In this episode, I wanted to share some of the reasons why we're taking a break from Podcast A Vet. I'm guessing you can relate, and hopefully this episode will be a reminder to look after yourself and do what you need to do to look after yourself and ensure you're showing up for your family, colleagues, friends, and community.

If you tuned in last week to our episode with Dr. Seth Williams, you heard the first half of our talk.  This week, you can catch the second half of our conversation over on Seth's podcast, Vet School Unleased.

Seth Williams is the mastermind behind Vet School Unleashed and a DVM who plays by his own rules. After graduating with a music business degree Seth went back to veterinary school when he realized his passion could bring him closer to a job he could never have dreamed of.

If you want to get to the top of any niche in the veterinary world, you probably know it's going to be a tough slog at times. You might not realize, however, the impact of our career pursuits on other areas of our lives. Dr. Jon Congdon shares his insight into how to navigate your way to the top of a specialized field while maintaining your relationships, and sanity. 

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go through veterinary school with a new baby? Erika Berra is doing just that, currently in her third year of veterinary school and crushing it as a super mom with her 14-month-year-old, Teddy. Today Teddy and Erika join us to give us a real, honest look at what it looks like to be a new parent in vet school.

For a lot of people unfamiliar with the pet oncology space, it comes as a surprise that pets can develop the exact same strains of cancer that humans do. Perhaps even more surprising however is that in many cases, research into cancer treatment for dogs in particular could be the missing link between mice and humans. At the forefront of this research which has already boasted many breakthroughs into both human and animal treatment, is today’s guest, Dr. Christine Hardy.

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.

Sir Isaac Newtown once said that in order to see further than others you must stand on the shoulders of giants. Simon Turner is an equine surgeon originally from Australia who lives this philosophy every day. Through the mentorship, he has received, and in turn, the mentorship he provides others, Simon is a pristine example of the beauty found in the veterinary profession. 

Dr. Sarah Wooten is a veterinarian who believes in pushing boundaries. An advocate for women in veterinary leadership roles, a writer for Pet MD & DVM 360, restaurant owner as well as the creator of Vets Against Insanity, a ‘cards against humanity’ style game for veterinarians, Sarah is a woman of many hats. 

Happy New Year Podcat A Vet family! While we can barely believe that 2020 is already upon us, it is an exciting time of year here at the Podcast A Vet headquarters. As we look forward to Season 3 of Podcast A Vet and reflect on the past year, we want to say thank you to our wonderful community and Patreons. This show wouldn’t exist without you and it is our pleasure to recognize all you do for your profession and each other. 

Happy Holiday’s Podcast A Vet family! Today I am joined by our Director of Operations, Kelsey Cates, to have a look back on all that we have accomplished this past year on Podcast A Vet. With the end of ‘Season 2’ approaching and the start of a new decade we thought we would take the opportunity to thank you as our listeners and look forward into the new year.

A woman who wears many hats, Lori Cesario is passionate about having her hand in many fields while remaining dedicated to her oncology patients. Originally hailing from California and a Ross University Vet School graduate, Lori is here today to remind us not to sweat the small stuff. 

MJ Hamilton has spent his entire life in veterinary medicine and it has taken him across the country from Las Vegas to Michigan and more. On top of the wild parties he hosted during veterinary school, MJ realized that even though he had a strong love for veterinary practice, not everything was the right fit. After he hit is a critical breaking point, MJ realized he needed to go after his passion rather than the status quo and started PVS Pet Cancer, the world’s first mobile oncology unit.

Often during this celebratory time of year, I like to take a look back and remember all of the moments where I physically felt the feeling of ‘wow, I can’t believe we get to do this’. Podcast A Vet has shared over 100 people’s stories and it is only through being transparent and helping the community grow that we can continue to build the Podcast A Vet Family. 

Alissa Edoff’s path to veterinary medicine has taken her all over the world, from her native Colorado to Australia, Glasgow and beyond, she is passionate about exploring and setting yourself apart from the crowd. From hospital work to research and corporate positions, Alissa has the determination to follow what she wants and is here today to share her story of how she was able to find happiness in starting her own business.

After brief stints playing in a band in Mexico, working as a waitress and putting herself through veterinary school, H. Howells learned that she enjoyed supporting veterinarians much more than she enjoyed practicing. This inspired her to create Agents of Change, a coaching program focusing on the health, life and team aspects of veterinary medicine.

Chris Chase believes in the necessity of the spiritual, mental and educational aspects to becoming a great veterinarian. A DVM, speaker, educator, and chief scientific officer at RTI, Chris is a trained classic virologist and immunologist who uses his unconditional love and commitment to make the profession a better place.

Jennifer House is a real-life virus hunter, DVM, and public health veterinarian. Jennifer is passionate about keeping animals and humans safe from diseases such as rabies, plague, and tularemia. 

Ryane Englar is a DVM certified in canine and feline practice and an assistant professor and clinical education coordinator at Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine. Ryane works to help her students understand life, connections, and relationships to get to the other side of hardships. 

Laurel Krause is a 4th-year veterinary student from CSU who took the long road to veterinary school and has since embraced her path to veterinary medicine. The CVMA student representative for her year and lifelong ‘cat-whisperer’, Laurel is providing insight into the delicate balance between the art and science aspect of the brain as well as veterinary medicine and how she transitioned from a life in Hollywood to finding her new home at CSU.

This week is National Veterinary Tech Week, a time where we can give thanks, respect, and love to the heartbeats of our hospital. Without nurses, veterinary technicians, RVT’s, LVT’s, CVT’s and all of the heroes in our hospitals who don't get enough credit, we simply would not be able to function.

Have you ever wanted to bond with lions and tigers and bears? Becca Miceli is the Chief Officer of Science and Welfare, otherwise known as the veterinary technician, at the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado. From an early age she has had a fascination towards ‘animals that can eat her’, and now works in the sanctuaries 720 acres, with 532 animals ranging from tigers to grizzly bears and lynx.

In a lot of ways, the way we practice veterinary medicine today is not setting ourselves up for success. Many of us are burnt out, tired, and considering leaving the profession far earlier than our counterparts in generations past. Lisa Mausbach knows this feeling first hand, and after her feelings toward veterinary medicine shifted from excitement to dread, Lisa knew she needed to make a change.

Wendy Hauser has had a chance to wear many hats in her career, being involved in everything from pharmaceuticals, to practice ownership, consulting and pet insurance. Since deciding she was destined for veterinary medicine at age nine, Wendy has worked to develop her skills and resume to reflect her dedication, determination, and resilience.