The Cone of Shame Veterinary Podcast

Dr. Jules Benson, DVM, founder of Tapetum Lucidum Consulting and a data strategist, joins Dr. Andy Roark to tackle a frustrating truth in the access to care conversation, lots of well-meaning advice for vets is not practical in real clinics with limited time, fixed protocols, and real-world overhead. They dig into the “iron triangle” of cost, quality, and access (the good, fast, cheap problem), and why defining “quality” often gets tangled up with “most advanced care.” Along the way, they talk about client trust as a process issue, how most practice websites fail to differentiate who they are for, and why strategy means saying no, including being clear about what a clinic will not do. They explore stratified care models like nonprofit care, mobile practice, focused care centers, and urgent care, and the idea of a community of care that hands clients off appropriately. Gang, let’s get into this episode. Keywords: veterinary access to care, veterinary client communication, veterinary practice strategy, cost quality access Dr. Jules Benson is the Principal at Tapetum Lucidum Consulting and the 2025 Chair at the Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC). With over two decades as a practitioner, industry executive, strategist, and data and technology leader, his focus lies in identifying and applying innovation that can improve the lives of pets, pet families, and veterinary healthcare teams.Mentioned in this episode:Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!On Demand Team Training BundleGreat medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!Learn more about Simparica Trio here!

Dr. Nathan Peterson, DVM, DACVECC, takes us straight into one of the most uncomfortable questions in veterinary medicine: are we sometimes prolonging suffering, and what does that do to our teams? In this episode, Dr. Andy Roark and Dr. Peterson unpack medical futility, moral distress, and veterinary burnout in a way that feels both honest and actionable. They explore what happens when technicians feel stuck providing care that conflicts with their values, and why that tension matters more than we think. You’ll hear practical ideas like creating psychological safety, building a “pause button” for team concerns, and even introducing ethical rounds to navigate tough cases together. If you’ve ever wrestled with end-of-life decisions, team conflict, or the emotional weight of patient care, this conversation will leave you thinking differently and leading better. Gang, let’s get into this episode!Mentioned in this episode:On Demand Team Training BundleGreat medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!Learn more about Simparica Trio here!Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!

Tasha McNerney, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia), tackles one of the most common clinical dilemmas, how do you safely sedate dogs and cats for quick procedures without committing them to a full day of anesthesia or risking complications. If you have ever hesitated before radiographs, wound repair, or diagnostics because you wanted fear-free handling but also needed efficiency, this episode delivers practical answers. Tasha walks through reversible sedation protocols, multimodal analgesia, and how to combine opioids, dexmedetomidine, and local blocks to maximize comfort while protecting the airway. She also shares feline sedation strategies, when to add ketamine, and how local anesthesia can do the heavy lifting for painful procedures. You will walk away with confidence, safer sedation choices, and tools to deliver high-quality care even in spectrum-of-care situations. Gang, let’s get into this episode!Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds: https://www.veterinaryanesthesianerds.com/Tasha McNerney obtained her CVT in 2005 and has worked clinically in the areas of anesthesia and surgery ever since. Tasha obtained her CVPP (certified veterinary pain practitioner) designation in 2013 and became a veterinary technician specialist in anesthesia in 2015. Tasha has been a featured speaker on various anesthesia and pain management topics at several international veterinary conferences. Tasha is the author of many articles and blogs on anesthesia and pain management related topics. In 2013 Tasha created the Facebook group Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds, which has over 65,000 members taking part in education and exchange of ideas from all over the world!Mentioned in this episode:Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!On Demand Team Training BundleGreat medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!Learn more about Simparica Trio here!

Maria Pirita, CVPM, joins Dr. Andy Roark to tackle a frustrating reality many veterinary leaders are facing right now, your clinic feels slammed every day, yet the appointment book is quietly shrinking. In this Uncharted crossover episode, Maria and Andy unpack why declining veterinary visits can hide behind busy schedules filled with same day appointments, and why that pattern can create serious problems for clinic planning, revenue stability, and patient care. They explore practical leadership strategies for veterinary practice managers, including how to identify leading and lagging metrics, avoid “rollercoaster marketing,” reactivate existing clients, and build real team buy in when the staff does not see the problem yet. If your team thinks an empty morning schedule means an easy day, but you know something deeper is happening, this conversation will help you reset your mindset and take action before small trends become big problems. Gang, let’s get into this episode!ABOUT OUR GUESTMaria Pirita is a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager, Elite Fear Free Certified Veterinary Professional and former hospital administrator. In her work with Uncharted Veterinary Conference and beyond, Maria has presented to veterinarians and teams across the US and Canada on topics including veterinary marketing, feedback, team building, and positive work culture. With over 10 years of experience in veterinary medicine and over 20 years in leadership, she's passionate helping leaders develop their skills. Maria loves any activity that involves creativity or learning something new. This leads to an abundance of hobbies including crafting, traveling, cooking and gardening.Mentioned in this episode:Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!On Demand Team Training BundleGreat medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!Learn more about Simparica Trio here!

Dr. Peter Weinstein, DVM, is asking a question many veterinary professionals feel but rarely say out loud, is veterinary medicine slowly losing its soul? In this thought-provoking conversation, he breaks down the concept of the “enshittification cycle,” and how corporate pressures, rising costs, and unrealistic client expectations can pull focus away from patients, teams, and community. More importantly, he offers hope. From strengthening veterinary team utilization to improving veterinary client communication and exploring new practice models, Dr. Weinstein shares practical ways clinics can restore trust, affordability, and purpose. This episode will leave you thinking differently about leadership, affordability, and what it takes to protect the future of independent veterinary practice while still delivering excellent care. Gang, let’s get into this episode!Dr. Peter Weinstein on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pawdr Dr. Andy Roark NewsletterDr. Know-It-All Card GameDr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training CourseDr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shopAll Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoarkDr Peter Weinstein is a husband, father, pet parent, veterinarian and leader. He has been involved with virtually all aspects of veterinary practice from a 15-year-old kennel kid to a hospital owner. Organized veterinary medicine has been a passion as well with various roles and leadership and presidencies of Southern California VMA, California VMA, and Vet Partners. He is a published author, most notably of the E-Myth Veterinarian-Why Most Veterinary Practices Don’t Work and What to Do About It.Currently, he is teaching business and finance at the Veterinary College of Western University of Health Sciences. He likes to think of himself as a free-thinking change agent and disruptor who, because he has a daughter who is a recent graduate from veterinary school, is working for an even better veterinary profession in the future.Mentioned in this episode:Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!Learn more about Simparica Trio here!On Demand Team Training BundleGreat medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!

Dr. Jules Benson, BVSc, MRCVS, founder of Tapetum Lucidum Consulting, tackles one of the biggest questions facing veterinary medicine right now, why trust in veterinarians feels more fragile than ever. Fresh off a conference, he and Dr. Andy Roark explore how corporate growth, changing client perceptions, and rising costs are reshaping veterinary client trust and the perceived value of care. They dig into relationship-centered care, the importance of authentic practice values, and how evidence-based veterinary medicine, including spectrum of care and real-world outcome data, can help teams communicate options clearly and confidently. You will walk away with a deeper understanding of how trust is built in the exam room, why transparency and authenticity matter more than ever, and how leveraging evidence can strengthen both client relationships and long-term veterinary sustainability. Gang, let’s get into this episode!https://illuminate.vet/Jules Benson on LinkedInDr. Andy Roark NewsletterDr. Know-It-All Card GameDr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training CourseDr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shopAll Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoarkDr. Jules Benson is the Principal at Tapetum Lucidum Consulting and the 2025 Chair at the Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC). With over two decades as a practitioner, industry executive, strategist, and data and technology leader, his focus lies in identifying and applying innovation that can improve the lives of pets, pet families, and veterinary healthcare teams. Mentioned in this episode:Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!On Demand Team Training BundleGreat medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!Learn more about Simparica Trio here!

Dr. Emily King, DVM, founder of All Star Veterinary Clinic and veterinary social media educator, joins Dr. Andy Roark to tackle a growing tension in veterinary medicine, the public narrative that vets, corporate groups, and private equity are driving up costs while telemedicine companies promise cheaper alternatives. After a high-profile interview featuring Dutch telehealth’s CEO stirred controversy, Dr. King shares what really happens inside veterinary clinics, how social media can build trust with pet owners before they ever walk through the door, and why transparency matters more than ever. They dig into veterinary telemedicine, private equity in veterinary medicine, and the myth that rising prices equal rising profits, while exploring how veterinarians balance affordability with advocacy for pets and fair wages for their teams. This episode will leave you thinking differently about trust, value, and your voice in the profession. Gang, let’s get into this episode!Dr. Emily King on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dremilyking/All Star Veterinary Clinic: https://www.all-starvet.com/about-us/team/dr-emily-kingDr. Emily King on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-emily-king-06678337a/Dr. Know-It-All Card GameDr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training CourseDr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shopAll Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoarkABOUT OUR GUESTDr. Emily King, founder of All-Star Veterinary Clinic, is a proud graduate of the University of Tennessee. A Carmel native and Carmel High School alumna, she’s passionate about giving back to the community that shaped her by providing top-tier veterinary care close to home. Beyond the clinic, Dr. King connects with pet lovers across Instagram and TikTok through fun, educational content—including current events, family-friendly skits, and interactive veterinary cases. Her mission goes beyond pet care: she’s dedicated to empowering fellow veterinary professionals to reach their full potential.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Simparica Trio here!Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!On Demand Team Training BundleGreat medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!

Dr. Emily Singler, VMD, jumps right in with a question every practice owner should be asking, are we truly supporting our people through pregnancy and parental leave, or just hoping it works out? In this episode, she and Dr. Andy Roark unpack how smart veterinary parental leave planning, thoughtful postpartum support, and clear communication help protect team morale, reduce resentment, and keep great people in veterinary medicine long term. You will walk away with practical ideas for accommodations, keeping in touch during leave, and making the return to work feel supportive for both new parents and the rest of the veterinary team. This conversation is really about building a healthier veterinary team culture where everyone feels valued, supported, and excited to stay in the profession. Gang, let’s get into this episode!https://www.emilysinglervmd.comhttps://www.instagram.com/emilysinglervmdPregnancy & Postpartum Considerations for Veterinary Teams on AmazonDr. Know-It-All Card GameDr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training CourseDr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shopAll Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoarkABOUT OUR GUESTDr. Emily Singler is a 2001 graduate of Penn State University and a 2005 graduate of University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Her career in veterinary medicine has included experience in shelter medicine, private practice, mobile practice, relief work, mentoring veterinary students, and veterinary writing. She is a mom of four kids and 1 dog. Dr. Singler is the author of Pregnancy and Postpartum Considerations for the Veterinary Team, published by CRC Press in 2023. Her book was written to provide information and insight for veterinary professionals as they navigate their transition into working parenthood and as a resource to guide veterinary leaders who support expectant and working parents. She is also Certified as a RETAIN Parental Leave Coach through the Center for Parental Leave Leadership. She uses the expertise gained from this certification to advocate for the needs of veterinary professionals who are expectant or working parents and to educate veterinary leaders on ways to better support parents in the workplace.Mentioned in this episode:Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!Learn more about Simparica Trio here!On Demand Team Training BundleGreat medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!

Bill Schroeder, owner of InTouch Practice Communications, jumps in to tackle a big question every clinic owner is starting to feel: if pet owners are asking AI instead of visiting websites, are veterinary clinic websites becoming obsolete? Dr. Andy Roark and Bill unpack how AI search and conversational search are changing veterinary website marketing, why strong veterinary SEO and original content still matter, and how clinics can position themselves so AI tools actually send clients their way. If you’ve been wondering whether your website is still pulling its weight, this episode gives practical reassurance and direction for the road ahead. Gang, let’s get into this episode!LINKSInTouch Practice Solutions: https://intouchvet.com/unchartedai/Dr. Know-It-All Card GameDr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training CourseDr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shopAll Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoarkABOUT OUR GUESTBill Schroeder is an entrepreneur, international speaker, veterinary thought leader, and digital marketing enthusiast who has, for the past 28 years, leveraged his love of people and pets to help veterinary practices grow and thrive. He has say on the Board of Directors for VetPartners, teaches within the MBA program at Purdue University, and can be found teaching from many of the veterinary conference stages around the world.Bill owns InTouch Practice Communications (www.InTouchVet.com), a full-service digital marketing agency built specifically for the veterinary community. His firm and more than 8,000 client success stories are the basis for his totally non-commercial talks. This unique view into the techniques and principles that are actually making the most impact drive his classes to be extremely relevant and empowering as the content is drawn from actual experience. It’s the stuff that works. Bill will teach you how to implement these things in your practice.As a former United States Marine, he is a forever patriot and eagerly supports manyveteran’s causes. Bill lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife Katie, daughters Madison and Lilly, and their very jealous schnauzer, Olive.Mentioned in this episode:Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!On Demand Team Training BundleGreat medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!Learn more about Simparica Trio here!

Simon F. Haeder, PhD is an associate professor of public health at The Ohio State University, and jumps in with a question every clinic feels right now, how easy is it really for pet owners to get veterinary care? Using a massive secret shopper study, Simon shares what thousands of calls to clinics reveal about preventive care appointments, rural versus urban access, and what wait times actually look like across the country. Dr. Andy Roark and Dr. Simon Haeder unpack what this means for practices, pet families, and the bigger picture of veterinary access to care, plus they explore how clinics are responding to rising vaccine hesitancy in pets. You will walk away thinking differently about supply, demand, client expectations, and where our profession might need to head next. If you like practical conversations that zoom out and help you see the whole field a little clearer, this one is pure brain food. Gang, let’s get into this episode!LINKSSimon Haeder on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-haeder-4526bb10/The Ohio State University Faculty Page: https://cph.osu.edu/people/haeder1Dr. Know-It-All Card GameDr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training CourseDr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shopAll Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoarkABOUT OUR GUESTSimon F. Haeder an Associate Professor in the Division of Health Services Management and Policy in the College of Public Health at The Ohio State University. His research focuses on access to health and health-protective services for both humans and pets with a focus on administrative burden, provider networks, vaccinations, and school-based health services as well as the regulatory process. He is the recipient of the David Kline Jones Distinguished Scholar Award and has served as a fellow in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Interdisciplinary Research Leaders Program.Mentioned in this episode:Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!On Demand Team Training BundleGreat medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!Learn more about Simparica Trio here!Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!

Dr. Sarah Boston, DVM, DVSc, DACVS, boarded surgical oncologist, author, podcaster, and stand up comedian, joins Dr. Andy Roark for a candid, funny, and slightly unhinged conversation that started with a text message and turned into a full blown existential check on veterinary medicine. Ever feel like the system is just a little… off? From commission based pay and buried service fees to corporate pressures and the emotional tax of modern practice, Andy and Sarah dig into why so many vets feel icky about how medicine is monetized right now. You will hear honest reflections on compensation models, professional values, burnout, and what happens when productivity becomes the only thing that counts. Expect laughs, deep truth, and that comforting feeling of realizing you are not the only one thinking, “Wait… are we doing this wrong?” Gang, let’s get into this episode!Dr. Sarah Boston IG: https://www.instagram.com/drsarahboston/?hl=enComedicine Podcast: https://www.drsarahboston.com/comedicine-podcastDr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/Dr. Know-It-All Card GameDr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training CourseDr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shopAll Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoarkDr. Sarah Boston is a veterinary surgical oncologist who is an ACVS board certified small animal surgeon and an ACVS Founding Fellow of both Surgical Oncology and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. She practices with VCA Canada in the Toronto area. Up until recently, she has spent most of her career in academia as a tenured faculty member at both the University of Guelph and the University of Florida. Dr Boston is also a best-selling author of the book, Lucky Dog: How Being a Veterinarian Saved my Life and one of the creators of The Cageliner, a satirical online newspaper for veterinary professionals that she is currently woefully neglecting. She is also a stand up comedian and in spring 2023, she graduated from the Humber College Comedy Performance and Writing Program. She is the host of the podcast Comedicine, where she interview healthcare professionals who are also comedians. She is a nerd. She believes that we all need to laugh more.Mentioned in this episode:Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!

Dr. Aaron Massecar, PhD, is back, and if you have ever wondered whether AI scribes are actually helping or quietly creating new problems, this episode is for you. Andy and Aaron dig into what the human medical literature really says about AI scribes, beyond the hype and sales pitches. They talk about reduced administrative burden, better medical records, improved client connection, and why burnout prevention may be the biggest win of all. This is a thoughtful, nerdy, big-idea conversation about how AI scribes could reshape veterinary medicine, for better or worse, and what veterinarians should be paying attention to right now. You will walk away feeling more informed, more grounded, and better prepared to use this technology wisely. Gang, let’s get into this episode!Dr. Aaron Massecar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-massecar/Substack: https://drandyroark.substack.com/Dr. Know-It-All Card GameDr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training CourseDr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shopAll Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoarkDr. Aaron Mast, PhD, is the Executive Director of the Veterinary Innovation Council. He previously served as Vice President of Education at VEG, Assistant Director of Continuing Education at Colorado State University, and Adjunct Instructor at Texas A&M University. He helped build the Veterinary Innovation Summit and the Veterinary Entrepreneurship Academy, and taught philosophy at the college level in Canada for five years. Outside of veterinary medicine, Aaron is an avid endurance cyclist who recently completed a 127-mile gravel race in Iceland and is preparing for a 200-mile gravel race from Moab, Utah to Fruita, Colorado.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Simparica Trio here!Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!On Demand Team Training BundleGreat medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!

Dr. Michael Jaffe, DVM, DACVS, associate professor of small animal surgery at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, joins Dr. Andy Roark to tackle a problem hiding in plain sight, feline osteoarthritis. If you have ever thought cats just “slow down with age,” this episode will challenge that assumption fast. Andy gets candid about how often OA is missed in cats compared to dogs, and Michael breaks down why feline arthritis shows up as subtle behavior changes rather than obvious limping. They dig into what to ask cat owners, what to look for on physical exams, and how common arthritis truly is, even in middle-aged cats. Gang, let’s get into this episode!This episode is brought to you by Hill's Pet Nutrition!Hill's New Feline Metabolic + Mobility: https://assets.mediafly.com/wl/ccd258Hill's VetHill's Veterinary AcademyDr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Team Training CourseDr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training CourseDr. Andy Roark SwagAll LinksDr. Michael Jaffe is an Associate Professor of Small Animal Surgery at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. He completed an internship in companion animal medicine and surgery, followed by a small animal surgical residency at Louisiana State University. He earned his Master’s degree and is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.Dr. Jaffe practiced in specialty hospitals in Bloomfield Hills, MI; Mesa, AZ; and Glendale, AZ. He joined academia as a founding faculty member at Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine. His research focuses on stem cells and exosomes in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament injuries.

Matthew Salois, PhD is currently the President of the Veterinary Study Groups, Inc. (VSG), where he is responsible for enhancing the economic and cultural success of more than 1,800 veterinary member practices.Most recently, Matt was the chief economist and head of the veterinary economics division at the AVMA between 2018 and 2022, where he applied his skills in economics, business, and communication to support the daily lives of veterinarians.From 2014 to 2018, he served as director of global scientific affairs and policy at Elanco Animal Health, supervising a team of scientists in veterinary medicine, human medicine, animal welfare, economics and sustainability. His group devised and executed scientific engagement strategy, and built collaborative partnerships with universities, non-profit associations and scientific societies.Matt is also an adjunct professor of applied economics at the University of Florida, where he previously taught and advised graduate and undergraduate students. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Economics from the University of Florida and holds an M.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Health Services Administration from the University of Central Florida.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Simparica Trio here!Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!On Demand Team Training BundleGreat medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!

Dr. Sheena Warman and Dr. Kristin Jankowski sit down with Dr. Andy Roark to confront a growing challenge in vet med. We are graduating veterinarians who can recite the gold standard, but many feel unprepared for the realities of practice where finances, time, and access shape what care is possible. If you have ever struggled to balance what the textbook recommends with what your client can actually do, this episode hits home. Andy digs into why Spectrum of Care is changing how vet schools teach clinical reasoning, how students can build confidence without leaning on specialists or high tech solutions, and why golden outcomes matter more than gold standards. Gang, let’s get into this episode!Spectrum of Care Initiative: AAVMC Spectrum of Care Initiative - AAVMCBristol Veterinary School IG: https://www.instagram.com/bristol_veterinary_school/?hl=enSheena Warman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheena-warman-36a47a34Open Door Veterinary Collective: https://opendoorconsults.orgRCVS Knowledge Contextualized Care Resources: https://knowledge.rcvs.org.ukDr. Know-It-All Card GameDr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training CourseDr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shopAll Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoarkKristin Jankowski, VMD, CCRP, is the Director of Veterinary Services at Open Door Veterinary Collective and an affiliate of the UC Davis One Health Institute. Passionate about veterinary education, she advocates for the Spectrum of Care (SOC) curriculum in institutions across North America, the UK, and Europe, aiming to inspire future veterinarians. From 2020 to 2023, she served as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Small Animal Primary Care at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and was also an Access to Veterinary Care clinician. Additionally, she directed the Knights Landing One Health Clinic during this period. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1994, Dr. Jankowski has primarily dedicated her career to general practice, while also gaining experience in rehabilitation settings and founding One Health Delaware. She holds a certification in canine rehabilitation from the University of Tennessee (2014) and completed Purdue University's Certificate Program for Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine (2021). Since 2023, she has actively participated in the AAVMC’s Spectrum of Care Initiative. Her research focuses on developing SOC training for veterinary students and practitioners, enhancing educational experiences and professional readiness. Dr. Jankowski has presented internationally on the importance of SOC training, emphasizing compassionate and contextualized care for all pets and their families. Sheena is Professor of Veterinary Education and Deputy Head of School at Bristol Veterinary School in the UK. She has extensive clinical and educational experience across a range of primary care, referral and academic settings. Sheena co-leads the AAVMC Spectrum of Care Initiative, and is passionate about ensuring our veterinary students are effectively prepared for their future professional careers.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Simparica Trio here!Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!On Demand Team Training BundleGreat medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!

Ryan Leech, founder and host of The Bird Bath podcast and principal at First 100 Veterinary Growth Consulting, joins Dr. Andy Roark for their annual year end tradition, breaking down the biggest veterinary industry stories of 2025 and what they mean for 2026. Feeling whiplash from corporate consolidation, tightening budgets, AI everywhere, and practices wondering what comes next? You are not alone. Andy and Ryan unpack what they call “the great compression,” from private equity shifts and practice group shutdowns to leadership changes at major players, all while keeping it light, honest, and very real. They also dig into the rapid rise of AI scribes, why they are more than just note takers, and how artificial intelligence could fundamentally change how practices use data without blowing up day to day medicine. You will walk away with clarity, perspective, and a better sense of how to think strategically about the future of veterinary medicine, plus a few laughs along the way. Gang, let’s get into this episode!LINKSThe Bird Bath: https://www.thebirdbath.ioFirst 100 Veterinary Growth Consulting: https://www.first100.ioRyan Leech on TikTokDr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/Dr. Know-It-All Card GameDr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training CourseDr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shopAll Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoarkABOUT OUR GUESTRyan Leech is a growth consultant and speaker who helps veterinary businesses navigate change and capture new opportunities. He hosts The Bird Bath, a weekly podcast exploring pet health trends, industry news, and insights. Previously, Ryan held key roles in business development and partnerships at leading veterinary organizations including Digitail, Galaxy Vets, and Veterinary Integration Solutions.Mentioned in this episode:Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!On Demand Team Training BundleGreat medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!Learn more about Simparica Trio here!

Dr. Andy Roark, DVM, MS tackles one of the trickiest leadership challenges out there, showing up strong when things do not go according to plan. Ever walked out of a meeting or presentation thinking, well that was rough? Kelsey Beth Carpenter joins us as Andy breaks down why those moments matter more than we think, how leaders build credibility through adaptability, and why owning ambiguity is a core leadership skill. This episode dives into executive presence, audience awareness, and the art of engaging people even when the format, timing, or tech falls apart. You will walk away feeling validated if leadership sometimes feels messy, more confident navigating high pressure situations, and equipped with practical ways to connect, influence, and lead with intention. If you care about leadership development, communication skills, and building trust in veterinary medicine, this one is for you. Gang, let’s get into this episode!Kelsey Beth Carpenter on IGDr. Andy Roark on LinkedInUncharted Veterinary PodcastUncharted Leadership Academy & CommunityDr. Know-It-All Card GameDr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication CourseDr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training CourseDr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shopAll Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoarkKelsey Beth Carpenter is a Registered Veterinary Technician with over a decade of experience working in emergency hospitals across California. She currently works as the Social Media Manager for DrAndyRoark.com and a Content Specialist for the Uncharted Veterinary Conference. Some of Kelsey’s passions include the open hospital concept, the power of creativity and humor, the overlap of science and art, and sharing lessons learned from living life with chronic illness. Kelsey is probably most known for two of her favorite hobbies: writing and performing comedic songs about veterinary medicine and acting as a full time stage mom for her Chihuahua mix, Birdie.Mentioned in this episode:On Demand Team Training BundleGreat medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!Learn more about Simparica Trio here!Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!

Dr. Beth Venit, Chief Veterinary Officer for the American Association of Veterinary State Boards, joins Andy to dig into one of the most nerve-wracking topics in vet med: avoiding board complaints by mastering informed consent. If you have ever wondered where the real line is between gold standard care and the minimum standard of care, or how to protect yourself when clients decline your recommendations, this episode will make your shoulders drop a little. Gang, let’s get into this episode!Dr. Beth Venit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-venit-vmd-mph-dacvpm-7a840ab/AAVSB Website: https://aavsb.org/Dr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication Tool Box Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/Dr. Know-It-All Card GameDr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training CourseDr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shopAll Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoarkDr. Beth Venit VMD is a graduate from the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2007. Throughout the area of Washington, DC, she practiced small animal medicine, both ER and GP, as both a full-time associate and a relief veterinarian for the next 12 years. In that time, she earned her Masters of Public Health from the University of Iowa and became a Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. She then worked at the US Department of State, first as a fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and then as a full-time project manager focused on training foreign partners on biorisk management and the prevention of bioterrorism. In 2022, she joined the American Association for Veterinary State Boards as their first Chief Veterinary Officer.In her free time, she enjoys hiking in various parts of the world with her husband (past trips include hiking the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, several 14ers in Colorado, and a successful summit of Kilimanjaro), and being lazy on the couch with her pittie mix, Eleanor Woofsevelt and maine coon / tiger mix, The Chairman Meow.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Simparica Trio here!Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!On Demand Team Training BundleGreat medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!

Dr. Stacy Anderson, Dean at Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine and President of COWBEL, joins Andy to dig into the rise of the distributive model for veterinary education. If you have ever wondered how students can get high quality clinical training without a traditional teaching hospital, or you have questions about capacity, specialty exposure, and whether practices actually enjoy taking students, this episode is for you. They also talk about what makes a rotation site truly great, why hands-on experience matters so much, and how practices can benefit from becoming teaching partners. Gang, let’s get into this episode!Cowbel: https://cowbel.org/Stacy Anderson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacy-anderson-885a8637/Dr. Know-It-All Card GameDr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication CourseDr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training CourseDr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shopAll Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoarkDr. Stacy Anderson is the Executive Dean of the Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine. She graduated with honors from Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, then completed two equine and large animal internships, followed by a large animal surgical residency, a Master of Veterinary Science, and later a PhD at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Anderson joined LMU as founding faculty in 2015 and quickly rose through academic leadership roles, becoming Dean in 2020 and later Executive Dean in 2023. She has been a driving force behind LMU’s distributive clinical education model, shaping innovative clinical skills training, leading the development of new academic programs, and playing a key role in launching the new LMU DVM program in Orange Park, Florida. Outside LMU, she has twice served as President of the Consortium on Workplace-based Education and Learning and contributes widely to ACVS and AAEP initiatives. When she is not advancing veterinary education, Dr. Anderson enjoys dressage, serves as a National Examiner for the United States Pony Club, and spends time on her family’s horse farm with her husband, daughter, and many animals.Mentioned in this episode:Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!On Demand Team Training BundleGreat medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!Learn more about Simparica Trio here!

Dr. Kara Amstutz, DVM, CVPP, CCRT, CVA, joins Dr. Andy Roark for a one-of-a-kind conversation about balancing a thriving veterinary career with raising a world-famous daughter, musician Chappell Roan. From starting her own practice to becoming boarded in veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation, Dr. Kara shares how she rebuilt her love for vet med through pain management, teaching, and lifelong learning. Andy and Kara talk about burnout, resilience, and what it’s like when fame suddenly lands in your family’s lap. You’ll hear how her clinic team and clients reacted, how she juggled motherhood and management, and why she believes the best part of her daughter’s fame isn’t the spotlight at all. This is a heartfelt, funny, and inspiring episode about rediscovering joy in veterinary medicine and life. Gang, let’s get into this episode!Canine Rehabilitation Institute https://www.caninerehabinstitute.comMomentum Veterinary Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation https://www.momentumvsmr.comDr. Know-It-All Card GameDr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication CourseDr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training CourseDr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shopAll Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoarkDr. Kara Amstutz earned her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri in 2000 and founded Hometown Veterinary Hospital in 2002. In 2013, she became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist, followed by her certification as a Veterinary Pain Practitioner in 2014, and as a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist in 2019. These credentials enabled her to transition from general veterinary practice to focusin on rehabilitation and pain management. In 2022, she left full-time clinical practice to become the owner, CEO, and lead clinical instructor at the Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI), which offers postgraduate certifications in rehabilitation and acupuncture, along with various continuing education opportunities. In 2023, Dr. Amstutz earned Diplomate status of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. In 2024, she returned to practice ownership and founded Momentum Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in Springfield, Missouri. Additionally, Dr. Amstutz lectures nationally and internationally on topics related to canine rehabilitation and is the immediate past president of the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians.Mentioned in this episode:On Demand Team Training BundleGreat medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!Learn more about Simparica Trio here!