinary care changing, there's a proposal in Colorado to create a Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA) role, sitting between licensed technicians and veterinarians. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss discuss the potential impact of expanding technician responsibilities and how this could redefine roles in general practice. What does this mean for acc...
Oct 16, 2024•48 min
A medical director is having trouble navigating the balance between supporting paraprofessional staff in tech school and ensuring they have the necessary technical skills for their role. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Stephanie and Dr. Andy Roark discuss a specific scenario where a veterinary assistant, allowed to study on the clock, is struggling with skill development. The conversation turns into a thoughtful debate about trust, team expectations, and the challenges of le...
Oct 09, 2024•50 min
A Practice Manager is struggling with younger team members' reactions to client disagreements. The leader is frustrated with the team’s hypersensitivity to client interactions, particularly around money and customer service, which is resulting in feedback that the practice feels cold and transactional. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Practice Management Super Nerd, Stephanie Goss and Dr. Andy Roark explore how to shift the team’s culture towards empathy and understanding, wh...
Oct 02, 2024•57 min
In this episode, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss tackle a mailbag question from a technician struggling with negativity in their clinic, where team members have started complaining about clients after a recent workflow change. The hosts discuss how small behaviors like eye-rolling and client bashing can create a toxic work environment if left unchecked, especially when clients might overhear. They explore the importance of setting personal boundaries, leading by example, and addressing frustra...
Sep 25, 2024•46 min
A practice manager is frustrated by team members delaying lunches and taking disruptive trips to the breakroom, which leaves the afternoon understaffed and creates tension among the senior team. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Andi Davison tackle a challenging mailbag question: how to manage staff taking breaks, ordering food, and maintaining workflow. Dr. Roark and Andi break down how to approach this situation from a place of curiosity and empathy, explo...
Sep 18, 2024•48 min
A manager with fantastic team leads—dedicated, hardworking, and aligned with the clinic’s mission—struggles to help these leads transition from being top team members to effective leaders who can manage and hold their peers accountable. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Andy and Stephanie break down the challenges of shifting from being "one of the team" to being the person responsible for enforcing standards and accountability. They explore why this transition can be so diffi...
Sep 11, 2024•58 min
How do you manage staff anxiety about the upcoming schedule without turning away clients and compromising care? In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and practice management super star, Stephanie Goss dive into a mailbag question that resonates deeply with many veterinary teams. A concerned manager writes in about their team’s growing habit of preemptively freaking out when they see a busy day ahead, leading to requests for limiting appointments and turning pets awa...
Sep 04, 2024•57 min
Are traditional expectations around resignations and job stability becoming outdated? A practice owner shares their concerns about the increasing trend of employees resigning via email or text and the prevalence of job-hopping on resumes. How can we navigate these changing norms without feeling out of touch? In this episode, Maria and Andy explore how to approach these issues with empathy and strategic thinking. They discuss practical steps for interviewing candidates with job-hopping histories,...
Aug 28, 2024•52 min
This practice owner is seeking guidance on how to help their team become more empathetic and flexible with clients who may not immediately agree with recommendations. In this episode, Stephanie Goss and Dr. Andy Roark tackle a common challenge faced by veterinary practice teams: how to improve emotional intelligence and client compassion when dealing with resistant or questioning clients. Stephanie and Andy dive into the root causes of this issue, discussing how mental exhaustion and frustration...
Aug 21, 2024•49 min
A young practice manager is struggling to maintain the momentum and enthusiasm of a high-quality team that, after an initial burst of energy, has started to settle into complacency. Despite intentional efforts to create a strong culture, clear pay scales, and a supportive environment, the leadership team is finding it difficult to inspire the same level of excitement and growth-driven mindset among their staff. Dr. Roark and Stephanie dive into the complexities of team dynamics, the importance o...
Aug 14, 2024•1 hr 1 min
This Practice Manager, like many, is not looking forward to letting someone at their practice go but what makes this particularly challenging is that this person has already expressed financial concerns. This week, Stephanie Goss is joined by Rebecca Rose, an RVT, CCC (Certified Career Coach), and CPEP (Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Professional), as they discuss how to navigate this conversation. With over 40 years of experience, Rebecca shares her insights on dealing with layoffs, the importan...
Aug 07, 2024•47 min
This manager faces challenges with constant corrections from a perfectionist team member, causing tension within the team. Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss dive deep into managing perfectionist tendencies in a veterinary setting, highlighting the importance of empathy, open communication, and objective management. They explore how the veterinary education system can contribute to perfectionist behaviors and discuss strategies for balancing high standards with team harmony. This episode is packe...
Jul 31, 2024•1 hr 1 min
A practice owner is struggling how to communicate taking responsibility even when they didn't do anything wrong. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss tackle a tough mailbag question from a practice owner dealing with a post-surgery complication. After a routine spay, a client reported swelling at the incision site, which quickly escalated to an emergency vet visit. The associate vet who performed the surgery believes they did nothing wrong, as co...
Jul 24, 2024•1 hr 3 min
A veterinary professional who recently stepped into the role of tech team lead is facing the challenge of earning their team's trust while aligning with the practice owner's vision. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, practice management super nerd, Stephanie Goss is joined by guests Tyler Grogan and Kelsey Beth Carpenter. Join them as they dive into a mailbag letter from a loyal listener who is struggling to transition from being a peer to a leader, especially when they support...
Jul 17, 2024•1 hr 2 min
This medical director is struggling with a micromanager who is now overstepping on the medicine side of the practice. Dr. Andy Roark and practice management super nerd, Stephanie Goss take on this mailbag to help a team member deal with a manager that makes jokes about being the boss and making the decisions. The rest of the team finds it more threatening than funny and now, some of those micromanaging tendencies are starting to slip into the medical protocols. Let's get into this episode! LINKS...
Jul 10, 2024•57 min
A veterinary professional who thought they found their dream clinic is starting to see some old-fashioned medicine that needs to go. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss address a mailbag letter from a new team member at a rural practice who is alarmed by outdated and unsafe medical practices. Concerned about the lack of physical exams, rushed appointments, and poor surgical sterility, this person wonders how to raise these issues without overste...
Jul 03, 2024•46 min
This clinic is struggling with big changes, leading to being short-staffed, and the kicker? The boss simply cannot hire right now. This week on the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss address a mailbag letter from a practice trying to maintain high-quality care after losing team members, leaving them as a single-doctor practice. They explore how to balance patient and client care while being severely short-handed and whether to make sacrifices or adjust their business...
Jun 26, 2024•54 min
How do we balance supporting the team’s well-being with the demands of running a successful veterinary practice? This week on the Uncharted Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss navigate these choppy waters, helping listeners find the perfect balance between personal and business needs. They dive into the importance of using varied measuring sticks for success and how to recognize and accommodate different life phases and priorities. Stephanie and Andy provide a treasure trove of actionable...
Jun 19, 2024•1 hr
The practice manager at this clinic struggles between business operations and team communication. Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss address a mailbag question from a medical director struggling with a practice manager who excels in metrics but falters in team interaction. Andy and Stephanie dive into the friction often seen between the business and medical sides of veterinary practices, especially in corporate settings. They emphasize the importance of empathy, trust, and good intent, providing ...
Jun 12, 2024•51 min
An associate veterinarian who loves their job, is struggling with a practice owner's overbearing management style that pushes the boundaries of work-life balance. The team receives numerous emails and texts on their days off, and the feedback is often negative and micromanaging, creating a stressful work environment. Dr. Andy Roark and practice management super nerd, Stephanie Goss get real vulnerable sharing their own experiences with similar challenges. Together they offer insights into settin...
Jun 05, 2024•58 min
Shawna Castillo, Director of Care Plans at Otto, joins us to tackle a critical question from a practice manager struggling with client credit limitations. Despite offering CareCredit, Scratchpay, and VetBilling, many clients still face challenges. The burning question: How do we design wellness plans in a way that is not going to make my team or my doctors lose their ever-loving minds? Practice Management super nerd, Stephanie Goss and Shawna Castillo offer their perspectives on this subject. Th...
May 29, 2024•1 hr 3 min
