Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast

Episode

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  Clickbait, Mistrust, and the Veterinary Team Divide 19.08.2026 23mnt

  A headline can do more than earn a click. It can change how veterinary professionals see one another. This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, examine how clickbait and rage-bait framing can deepen mistrust across veterinary teams. Using a provocative article about employee theft as a starting point, they explore what happens when practical business guidance is presented in terms of employers versus employees, managers versus staff, or one part of the hospital versus another. Ernie and Beckie aren’t arguing against audits, safeguards, accountability, or sound financial controls. They’re asking whether those measures can be discussed without treating every team member as a potential threat. The conversation expands to other familiar divides, including front versus back, veterinarians versus technicians, and corporate versus independent practice. They also challenge veterinary publications, professional organizations, and social media creators to consider how headlines shape beliefs, workplace culture, and public perceptions of the profession. The takeaway: protect the practice, address real problems, and choose language that builds collaboration instead of suspicion. #VetMed #VetTech #VeterinaryTeam #VeterinaryLeadership #WorkplaceCulture
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  Mini Cows, Backyard Chickens, and the Veterinary Care Gap 12.08.2026 24mnt

  Backyard chickens, miniature cows, goats, pigs, and other unconventional pets are showing up in suburban homes and on social feeds faster than veterinary care can keep pace. In this episode, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, examine what happens when owners expect a small animal clinic to help with a species the team isn’t trained, equipped, or comfortable treating. They discuss the real risks of leaving that gap to social media influencers, the pressure already facing large animal veterinarians, and why simply turning people away can damage both animal welfare and community trust. The conversation also explores a more hopeful side: clinics with genuine interest can use targeted CE, basic equipment, team training, and strong referral relationships to serve an emerging need. Veterinarians, technicians, and practice managers will leave with practical questions to ask now: Do we have a script for these calls? Do we know where to refer urgent cases? Could this be a service, recruiting, or professional-growth opportunity? And how can we educate owners before a viral pet trend becomes an animal welfare problem? #VeterinaryMedicine #VetMed #VeterinaryTechnician #BackyardChickens #ExoticPetCare
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  Ghosted by a Vet Practice? There’s a Website for That. 05.08.2026 26mnt

  Veterinary employers have long complained about applicants disappearing during the hiring process. Now, candidates who are ghosted after an interview have websites where they can publicly report the employer. This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, explore what these anonymous reporting sites reveal about hiring culture in the U.S., and perhaps in veterinary medicine. Beckie explains why silence after an interview can create more than frustration. Candidates may put other opportunities on hold because they believe a decision is still pending. Ernie argues that while practices may not owe every applicant a personal response, anyone who has invested time in an interview deserves a clear and timely answer. They discuss the risks of unverified online reports, when a simple email is enough, and why post-interview communication should be part of every practice’s hiring process. They also offer practical advice for candidates handling rejection without damaging future opportunities. In a small profession, failing to respond doesn’t just end one conversation. It can affect a practice’s reputation and cost it a strong future hire. #VeterinaryMedicine #VetMed #VeterinaryHiring #VeterinaryCareers #PracticeManagement
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  Boundaries Aren’t Selfish—They Keep You in Vet Med 29.07.2026 27mnt

  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
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  Beckie Asked Vet Techs What Makes Them Stay—Here’s What She Heard 22.07.2026 24mnt

  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
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  What Vet Teams Need to Know About Compounding with Wedgewood Pharmacy 15.07.2026 40mnt

  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
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  When Clients Ask AI Before They Ask You 08.07.2026 27mnt

  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
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  500 Consecutive Weeks: The Veterinary Viewfinder Reaches a Rare Podcast Milestone 01.07.2026 32mnt

  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
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  Why “Love Languages” Aren’t a Workplace Strategy 24.06.2026 32mnt

  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.
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  Pride Month Is a Start. Allyship Is Year-Round. 17.06.2026 33mnt

  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
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  America’s 250th Means More Booms, More Noise, and More Vet Med Prep 10.06.2026 20mnt

  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
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  Does Veterinary Medicine Have an Identity Crisis? 03.06.2026 30mnt

  What does it mean to be a veterinarian, a credentialed veterinary technician, an assistant, or a new role entering the clinical space? In this episode, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, dig into veterinary medicine’s identity problem: how comparisons to human medicine, unclear titles, internal hierarchies, and emerging roles like Colorado’s veterinary professional associate (VPA) can shape how teams see themselves and each other. They talk candidly about why “more than” or “less than” language can create competition rather than confidence, how that trickles down through the clinic, and why role clarity matters for morale, collaboration, and long-term career satisfaction. This conversation is especially relevant for veterinarians, vet techs, assistants, practice managers, and anyone navigating scope-of-practice debates or changing team structures. Ernie and Beckie make the case for being proud of your role without needing to compare it to someone else’s, and for building clinic cultures where every team member understands their value. #VeterinaryMedicine#VetMed#VetTechLife#VeterinaryTeams#VetMedLeadership
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  The Veterinary Urgent Care Gap We Can’t Ignore 27.05.2026 26mnt

  After-hours and urgent care have changed dramatically in veterinary medicine, but the system still has serious gaps. In this episode, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, look at what happens when pet owners need help after hours, and there’s nowhere realistic to send them. The conversation starts with the old model of pagers, late-night calls, and general practices carrying emergency responsibility. Then it moves into today’s urgent care boom, the difference between true urgent care and walk-in sick visits, and the strain this puts on veterinary teams. But this episode also widens the lens beyond dogs and cats. Horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, birds, and other companion animals are often left with even fewer options, especially when emergencies happen outside normal clinic hours. Ernie and Beckie talk honestly about sustainability, affordability, team burnout, and why expanding care may be both a challenge and an opportunity for the profession. #VeterinaryMedicine #VetMed #VeterinaryUrgentCare #AfterHoursVetCare #VeterinaryViewfinder
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  The Mobile Vet Tech: Building a Career Beyond the Clinic 20.05.2026 24mnt

  This week on the Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, talk with Michelle Crew, a credentialed LVT and the entrepreneur behind The Mobile Vet Tech, about building a career outside the traditional clinic setting. After losing what she thought was her “unicorn job” during COVID, Michelle began offering in-home services such as nail trims and anal gland expression, and found a new way to support pets, clients, and other veterinary professionals. Michelle shares what she has learned about starting slowly, setting client boundaries, staying safe on house calls, protecting mental health, and redefining what it means to work “at the top of your license.” The conversation also highlights her work helping other veterinary technicians through TikTok, The Unattached Facebook group, and Endless Journeys: The Vet Tech Odyssey Podcast. For vet techs, assistants, practice managers, and veterinarians, this episode offers a practical, encouraging look at entrepreneurship, alternative career paths, and the many ways credentialed professionals can make an impact. #VeterinaryMedicine #VetTechLife #CredentialedVetTech #MobileVetTech #VeterinaryViewfinder
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  Hantavirus, Hype, and the Future of Client Trust 13.05.2026 18mnt

  In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, use the current Hantavirus conversation as a jumping-off point for a bigger issue affecting every veterinary team: public trust in science. This is not a panic episode, and it is not about predicting another COVID. Instead, it is a practical conversation about science skepticism, vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, and what all of that may mean for veterinary medicine going forward. Ernie and Beckie talk through how fear spreads, why social media noise often drowns out calm expert guidance, and why veterinary professionals may increasingly find themselves answering client questions tied to public health, animals, and trust. They also explore the role of vet teams as credible, steady voices in a confusing information landscape. If you work in a vet clinic, this episode will help you think about client communication, One Health awareness, and how to respond when public uncertainty spills into everyday veterinary practice. #VeterinaryMedicine #VetMed #VeterinaryViewfinder #ScienceCommunication #VaccineHesitancy
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  Missed Charges: Who Pays When the Clinic Gets It Wrong? 06.05.2026 28mnt

  Missed charges happen in every veterinary practice, but what happens next says a lot about clinic culture. In this episode, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, take on the uncomfortable reality of billing mistakes: forgotten charges, wrong invoice items, inventory mix-ups, and the dreaded follow-up call to a client. They discuss why missed charges often turn into blame, especially for technicians, CSRs, and support staff, and how clinics can handle these mistakes without creating fear or finger-pointing. Beckie emphasizes the role of psychological safety, while Ernie shares how written policies, clear thresholds, and manager-led client communication helped his teams manage billing errors more fairly. The episode offers practical takeaways for owners, managers, veterinarians, techs, and front-desk teams: make charges easier to enter correctly, define when the clinic absorbs small errors, decide who contacts the client, and stop treating normal human mistakes like personal failures. #VeterinaryMedicine #VetTechLife #VeterinaryPracticeManagement #VetMedLeadership #VeterinaryViewfinder
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  More Voices, Less Turf War in Vet Med 29.04.2026 23mnt

  Veterinary medicine is full of passionate people, but sometimes that passion turns into camps, loyalty tests, and turf wars. In this episode of the Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, discuss why veterinary professionals can feel pressured to support only one organization, cause, or point of view, and why that mindset may be holding the profession back. From veterinarians and credentialed veterinary technicians to students, practice managers, and clinic leaders, this conversation explores how organized veterinary medicine can be stronger when more voices are welcomed at the table. Ernie and Beckie talk about scarcity thinking, professional identity, advocacy, and why new organizations do not have to be seen as threats to existing ones. They also highlight the launch and kickoff weekend for AACVT, including ways veterinary technicians and team members can get involved, connect, and support the profession. Learn more about the AACVT kickoff event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/860435577068522 Visit AACVT here: www.aacvt.org #VeterinaryMedicine #VetMed #VetTechLife #OrganizedVetMed #AACVT
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  Veterinary Receptionist Week: The Team That Keeps Your Day on Track 22.04.2026 16mnt

  This week on Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, focus on Veterinary Receptionist Week (April 19–25, 2026) and the people who hold the entire clinic together from the front desk. They break down what veterinary receptionists actually do day to day, from triaging calls and managing the schedule to handling emotional clients and keeping patient flow on track. It’s a role that’s often underestimated, but as they point out, even the best clinical team struggles if the front desk isn’t supported. The conversation goes beyond recognition and into what real appreciation looks like. They share simple, practical ways to make it meaningful, like handwritten notes, personal recognition, and taking pressure off the phones during the workday. They also touch on training, professional development, and why the human side of this role won’t be replaced anytime soon, even as technology evolves. If you work in a clinic, this episode is a reminder to slow down, notice the work happening up front, and use this week as a chance to reset how your team shows appreciation. www.veterinaryreceptionistweek.com #VeterinaryReceptionistWeek #VetMed #VetTeam #VeterinaryReceptionist #ClinicCulture
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  Vet Tech Advocacy Evolves: Inside the AACVT Movement 15.04.2026 28mnt

  In this episode, Dr. Ernie Ward talks with co-host Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, about the launch of the American Association of Credentialed Veterinary Technicians (AACVT.org), a new organization she co-founded with Ryan Frazier, LVT, BS, MBA. Their goal is not to replace or compete with existing veterinary groups, but to strengthen the profession by filling gaps that many credentialed technicians still experience. Becky and Ryan built AACVT around a simple idea: the profession needs more support, more tools, and more ways for technicians to take action, especially at the state level. Rather than focusing only on awareness, AACVT is designed to provide practical resources, advocacy guidance, and a centralized space where technicians and veterinary teams can connect and grow. The conversation highlights a shift in mindset. This is about adding capacity, not dividing it. By working alongside existing organizations and empowering individuals, AACVT aims to raise the overall standard for technician utilization, recognition, and professional development. For veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and practice leaders, this episode offers a clear look at how collaboration, not competition, may drive the next phase of progress in veterinary medicine. #VeterinaryMedicine #VetTechLife #VetMedCommunity #CredentialedVetTech #VetTeam
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  Clocked In Isn’t Ready: The Morning Mistake Hurting Your Team 08.04.2026 25mnt

  What does “starting at 8 a.m.” actually mean in a veterinary clinic? This episode tackles a small detail that quietly creates big tension across teams. Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, break down the difference between being “on time” and being truly ready to work. From employees easing into the day to clinics that aren’t operational at opening, they unpack how unclear expectations lead to frustration, resentment, and inconsistent culture. They also flip the conversation. It’s not just about employees showing up earlier. It’s about management designing schedules that make success possible. If appointments start at 8:00 am but prep isn’t done, the system is already broken. This episode offers practical ways to rethink start times, prep workflows, and team expectations without falling back on rigid rules or burnout culture. It also challenges the idea that “early and late” equals a good employee. If your mornings feel chaotic, rushed, or quietly tense, this conversation will hit close to home and give you a better way forward. #veterinarymedicine #vettechlife #vetmedlife #veterinaryteam #workplaceculture #teamcommunication #veterinarypodcast