The Veterinary Project Podcast

Dr. Emily Singler is a 2001 graduate of Penn State University and a 2005 graduate of University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She has navigated 4 pregnancies while working in veterinary clinical practice and has been a working mom throughout the majority of her tenure as a veterinarian.    Her career in veterinary medicine has included experience in shelter medicine, private practice, and as a relief veterinarian.  She currently works as a veterinary writer, consultant, and mentor and enjoys writing for both pet owners and veterinary professionals. Her writing interests include public health, preventive medicine, the human-animal bond, and life as a working mom.  She is the author of Pregnancy and Postpartum Considerations for the Veterinary Team, which is being published by CRC Press in November 2023.  She has spoken both virtually and in person on working in veterinary medicine through pregnancy and beyond, with an emphasis on navigating workplace hazards, workplace protections against discrimination, planning parental leave, and returning to work.  Currently, she is working toward becoming a RETAIN certified parental leave coach. Emily is a mom of four kids, 2 dogs, and 1 cat.  She enjoys spending time with her husband and kids, and she loves horseback riding and all things llama and alpaca.  She is learning to embrace the chaos of having a big family and finds solace in connecting with others and eating chocolate. **If you want to jump straight to the interview, skip ahead to 12:40! After some always enjoyable banter time from Dr. Bugg and Dr. Leicht on everything from ChatGPT to video games, the conversation with Dr. Singler takes off covering: The genesis of Emily's book Why she decided to write a book Researching the risks during pregnancy while working in practice Discussion around leave to handle newborn care responsibilities Considerations for non-birthing parents Announcing a pregnancy in the workplace How potential workplace discrimination arises Navigating the challenges on veterinary teams that arise with pregnancy, parental leave, and child care Emily's Impact Round Thank you to Dr. Emily Singler for joining us on the show and sharing her message and insights on this important topic. To order Dr. Singler's book, you can find it online here: www.emilysinglervmd.com https://www.amazon.com/Pregnancy-Postpartum-Considerations-Veterinary-Team/dp/1032524979 To connect with Dr. Singler, you can find her in the following places: www.emilysinglervmd.com @emilysinglervmd Check out our website at theveterinaryproject.com for more info about the show, our hosts, and all things Veterinary Project, or follow us on Instagram @theveterinaryproject. If you liked the show and want to stay in the know, please subscribe to the podcast on the listening platform of your choosing. Any questions, comments, feedback, or requests for guests can be sent to our Instagram, @theveterinaryproject. Thank you for listening!

Dr. Jenna Donaldson graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2013 and has been working as an equine ambulatory veterinarian ever since. She has practiced in Alberta, New York and southern Ontario. Today, she is a partner at Rotenberg Veterinary, an equine mobile practice based in Schomberg, ON. Through her years working at a variety of different practices, Jenna has developed a passion for creating a sustainable work environment for equine veterinarians. In 2022, she launched Trillium Equine Veterinary Services providing after-hours mobile emergency care to horses in southwestern Ontario. Trillium Equine's focus is to improve the quality of life of equine vets, allowing them to stay in practice longer than might have been possible with typical on-call requirements. In this wide-ranging conversation with Jenna we cover The journey from graduation to working as an associate to becoming a partner The partnership buy-in process Building a great team and why it matters when buying-in to a practice Difference between being an employee and an owner Starting up a "side-hustle" in Trillium Equine to solve a need in the marketplace Jenna's Impact Round! Thank you to Jenna for joining us on the show! If you'd like to connect with Jenna, you can find her through Trillium Equine Veterinary Services online in the following places: @trilliumequine https://trilliumequine.ca/ https://www.facebook.com/trilliumequine Check out our website at theveterinaryproject.com for more info about the show, our hosts, and all things Veterinary Project, or follow us on Instagram @theveterinaryproject. If you liked the show and want to stay in the know, please subscribe to the podcast on the listening platform of your choosing. Any questions, comments, feedback, or requests for guests can be sent to our Instagram, @theveterinaryproject. Thank you for listening!

Elaine Froese has coached over 1000 families helping decrease their anxiety over the uncertainty of their future. She has authored 5 books, and written a column for 27 years in Grainews, and is seen in Progressive Dairy and Spud Smart magazine. She’s a Wilson Loree Excellence in Farm Management award winner, who provides practical tools and roadmaps to find fairness in farm transition.  Froese Family Farms near Boissevain in Southwestern Manitoba is her home base, where she farms with her husband, son, and daughter in law. At 66, her succession plan is building a team of 7 coaches to replicate her work.  Faith Today magazine calls her “Canada’s Farm Whisperer”. CBC radio calls her the “Dr. Phil for farmers. “ Penny, Ruby, and Read call her “Gramma.”  Elaine understands the culture of agriculture and is gifted at helping folks see great outcomes and workable paths for their family farms.  Her mission is to help families find harmony through understanding. Who is Elaine Froese The FAIR model for making transitions Workplace culture, values, and making decision Tools for discussing tough issues Making clear your expectations and getting your needs met How things change (financially) and what the career focus should be in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, or 60s All things start with the question, "what do you want?" Mic-drop moments that you'll want to note Elaine's Impact Round! Thanks for joining us for this incredible episode with Elaine Froese! If you'd like to connect with Elaine you can find her online in the following places: www.farmfamilycoach.com www.elainefroese.com @farmfamilycoach across all the social channels Check out our website at theveterinaryproject.com for more info about the show, our hosts, and all things Veterinary Project, or follow us on Instagram @theveterinaryproject. If you liked the show and want to stay in the know, please subscribe to the podcast on the listening platform of your choosing. Any questions, comments, feedback, or requests for guests can be sent to our Instagram, @theveterinaryproject. Thank you for listening!

Long time no see VPP listeners! Welcome back to the show - we're so excited to be back on air! And yes, we know, we said we'd be back in September. We've already done our 50 push-ups as punishment. On with the show though as Dr. Bugg and Dr. Leicht reconnect, get reacquainted, share some personal and professional wins, and dive into the current state of the veterinary profession with its many challenges and many optimisms. Topics covered include: Welcoming the new class of students to Vet Med When you realize that the Veterinary Project Podcast is helping people make big life decisions in joining the profession! Dr. Jonathan Leicht updates on Bridgeland, Mosaic, 60+ hour weeks, and quality time with the family Dr. Michael Bugg updates on the real estate world and a dream opportunity come true Price rediscovery in clinic valuations Why we're in an "operating environment" and what that means Changing Locum sentiment as a result of wage changes Utilization rates and the rising cost of services Veterinary professionals still need to focus on their mental health Thanks for joining us for our relaunch and we'll see you again in two weeks for another episode! Check out our website at theveterinaryproject.com for more info about the show, our hosts, and all things Veterinary Project, or follow us on Instagram @theveterinaryproject. If you liked the show and want to stay in the know, please subscribe to the podcast on the listening platform of your choosing. Any questions, comments, feedback, or requests for guests can be sent to our Instagram, @theveterinaryproject. Thank you for listening!

We're in a season of transition here at the Veterinary Project, as Dr. Jonathan Leicht and Dr. Michael Bugg share the moving pieces in today's episode. With plenty of activity on the business front, along with family vacations planned for the summer, our team is shifting gears and buckling down for a summer of push combined with quality time with our families. We wanted to share with you some of the things we've learned in making this transition, including: Business ventures in the vet med and real estate investing spaces Why we're taking a hiatus until September The four seasons of life and how it relates to current business ventures Jonny's removal of Instagram and how it positively impacted his life (and use of time) Summer plans, Summer fun, and what's coming next Fall Wishing you and your loved ones an amazing summer - we look forward to more conversations, interviews, and great guests in Fall 2023! Check out our website at theveterinaryproject.com for more info about the show, our hosts, and all things Veterinary Project, or follow us on Instagram @theveterinaryproject. If you liked the show and want to stay in the know, please subscribe to the podcast on the listening platform of your choosing. Any questions, comments, feedback, or requests for guests can be sent to our Instagram, @theveterinaryproject. Thank you for listening!

A big welcome back to the show to Dr. Melanie Barham! A previous guest from 100+ episodes ago, no doubt a lot has changed as she now leads the team at Vets Stay Go Diversify, an organization committed to helping veterinary professionals and employers find a great fit for what they need. Melanie is a veterinarian, entrepreneur, speaker, educator, and mum. She holds a DVM from the Ontario Veterinary College, and an MBA in Sustainable Commerce from the University of Guelph, and a Project Management Professional designation. Melanie has held roles in many fields of vet med including sport horse medicine, consulting, laboratory, surveillance, not-for-profit/ NGO, and charity sectors.  She founded the DVM Project, the North American branch of VSGD, and formally joined the VSGD team in September 2022.  Melanie’s MBA research focused on veterinary career paths. Topics covered in our episode with Melanie include: From the DVM Project to CEO of Vets Stay Go Diversify How to craft a great story The power of story for employers seeking great candidates Developing your personal story as an employee seeking a great place to work Why employers should ask their current employees questions why they choose / continue to work at your clinic What stories aren't you telling? What does the data say about our industry (employee and employer satisfaction) How to renew your interest in the veterinary industry if you're feeling bored or disenchanted Why do most people undersell themselves and what can we do about it? The relativity of extraordinary and normal Why storytelling is more "sticky" Tips for crafting your story to increase connection and bridge the gap LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniebarhamdvm/ Email: mel@vsgd.co Website: https://vsgd.co/ Check out our website at theveterinaryproject.com for more info about the show, our hosts, and all things Veterinary Project, or follow us on Instagram @theveterinaryproject. If you liked the show and want to stay in the know, please subscribe to the podcast on the listening platform of your choosing. Any questions, comments, feedback, or requests for guests can be sent to our Instagram, @theveterinaryproject. Thank you for listening and we'll catch you again in 2 weeks for another episode of The Veterinary Project Podcast!

Welcome to Mike & Jonny's "Relationship Roundtable"! In this episode, Dr. Bugg and Dr. Leicht are talking about relationships...and no, they did not become relationship coaches! Personally and professionally relationships are key to success in life. Amidst current struggles in both areas, Mike and Jonny decided to bring the subject some light to share what's working, what's not, and how they're working to get better. Through hearing their challenges we hope you'll find something helpful for you. Topics covered include: Relationships are everything! Being responsible to the relationships in your personal and professional life The struggles of keeping relationships in good standing Time vs. attention What's working for us Being genuinely curious about others Got some relationship tips for us? Send them directly - we'd love to hear from you! Check out our website at theveterinaryproject.com for more info about the show, our hosts, and all things Veterinary Project, or give us a follow.  If you liked the show and want to stay in the know, please subscribe to the podcast on the listening platform of your choosing. Thank you for listening and we'll catch you again in 2 weeks for another episode of The Veterinary Project Podcast!

Yang Shi, Founder and CEO, and Cecilia Baer, Director of Sales at VetSnap join us for a conversation unlike anything we've had on the Veterinary Project Podcast... Being compliant with the controlled drugs and substances we use in veterinary medicine is incredibly important. It's also something that many clinics find time consuming, and employees find draining. That's where VetSnap comes into play - by simplifying the tracking process and making compliance easy. Prior to VetSnap, Yang headed up technology at National Veterinary Associates. Before that he worked in aerospace, consumer electronics product management, and management consulting. He lives in Northern California with his wife and pup, Penny. Cecilia has worked in the veterinary industry as a technician for 13 years, then in sales for the last 9 years. She lives in Kentucky with her husband, 3 two-legged kids, and 3 four-legged kids! Topics covered in this eye-opening conversation include: Yang and Cecilia's journey to today Why compliance in tracking controlled drugs and substances matters Just how much time and money do poor tracking practices cost? Getting clinic staff with little time to adopt new technologies Having faith in the entrepreneurial journey Yang and Cecilia's Impact Round! Thank you to Yang and Cecilia for joining us on the show, sharing their stories, and illuminating us on the benefits of VetSnap. If you'd like to learn more about VetSnap, check out their website or find them on Facebook! https://go.vetsnap.com/ https://www.facebook.com/VetSnap Check out our website at theveterinaryproject.com for more info about the show, our hosts, and all things Veterinary Project, or follow us on Instagram @theveterinaryproject. If you liked the show and want to stay in the know, please subscribe to the podcast on the listening platform of your choosing. Any questions, comments, feedback, or requests for guests can be sent to our Instagram, @theveterinaryproject. Thank you for listening and we'll catch you again in 2 weeks for another episode of The Veterinary Project Podcast!

Jillian Carr is the driving force behind Steady Gait Planning Inc., a financial planning practice offering people in the veterinary community a place to feel educated and empowered by their financial journey. Jillian has spent the last 16 years in the Financial Services industry, 8 of those years were working with leading financial services companies and the last 8 building Steady Gait Planning.   Building a practice in a male dominated, antiquated world has been challenging. Jillian learned to truly follow her authentic self and ideas.  Jillian is no stranger to diversity in life and finances – watching her parents divorce at the age of 19, navigating a mother with mental illness and 15 years later seeing her dad, her career and life advisor, pass away due to complications from a traumatic brain injury all while trying to build her business during the height of the pandemic. Jillian is a designated financial advisor, an active member on the board of the advisor association, and an ally and mental health advocate in the veterinarian community. Topics covered in our wide-ranging conversation with Jillian include: Getting to the root of people's financial fears Common money stories veterinarians have Why people are scared to have conversations about money, especially with contract negotiations Why we're afraid to talk about the money positives Shifting your financial plan as your career progresses Tactics for better money conversations 100% responsibility motto Getting actively involved in your finances Jillian's Impact Round! Thank you to Jillian for joining us for a courageous money conversation. jillian@steadygaitplanning.com IG: @steadygaitplanninginc Budgeting tool mentioned in the show: https://itools-ioutils.fcac-acfc.gc.ca/BP-PB/budget-planner Check out our website at theveterinaryproject.com for more info about the show, our hosts, and all things Veterinary Project, or follow us on Instagram @theveterinaryproject. If you liked the show and want to stay in the know, please subscribe to the podcast on the listening platform of your choosing. Any questions, comments, feedback, or requests for guests can be sent to our Instagram, @theveterinaryproject. Thank you for listening and we'll catch you again in 2 weeks for another episode of The Veterinary Project Podcast!

Back in 2021, we aired Episode 026 on understanding contracts. Well, a lot has changed in the industry over the past two years, so we've put together an update and included answers to the most common questions Dr. Jonathan Leicht has been getting at recent event presentations with new grads, practicing veterinarians, and employers. Topics covered and questions answered include: Expected salary ranges for new grads What increased salaries mean for production expectations from employers Signing bonuses: red flag or the norm? The power of informal references in your job search Both sides of retention bonuses Where we're at with non-competes What are "rolling contract terms" Extras in contracts to consider Allowing time for reviewing, due diligence, and negotiations Want to learn more about Veterinary Employment Contracts? Check out our first episode, Episode 026, where we dive deeper into the subject: Episode 026 - Understanding Contracts Check out our website at theveterinaryproject.com for more info about the show, our hosts, and all things Veterinary Project, or follow us on Instagram @theveterinaryproject. If you liked the show and want to stay in the know, please subscribe to the podcast on the listening platform of your choosing. Any questions, comments, feedback, or requests for guests can be sent to our Instagram, @theveterinaryproject. Thank you for listening and we'll catch you again in 2 weeks for another episode of The Veterinary Project Podcast!