Career Development

My journey from practicing veterinarian to long-time animal health company executive was a long one. But a big, fun leap for me in the past year was heading to a female-focused, working-parent-friendly new chain of clinics.

Burnout and compassion fatigue are nothing new and it can be hard to keep going. Here are some other veterinary professionals struggling to find their spark and some words of encouragement.

A vaguely worded handbook may result in a tangle of litigation. Heres what you need to know before presenting one to your team members.

Forget fees. If you want to make the most of a new equipment purchase, like new digital radiography, you want your veterinary practices team on board and using it to its full potential. Here are my three steps to think about to get there.

Featured speaker for upcoming Fetch dvm360 Baltimore, Alane Cahalane, shares advice on taking chances, chasing joy and learning from others.

Ever noticed that people tend to be a lot more honest about their life choices when asked to tell the truth in a game? This phenomenon is exactly what Drs. Caitlin DeWilde and Kimberly-Ann Therrien and I experienced when we used a popular party game to teach life lessons in Women's Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative sessions at Fetch dvm360.

If you like telling friends, family and colleagues what to do—and as a smart, solution-driven veterinary professional, you just might—it’s time to ask whether it’s what people you care about actually want or need in conversations with you.

Veterinary architects and experienced practice owners make up the dvm360 Hospital Design Competition panel of judges every year. This time, we decided to share three future-facing and sound insights that judges shared with us while they explored this years entries.

But if youre going to rule the world, you might still need to break some harmful habits to be an effective leader in veterinary practice.

Know what youre feeling, pause before reacting, and help yourself and your team. Betsy Charles, DVM, MA, executive director of the Veterinary Leadership Initiative, worked with Fetch dvm360 in San Diego attendees to think about how.

In her session on self-awareness at Fetch dvm360 in San Diego, Betsy Charles, DVM, MA, suggests a book wed never heard of. Heres why she thinks its an important read for self-awareness and your understanding of veterinary clients motivations and thinking in the exam room and once they leave.

Youve changed things this year in your veterinary practice? Human beings are resistant to change, and your veterinary team members are human beings. Here are some basic steps to face this.

Instead of forming a knee-jerk opinion, start asking questions. You'll get a clearer picture of how things got the way they are.

Happy employees, happy veterinary practice. Here are some ways to establish high levels of employee engagement within your company culture.

The new year can leave us tired. CVPM, Bash Halow shares three things he did to reignite his team and hit the new year running.

Decision-making shortcuts can ward off mental fatigue in your life and veterinary practice.

Balancing the demands of parenthood with a veterinary associate job is no easy undertaking. Neither is running a successful business. Here both sides plead their case.

It wasnt just the postpartum depression. It was all the other things that piled on, all the ways my brain betrayed me as I grew more and more overwhelmed. What hurt was also the thing that brought me back.

Less than half of veterinary team members are able to manage stress, managers worry in a small survey from the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association on veterinary team well-being and job satisfaction.

If casual comments offend someone in the veterinary workplace – even if they're made in jest – steps have to be taken.

DEK: Parenthood evolves our careers, it doesnt end themeven if some of us choose to quit the profession altogether.

Private practitioners and their shelter contacts can use these steps to build lasting, mutually beneficial relationships to help pet adopters today become veterinary clients tomorrow.

A veterinary student wearing a Ralph Lauren jacket can still muddy up and get the job done.

Not everyone working in a veterinary hospital has kids (or wants them). How can you, as a practice owner or manager, fairly accommodate everybodys work schedules?

With a variety of different state and federal policies, knowing what leave you're entitled to can be an arduous task.

Strike a balance between responsibilities at home and at your veterinary practice with these tips.

If you dont know, then surely your veterinary practice team doesnt. Is it time to change that in your veterinary hospital culture?

Make the veterinary visit so great for these patients that 'the dog will drag the pet owner through the front door' the next time.

This year, dont suffer with bad leadership skills and toxic workplace culture. This veterinary technician and long-time hospital manager has a few tidbits and starting points for practice owners, doctors and other managers to navigate the path to better managing and work life in general.

Stop educating clients and tell them a story.