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by Dr. Ernie Ward & Beckie Mossor, RVT
Weekly podcast dedicated to "tackling the toughest topics in veterinary medicine." Hosted by veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward and registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT. Candid, irreverent, provocative, educational, and occasionally funny conversations about issues that impact the veterinary profession.
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Why can taking PTO, stepping away during the holidays, leaving on time, or protecting even one hour for yourself feel like letting down your team or the people you love? This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, unpack the guilt veterinary professionals often carry when they step away from the clinic. Their message is simple: feeling guilty is not the same as being selfish, and discomfort does not mean a boundary is wrong. Beckie reflects on her own evolution from a “baby technician” who felt she had something to prove to someone who learned that rest and boundaries are worth the initial discomfort. As she reminds listeners, “You can’t expect that free time to just come.” Even five, ten, or fifteen protected minutes can be a meaningful place to begin, and, after taking that time, “you do come back better.” Ernie shares the lesson that has guided him through decades in veterinary medicine: “If I were trying to protect my time to improve my overall health, that was not selfish. It was essential.” In fact, he makes a strong case for how protecting your well-being can help you better support your family, coworkers, clients, and patients over the long term. Our hosts also challenge practice owners, managers, medical directors, and teammates to examine the culture surrounding PTO and self-care. Comments like “must be nice” or “I wish I could do that” can turn time spent on personal growth into shame. Thoughtful scheduling, appropriate coverage, and genuine encouragement can make healthy boundaries possible, and business leaders must lead by example. They also point out that self-care is not limited to vacations or spa days. It may be a walk, a workout, a chapter of a book, a few quiet minutes, or meaningful time with the people you love. The goal is not perfect balance. It is returning with more energy, patience, and perspective, and building a veterinary career that leaves room for a life beyond the clinic. #VetMed #VetTechLife #VeterinaryWellbeing #PracticeManagement #WorkLifeBalance
Keeping skilled veterinary team members isn’t simply about letting them perform more tasks. In this episode, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, explore Beckie’s early University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill doctoral research into what helps credentialed veterinary technicians feel valued, utilized, and more likely to stay. The findings challenge a familiar assumption in veterinary medicine: working at the top of your license is important, but it isn’t enough. Trust, autonomy, inclusion in clinical decisions, meaningful continuing education, and the freedom to apply new skills may matter just as much as the skills themselves. Ernie and Beckie discuss why surgery teams often model this well, how micromanagement can undermine highly capable employees, and why a generous CE budget only works when team members can use what they learn. They also examine the important difference between keeping people busy and helping them feel fulfilled. For veterinarians, technicians, practice managers, and clinic leaders, the episode offers one practical question: Are you deciding that your team feels utilized—or are you asking them? #VeterinaryMedicine #VetTech #VeterinaryLeadership #VetTeamRetention #VeterinaryPracticeCulture
Getting medications into pets sounds simple—until the patient refuses the tablet, the dose doesn’t fit, the flavor is a disaster, or the client physically can’t make the plan work. This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, talk with Dr. Rae Hutchins and Dr. Jennifer Merlo from Wedgewood Pharmacy about how veterinary compounding can support better patient care when commercially available medications are not the right fit. The conversation covers where compounding helps most, where it should not replace FDA-approved commercial products, and why quality matters more than convenience or cost. The group also digs into common legal and regulatory confusion, including GFI 256, patient-specific prescriptions, office stock, and why veterinarians should understand their state’s rules. Dr. Hutchins also discusses how Wedgewood Pharmacy has transformed the treatment of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) by providing compounded GS-441524 and Molnupiravir. Credentialed veterinary technicians (CrVTs) get a seat at the table, too, as we discuss how technician insight can improve ordering, education, and real-world medication outcomes, along with how Wedgewood Pharmacy is recognizing CrVTs both internally and externally. Practical, grounded, and clinic-relevant, this episode helps veterinary teams feel more confident using compounding medications as part of thoughtful medical care. #VeterinaryMedicine #VetMed #VetTechLife #CompoundingPharmacy #MedicationCompliance
More pet owners are asking an AI agent before they call the clinic. They’re walking into the exam room with AI-generated ideas, possible causes, treatment questions, and sometimes a pretty strong opinion about what should happen next. So how should veterinary teams respond? In this 501st weekly episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, talk about what happens when AI becomes part of the client conversation. Not as a replacement for veterinary care, but as a new starting point for questions, concerns, and expectations. The goal isn’t to shut clients down. It’s to keep them engaged, acknowledge their curiosity, and bring the conversation back to the pet in front of you, the physical exam, and trusted clinical judgment. Our hosts walk through the various responses many vet teams give and explain what may be the best communication approach to this potentially prickly situation in today’s clinics. While AI can provide clients with information, it’s up to veterinary teams to put that information in context. As Dr. Ward advises, “Be what an AI never can: be present, conduct a hands-on examination, and remain accountable to this patient in this room at this time. Let the client keep her curiosity. Just make sure she leaves knowing the difference between a search result and a diagnosis.” #VeterinaryMedicine #VetMed #VeterinaryPodcast #ClientCommunication #AIinVetMed
For 500 consecutive weeks, The Veterinary Viewfinder has shown up for the conversations veterinary medicine needs, from team dynamics and credentialed technician advocacy to urgent care, leadership, burnout, workplace culture, and the profession’s toughest debates. In this milestone episode, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, reflect on nearly a decade of weekly podcasting without missing a single week. They look back at how the show began, why the veterinarian-and-technician perspective has shaped its voice, and what 500 straight weeks have taught them about consistency, respectful disagreement, psychological safety, and professional progress. This episode is both a celebration and a reminder. Veterinary medicine moves forward when people are willing to listen, challenge assumptions, and keep difficult conversations going. Whether you’re a veterinarian, credentialed technician, practice manager, assistant, CSR, or industry leader, this milestone episode offers a thoughtful look at where the profession has been, what still feels stuck, and why showing up still matters. #VeterinaryViewfinder #VeterinaryPodcast #VetMed #VeterinaryTeams #VetTechLife
When was the last time you felt truly appreciated at work? This week on the Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, are joined by Josh “Mexico Joe” Vaisman, MAPPCP (PgD), CCFP, Lead Positive Change Agent, author of Lead to Thrive: The Science of Crafting a Positive Veterinary Culture, and founder of the Flourish Academy. Together, they ask whether veterinary medicine took the “love languages” idea too far in workplace culture. Not because appreciation doesn’t matter, but because a survey, checklist, or favorite “language” can’t replace real human connection. Josh explains what recent research suggests about love languages, why appreciation has to be personal and situational, and how small, consistent actions often matter more than big gestures. From noticing when a teammate is overwhelmed, to saying thank you with impact, to repairing after conflict, this episode offers a more practical way to help veterinary teams feel seen, valued, and needed. Because appreciation isn’t a box to check. It’s a relationship to build.
Pride Month gives veterinary teams a chance to celebrate LGBTQ+ colleagues and clients, but real allyship has to continue long after June. This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, talk with Stephanie Goss, CEO of PrideVMC, about how veterinary practices can move beyond rainbow stickers and build support into everyday clinic culture. Stephanie shares her path to and through veterinary medicine, the work of PrideVMC, and why visibility, community, mentorship, and leadership opportunities matter for LGBTQ+ veterinary professionals. The conversation focuses on practical steps every clinic can take: normalizing pronouns without forcing anyone to disclose, reviewing forms for assumptions about gender and family structure, practicing respectful introductions, and creating a workplace where people feel safe speaking up when something goes wrong. This episode is for veterinarians, technicians, CSRs, managers, and practice owners who want to show up better. Allyship doesn’t have to be perfect. It does have to be consistent, respectful, and year-round. Links: Allyship Resources: https://pridevmc.org/allyship-resources/ Gender Diversity Guide: https://pridevmc.org/gender-diversity-guide/ Gender Identity Bill of Rights: https://gibor.pridevmc.org/ Virtual First Aid Kit: https://pridevmc.org/firstaid/ #VeterinaryMedicine #VetMed #PrideVMC #LGBTQVetMed #VeterinaryLeadership
America’s 250th birthday is not shaping up to be a typical one-night July 4th celebration. With fireworks and community events expected to stretch across July 3, 4, and 5 (and expect some noise even earlier), Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, are urging veterinary teams to prepare now for an extra-long, extra-loud holiday weekend. This episode focuses on what clinics can do before the booms begin: check medication inventory, reach out to clients early about noise-aversion plans, remind pet owners not to wait until the last minute, and prepare for closed clinics, overwhelmed ERs, and staffing challenges. Ernie and Beckie also discuss holiday risks beyond fireworks, including lost pets, outdated microchip information, travel stress, barbecue hazards, cannabis exposure, and pets in unfamiliar vacation environments. It’s a timely reminder that this year’s July 4th isn’t just July 4, and vet teams can help clients, patients, and colleagues avoid preventable chaos. #VeterinaryMedicine #VetMed #VetTechLife #FireworksSafety #July4thPetSafety
Weekly podcast dedicated to "tackling the toughest topics in veterinary medicine." Hosted by veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward and registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT. Candid, irreverent, provocative, educational, and occasionally funny conversations about issues that impact the veterinary profession.
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