Discover how strategic mentorship, emotional intelligence, and shelter-medicine know-how can accelerate the success of early-career veterinarians.

In this Ready Vet Go Podcast conversation, host Dr. Danny Rabwin interviews Dr. “Hawk” Hawkins, Executive Director of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association (SCVMA), about building sustainable veterinary careers, leading teams, and turning setbacks into growth opportunities.

🎯 What You’ll Learn

– Proven mentorship tactics new-grad veterinarians can apply today

– How shelter medicine experience sharpens clinical and leadership skills

– Emotional-intelligence tools for diffusing exam-room stress

– Inside look at organized veterinary medicine and advocacy work

– Leadership pearls for balancing multiple roles without burnout

⏱ Chapters

00:00 Intro & why EI matters in the exam room

01:44 Meet Dr. “Hawk” Hawkins – 25-year journey in vet med 05:55 From GP to shelter medicine: skills, surprises, rewards

13:08 Evolution of modern shelter practice & population medicine

19:09 Leadership path: SCVMA, CVMA & association “Kool-Aid”

24:55 Biggest clinical mistake, recovery, and growth lesson

31:22 Early-career leadership tips inside any clinic

37:20 Building community: why VMAs and networking matter

42:55 Quick-fire Q&A with Dr. Hawkins

45:46 Ready Vet Go remote mentorship – how it works & sign-up info

🔗 Resources & Links

– Learn more & join the Ready Vet Go mentorship community: https://readyvetgo.co

– Southern California VMA (SCVMA): https://scvma.org

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