Podcast A Vet: Stories, Support & Community From Leaders In The Veterinary Field

Today we're having a look inside the mind of today’s veterinary student. Dr. Laurie Fonken focuses on helping students take care of themselves throughout the stressful journey of veterinary schooling and she speaks about the importance of bravery, self-love and the relief of having someone to talk to.

Do you ever feel like you’re figuring things out in a very different way from everyone else? As we always say here at Podcast A Vet, everyone has their own trajectory and their own path. Today’s guest talks to us about how his travels in South America gave him the final nudge to commit to becoming a vet.

Sometimes it’s easy to forget how many options are open to you in the vet profession. Clinical veterinary practice isn’t the only route you can take. Dr. Julie Lenoch is an incredible example of someone who has worked in veterinary science in many different ways, and might provide some inspiration for you as well!

Have you ever faced a regular onslaught of negativity about your career? Today’s guest, Karie Madigan, is an example of someone who not only succeeded in the face of negativity, but achieved longevity in that success as well.

Have you ever had to tackle a pet owner at the veterinary office before? Today’s guest has! She also tells us about how her black belt in karate has come in handy as a vet, not only physically (except this one time!) but mentally.

If you've been listening to Podcast A Vet for a while, you may remember Zach Lake in Episode 16 talking about what year one of vet school is like. Today we're talking with Cindy Vaca, an almost graduated fourth-year vet student to get a very different perspective on the experience of going through veterinary school.

It can be hard if you’re about to graduate vet school and you still don’t know what you want to do. One of the options you might consider is pursuing a one-year internship. That was the path that today’s guest, Nina Garbino took, and she says she wouldn’t change a thing.

Sometimes life serves you giant problems, and you face the choice of whether or not you're going to live fully. Jeanne Ficociello is a veterinarian and close friend of mine who has lived vivaciously in spite of an advanced kidney disease, and today she shares some of the keys to that resiliency with us.

Remember your first year in vet school? How about the application process? Everyone has a different path that leads them to vet school, but once there, we all go through the same classes, lectures, and labs. Today we talk to Zach Lake, a  first-year vet student, about his fresh off the press experience and how he gets through it.

Do you ever wonder how to avoid burnout with your career and keep up your professional longevity? Without it, you might find yourself emotionally and energetically fried after a few years. This is especially difficult for high intensity specialities like emergency and critical care. Tim Hackett’s figured out the secrets however, and joins us today to share them with us.

Many people who become vets start out their careers with that intention, but that wasn’t the case with Dr. Melinda Frye. In today’s episode, we talk about how chance encounters and unexpected opportunities can open up the possibilities of your life in ways you hadn’t imagined, as long as you stay open to them, and commit to them when they appear.

It's no secret that the most common career path in the veterinary field is the one that leads to small animal care. But that's not every vet's calling. Today we talk with Dr. Myra Barrett about what it takes to break out of that track and specialize in an area that really lights you up.

When most people think of veterinary medicine, they think of emergency surgeries or sick pets. Not many of us would immediately think of rehabilitation or sports medicine, but this is a growing field that is allowing us to help our clients and patients in new ways. Jessica Rychel is a pioneer in this field and she shared a lot of insights with us on this episode of Podcast A Vet.

Veterinary medicine is no doubt one of the most emotionally taxing professions out there and the need for support within the community and for our patients & clients is massive. Erin Allen spends every day in the thick of it, whether it is advocating for patients or debriefing the staff, she is always there to be of service to anyone who needs help in navigating the emotions and stresses of this field.

We’ve all heard stories about how an influential mentor changed someone’s life and career path entirely, and we’ve got another one for you today. Veterinary Surgeon Dr. Clara Goh has had a few twists and turns in her veterinary career and they all came from as a result of mentors who believed in her before she believed in herself.