Perhaps one of the toughest challenges veterinary professionals face each day is maintaining a positive attitude. Positive work cultures begin with positive leaders, and that’s what we’re going to discuss today. … Josh Vaisman, CCFP, MAPPCP spends his days helping veterinary professionals create positive work environments. A self-described “happy guy,” Josh shares his enthusiasm with the Viewfinders today - and we take this opportunity to tackle the toughest topics you’re facing each day! … Host...
Jun 16, 2021•33 min
Will the hit Disney Movie Cruella create in a surge in Dalmatians, Chihuahuas, or Chinese Crested dogs? Do media stereotypes about certain breeds or animals lead to painful cosmetic surgeries or stigmas? This week we tackle veterinary professionals and how to proactively respond to pet and animal media trends and movements. We go a LOT deeper than Disney this week, Viewfinders! … Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT chat about the recent portrayal of dogs in the Disney movie Cruella. The ...
Jun 09, 2021•27 min
Has your veterinary clinic been ping-ponging between curbside, hybrid, masked service, and now something else? This week we discuss the real challenge of “change fatigue” in veterinary clinics and some creative ways to help. … Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT spend some quality time together on Memorial Day starting with talking about the nationwide shortage of the euthanasia drug, pentobarbital. Dr. Ward examines whether or not veterinary clinics should reevaluate inventory managemen...
Jun 02, 2021•31 min
How far is too far for veterinary professionals to offer pet care advice? Should veterinary professionals offer unsolicited advice? If so, what are the best tactics? What are the risks? This week we discuss this and a WHOLE LOT MORE! … Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT tackle the topic of if or when should we stick our “professional noses” into pet parents’ business? When is it appropriate or not? This episode is as painful as a prong collar on a Shih tzu… and, yes, we go there, too! …...
May 26, 2021•29 min
Are veterinary medical associations, state veterinary medical boards, and veterinary practice acts only giving veterinary technicians "lip service" when it comes to participation and power? This week we tackle the topic of fair representation (or lack thereof) of licensed veterinary technicians within veterinary medical organizations and regulatory agencies. ... Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT share their recent conversations with vet techs from around the country at Vet Team Global ...
May 19, 2021•29 min
Are we inadvertently confusing our clients by using vague terms and acronyms on our invoices? What about unclear communication in the exam room? Do different veterinarians recommend different drugs or preventives, leaving support staff to decipher? This week we tackle a constellation of confusing communications in veterinary practice. … Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT begin by discussing a Mother’s Day dilemma in which Dr. Ward’s mom was utterly confused - and upset - by her dentist’...
May 12, 2021•32 min
Loud barking, pooping in parking lots, parking space tensions, and employee smoking breaks can test a veterinary clinic’s relationship with neighboring businesses and homeowners. This week we discuss how you can be a good veterinary neighbor. … Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT begin with a legal case in which a neighbor sued a veterinary clinic for excessive noise. The duo discuss how to help reduce the inevitable noise associated with caring for animals, and ways to ease potential mi...
May 05, 2021•33 min
Change and progress are inevitable, especially in veterinary medicine. But what happens when your clinic boss, manager, or supervisor fails to keep up with medical advances and clings to outdated protocols and procedures? This week we discuss how you can help make positive procedural changes in your veterinary practice. … Host Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT tackle the topic of confronting and changing the attitudes and policies of a clinic’s leadership. … Dr. Ward shares his top tactics f...
Apr 28, 2021•32 min
This week we are honoring the often unsung heroes of a veterinary clinic, the veterinary receptionists or CSRs! … Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT have a “Conversation of Celebration” detailing the many amazing and inspiring abilities of the front desk support staff that allow vets and vet techs to be their best! … Dr. Ward marvels at how veterinary receptionists are able to recognize pets by their family’s cars! He also explains how receptionists/CSRs CSRs represent the clinic person...
Apr 21, 2021•29 min
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 pr...
Apr 14, 2021•29 min
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 be...
Apr 07, 2021•32 min
Veterinary professional continuing education (CE) is changing. Conference closures accelerated the shift to online CE, and now we’re seeing widespread changes in how veterinary CE conferences are innovating and adapting. There’s a lot going on we need to talk about when it comes to maintaining your license through required CE. … This week, we’re joined by 3 of the 4 founders of one of the first, if not the original, completely virtual online veterinary conferences, Vet Team Global Stream (VTGS)....
Mar 31, 2021•35 min
Antibiotic resistance is an issue that affects every veterinary and human healthcare provider. There’s no way to sugarcoat it: Antibiotic resistance is a very real existential threat for humanity. … The problem is many small animal veterinarians don’t see themselves as responsible or contributing to antibiotic resistance. This week we’ve got a veterinary expert who research proves small animal vets and vet techs are part of the problem — and solution. … Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RV...
Mar 24, 2021•36 min
Big Changes at NAVC & VMX - COVID, Strategy Shifts, & the Virtual Future with CEO Gene O'Neill … This week we’re delighted to be joined once again for an exclusive interview (and special surprise!) with North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) CEO Gene O’Neill. … Gene gives hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT an update on the 2021 VMX conference June 5-9, 2021, the health and safety precautions that will be in place, and what you can expect when you arrive. … Gene then discusse...
Mar 17, 2021•40 min
Veterinary Suicide - Why We Must Keep Talking about It with Not One More Vet's Dr. Carrie Jurney … Once again, over the past couple of weeks, the US veterinary profession has been devastated by news of a series of suicides by colleagues. This week we speak with the President of Not One More Vet (NOMV) Dr. Carrie Jurney to find out what we can do to help prevent suicides in veterinary medicine. … Co-hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT have a candid conversation about the current trends in...
Mar 10, 2021•33 min
Have you ever been told to “quiet down the laughter” in your clinic? What about “lighten up on the good vibes and get serious”? Can you be playful, happy, and joyous and still be productive and provide excellent patient care? Well, yeah. … This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss what happens when management kills the joy of working in a veterinary clinic. Whether a clinic’s leadership means to or not, by discouraging playful interactions between coworkers, they may be contr...
Mar 03, 2021•28 min
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 h...
Feb 24, 2021•29 min
If you're a licensed veterinary technician, how'd you like to earn a salary that’s 50% higher than the industry average? ... This week our guest is Jesse Longo, LVT from New York City's Bond Vet, and he says vet techs can make up to $42 per hour at the clinic he works for under an innovative program they're calling the Nurse Elevation Program. ... Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT learn Jesse's story of how he switched from history teacher to LVT, from ASPCA to Bond Vet, and how he's h...
Feb 17, 2021•27 min
Workplace divisions have been a challenge in veterinary practices for ages. But are tensions rising and has the source of conflict changed over the past few years? … We’re living through a highly divisive and politically-charged time in the US and around the globe. And, oh yeah, there's also a pandemic to deal with. This week, hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT explore how the external world’s issues are creating conflict and volatility within veterinary clinics. This is truly a tough t...
Feb 10, 2021•30 min
It’s hard to scroll your social media feeds these days without running across a veterinary professional poking fun at pet parents. But what happens when “funny” crosses into “offensive,” “hurtful,” or client shaming? Have some veterinary professionals taken TikTok too far? … This week, hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT tackle the recent uptick in veterinary social media content aimed at showcasing pet parent demands, questions, and other miscommunication and misunderstandings. Many of ...
Feb 03, 2021•31 min
Ben & Jerry's Doggie Desserts! Need we say more? ... This week we're thrilled to bring you the Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) behind Ben & Jerry's newest product, Doggie Desserts, Lindsay Bumps, CVT! ... Lindsay Bumps, CVT is a Global Marketing Specialist (and canine culture expert for the "K9 to 5'ers" - you have to listen to find out!) for Ben & Jerry's in Vermont. Lindsay shares her story from childhood 4H and horse lover to vet tech school to private practice and how she a...
Jan 27, 2021•30 min
We spend hours each week typing in medical records, SOAPs, client communications, and email. What if we could simply tell our computers what to type? Talkatoo allows veterinary professionals to harness cloud-based AI to dictate their medical records with ease. While this may sound like an informercial, this episode is NOT sponsored… we just believe our colleagues need to know about this time-saving technology! (*But if you’re interested in sponsoring the show… Beckie said let us know!*) … This w...
Jan 20, 2021•37 min
Welcome to 2021! So far, it seems even weirder and more chaotic than 2020! … This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT report on recent curbside innovations from veterinary professionals around the country and how our profession is handling the stress that is January 2021. … Beckie shares the importance of “Communicating above the nose!” And how creative makeup, glamorous glasses, and “fun masks” can make your team more approachable by pet parent and pets. … Client complaints continu...
Jan 13, 2021•30 min
Burnout affects every veterinary professional, regardless of where they work, what they do, or how old or educated they are. This week we’re thrilled to share the mic with Dr. Ivan Zak as he shares insights from his recent veterinary burnout research. … Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT are joined by Dr. Ivan “Zak” Zakharenkov, a veterinarian who recently conducted his MBA dissertation on “Veterinary Burnout.” Dr. Zak reviews the difference between burnout, compassion fatigue, depressi...
Jan 06, 2021•34 min
Happy New Year! 2021 is here… now what? … This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT share their lessons from 2020 and how they each set - and accomplish - goals for the new year. … The duo reflect on the wins and losses for the veterinary profession in 2020 and what they’re looking forward to in 2021. Dr. Ward expresses his hope for a better post-pandemic world and Beckie offers practical advice for anyone who wants to level up their lives in 2021. … We think you’ll find simple ways ...
Dec 30, 2020•28 min
Happy Holidays, Viewfinders! This week we’re sharing your holiday shoutouts to your colleagues, friends, and family. While 2020 has certainly challenged the veterinary profession in unprecedented ways, in this episode we take a few minutes to celebrate the power of our resilience and recognize listeners who were nominated by their peers. … Viewfinders, we hope you enjoy this holiday season safely. Take time to care for yourself and remember the positive things that you’re grateful for this year....
Dec 23, 2020•34 min
Many veterinary professionals feel they have at least a little Dr. Dolittle in them. You know, the ability to connect, communicate, even "talk to the animals." ... This week we're joined by a veterinarian and animal communicator, Dr. Barbara Shor, to discuss what an animal communicator does, her journey to becoming an animal communicator, and the practical - and perhaps even clinical - applications of her work. ... Along the way, Beckie shares her own personal experiences, Dr. Ward asks about th...
Dec 16, 2020•40 min
This week we’re doing a special simultaneous broadcast of our podcast on both the Veterinary Viewfinder channel as well as on the Veterinary Innovation Podcast! Cool! … Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT share the mics with Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak from The Veterinary Innovation Podcast out of chilly but cheerful Canada! … The two teams recount their starts in podcasting, their history in the veterinary profession, and offer advice for anyone inserted in how to create and discover ...
Dec 09, 2020•32 min
If you order inventory, manage a veterinary practice or team, or have to deal with the mountain of “stuff” required to keep a busy clinic cooking, you DO NOT want to miss this week’s episode (and stick around until the end for a special offer for Viewfinders)! … This is one of those episodes that Beckie says, “will 100% affect your day-to-day work.” Inventory management creates A LOT of headaches for veterinary staff. Running out of supplies, missing rebates and deals, backorders, and countless ...
Dec 02, 2020•33 min
This week we’re celebrating FOUR YEARS and 208 EPISODES of the Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast! … Thank you for your loyal listening, sharing with colleagues, and being the best bunch of friends we could hope for! … We take a brief stroll down memory lane this week and share the many reasons why we still love talking with you (and each other!) each week for the past four years. … We then discuss the tremendous amount of feedback we received from last week’s podcast, “The Rise of Veterinary Influen...
Nov 25, 2020•31 min
